Australian Resources and Energy Group AREEA pays its respects to former long-serving Fair Work Australia President Geoffrey Giudice AO, who passed away this morning at age 74.

“Justice Giudice was a wonderful person and well respected by anyone who knew or worked with him,” Steve Knott AM, Chief Executive of AREEA, said.

“He was a highly intelligent legal professional who will be remembered for his unrivalled industrial relations knowledge, integrity and independent judgement.”

Justice Giudice has always been held in especially high regard by Australia’s resources and energy industry.

“As a solicitor and partner at Moules, a law firm known for working on complex industrial relations matters, and later merged with Freehills, Geoff was the go-to person on major industrial relations issues for many of AREEA’s blue chip resources and energy industry members,” Mr Knott said.

“His professionalism and leadership was evident when appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in 1997, while at the same time becoming President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, appointed by Peter Reith under the Howard government.

”He was an excellent choice for the stewardship of the Commission, and in 2009 when it was replaced by the newly-established Fair Work Australia, prior to it being renamed the Fair Work Commission in 2013, Geoff was appointed its first president.”

Justice Giudice excelled amidst periods of great change for industrial relations in Australia, which most notably included working under three separate pieces of national industrial relations legislation.

“Under his leadership at the Commission, Geoff discharged his duties efficiently and without controversy, having regard to equity, good conscience, and the substantial merits of the cases before him. His approach and qualities flowed through to other members of the nation’s industrial tribunal,” Mr Knott said.

“His passion for the bow-tie and the Melbourne Football Club will be fondly recalled by those that knew him. Watching his beloved Demons win their first AFL premiership last year since 1964, would have brought a massive smile to his face.

“He was equally passionate in his role as a brilliant solicitor and barrister and leader of the national IR tribunal.”

AREEA extends its thoughts and condolences to Mr Giudice’s family and friends.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Thompson, 0409 781 580