Leigh Hubbard
Encyclopedia
Leigh Hubbard was secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council
for 10 years from 1995 to 2005, one of the most powerful trade union positions in Australia
. During his time as Secretary he played a pivotal role in union battles with the Kennett
government, the campaign to restore common law rights for injured workers, the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute
, the battles over award rights for Victorians who had been "left in the lurch" with the transfer of Industrial Relations powers to the Commonwealth in 1996, the East Timor
campaigns in 1999 in which he urged that troops be sent there, and the James Hardie
campaign for compensation for victims of asbestos
diseases.
Leigh Hubbard has a BA and LLB from the University of Melbourne
and has worked as a solicitor, an industrial officer, policy officer, and Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council. He joined the Labor Party in 1980. After resigning as Secretary of the VTHC in 2005 he became the National Executive Officer of the United Firefighters Union of Australia
. He also has served as a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Executive and the Ethical Clothing Trades Council.
From 2000 until March 2005 Hubbard was a member of the Victorian State Training Board. He also has experience on the board of the Victorian Qualifications Authority, the Manufacturing Industry Consultative Council and the Victorian Work Authority WorkCover Advisory Committee.
In 2007 he became the Executive Officer of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria (ADSVIC).
Victorian Trades Hall Council
The Victorian Trades Hall Council is a representative body of trade union organisations, known as a Labour council, in the State of Victoria, Australia...
for 10 years from 1995 to 2005, one of the most powerful trade union positions in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. During his time as Secretary he played a pivotal role in union battles with the Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
government, the campaign to restore common law rights for injured workers, the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute
1998 Australian waterfront dispute
The Australian waterfront dispute of 1998 was a watershed event in Australian Industrial Relations history, in which the Patrick Corporation undertook a restructuring of their operations for the purpose of increasing the productivity of their workforce...
, the battles over award rights for Victorians who had been "left in the lurch" with the transfer of Industrial Relations powers to the Commonwealth in 1996, the East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
campaigns in 1999 in which he urged that troops be sent there, and the James Hardie
James Hardie
James Hardie Industries Ltd. is an industrial building materials company headquartered in Ireland and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange which specialises in fibre cement products. James Hardie manufactures and develops technologies, materials and processes for the production of building...
campaign for compensation for victims of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
diseases.
Leigh Hubbard has a BA and LLB from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and has worked as a solicitor, an industrial officer, policy officer, and Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council. He joined the Labor Party in 1980. After resigning as Secretary of the VTHC in 2005 he became the National Executive Officer of the United Firefighters Union of Australia
United Firefighters Union of Australia
The United Firefighters Union of Australia is the trade union which represents professional firefighters in Australia. Formed 1 August 1990, the union has branches in every state and the ACT and is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions....
. He also has served as a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
Executive and the Ethical Clothing Trades Council.
From 2000 until March 2005 Hubbard was a member of the Victorian State Training Board. He also has experience on the board of the Victorian Qualifications Authority, the Manufacturing Industry Consultative Council and the Victorian Work Authority WorkCover Advisory Committee.
In 2007 he became the Executive Officer of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria (ADSVIC).