PM Transcripts

OFFICL. OF It-iL PRIME MINiSTER
CANBERRA
Mr Keating, who Is on leave in Sydney this week, today issued the following
statement on the death of Mr Justice Barry Maddern:
" I was saddened today to learn of tbe death of Justice Barry Maddern, the President of
the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
" Justice Maddern presided over what was in world terms a novel wages system
operating under an accord betwcen the Government and the trade union movement.
The record shows that during this period inflation in Australia was broken, and a more
profitable business sector led to higher investment and higher employment.
6He also presided over the most fundamental award restructuring in the nation's
history, and contributed to Innovative exercises in wage setting, such as the
introduction of supplementary payments.
" Industrial disputes fell significantly while he was in office. There was no wage
explosion exacerbated by decisions of industrial relations tribunals, which is in no small
way due to him.
" Justice Maddern brought a sense of consistency to the decisions of the industrial
relations tribunals of this country, and was very successful in developing the
relationships among the various tribunals, and within the federal tribunal.
" Justice Maddern displayed a considerable degree of independence in his work, and
will be remembered for the larger view and sense of consistency he bestowed on the
country's industrial tribunals.
" I extend sincere condolences to his family."
SYDNEY 14 January, 1994