Former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella appointed to plum Fair Work job

Ms Mirabella, a Liberal conservative, is also a lawyer. She was a polarising figure while in Parliament, and Labor has expressed concern at her imminent appointment to the industrial umpire.

“I’m not sure if Christian Porter is trying to stack the Fair Work Commission or just discredit it, but this appointment will achieve both,” said opposition industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke.

“For the commission to work as intended there needs to be balance between employer and employee representatives. But for eight long years the Liberals have been stacking the commission with employers and ideologues so workers have less of a voice.

One of the least conciliatory people to come through the federal Parliament will now be in charge of conciliation for every workplace in the country.

— Tony Burke, opposition industrial relations spokesman

“Now they’ve gone a step further to make a blatantly political appointment of a Liberal mate.

“One of the least conciliatory people to ever come through the federal Parliament will now be in charge of conciliation for every workplace in the country.

“A person who described John Howard’s Work Choices as ‘big but fair’ and ‘significant and necessary’ will earn up to $470,000 a year for the next 13 years to oversee Australia’s workplaces. It should send a chill down every worker’s spine.”

Ms Mirabella’s appointment still needs to be rubber-stamped by the cabinet.

There are three vacancies on the commission which will soon become five when two members retire.

Of the 39 serving commissioners, most are Coalition appointees, predominantly lawyers with employer or employer group backgrounds. There are 17 Labor appointees left over from the Rudd/Gillard years.

It is understood the government will appoint three members from Sydney, one from Brisbane, and Ms Mirabella will be a Melbourne appointment.

In Parliament, Ms Mirabella was a strong supporter of the Howard government’s WorkChoices.

“These reforms are significant and they are necessary,” she said.