Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed a new president of the Fair Work Commission.

Adam Hatcher, a former barrister and union official, will take on a key role in determining major cases and appeals as the Fair Work Commission’s new president, having served as a vice president on the commission since 2013.

Mr Hatcher has been serving as acting president of the commission since the retirement of previous president Iain Ross in November last year. 

In his new role, he is expected to play a major part in setting up the legal precedent for the government’s new IR laws, and will help decide on the annual minimum wage increase.

Mr Hatcher also becomes a Federal Court judge with the appointment. 

The former industrial relations barrister was appointed senior counsel in 2010, which followed his time as the chief legal adviser with the NSW branch of the Transport Workers’ Union.

Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke says Mr Hatcher has provided “strong leadership” for the past three months.

“He brings extensive experience to the role, and I am confident he will continue to execute his duties with impartiality and diligence,” he said. 

The Federal Government is still seeking an FWC vice president, deputy president, a commissioner and expert panel members on gender pay equity and the care sector.

Mr Burke made an election pledge to “rebalance” the commission after the previous federal government members stacked it with mostly Coalition appointees, largely from employer backgrounds.

“The government is committed to a fair, just, transparent and balanced commission,” Mr Burke said.

“Its work will be more important than ever as we progress ambitious workplace relations reforms to lift wages, improve job security and close the loopholes that are undermining pay and conditions.”

Mr Burke met with the Australian Council of Trade Unions and employer groups in Canberra this week to set out the IR agenda for the year. 

He laid out plans including minimum pay and conditions for “employee-like” contractors and same job, same pay rules for labour hire.

Meanwhile, employers are calling on the federal government to take a fresh look at the “problematic” scope of multi-employer bargaining laws, and to remove tradies from new pay rules for independent contractors.