Adam Hatcher

The Honourable Justice
Adam Hatcher
Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 February 2023
President of the Fair Work Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 February 2023
Preceded byIain Ross
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
OccupationJudge, barrister

Adam Hatcher SC is an Australian jurist and former barrister who has served as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the Australian Fair Work Commission since 19 February 2023. He previously served as the Fair Work Commission's vice-president from 2013 to 2023.

Hatcher previously served as chief legal adviser with the NSW branch of the Transport Workers' Union. He became a barrister in 1997 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.[1]

In 2013, Hatcher was appointed by then-Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, as one of two new vice presidents of the Fair Work Commission.[2]

On 10 November 2022, Hatcher was appointed by Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke as acting president of the Commission following the retirement of Justice Iain Ross.[3] He was subsequently appointed president substantively by Burke on 9 February 2023, with his role commencing on 19 February 2023. Burke cited Hatcher's "extensive experience to the role" as a reason for his appointment.[1]

  1. ^ a b Osborne, Paul (9 February 2023). "Ex-union legal adviser to head industrial umpire". The West Australian. West Australian Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  2. ^ Shorten, Bill (28 March 2013). "Media Release: New appointments to Fair Work Commission". Ministers' Media Centre: Ministers of the Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. ^ Cassidy, Caitlin (10 November 2022). "New acting president of the Fair Work Commission". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 27 February 2023.