Bruce Shaw came to the bar after nearly 20 years’ experience in the field of industrial relations. After a brief stint with the industrial relations branch of the Commonwealth Department of Labour and National Service he commenced at the Master Builders’ Association of Victoria as an industrial officer and remained there for ten years. In his final years there he was Industrial Relations Manager for the MBAV and lead negotiator in the shorter hours (38 hour week) case for the various master builders’ associations. He was also the lead advocate for all building employers in the national Building Industry Work Value case in 1979-80, which later led to the classification structure we see in building industry awards to this day. In 1984 Bruce commenced a seven year appointment with the State Transport Authority of Victoria (later the Public Transport Corporation) as Industrial Relations Manager guiding public transport in Victoria through a difficult industrial relations era.
Bruce came to the Bar in 1992 and read with Tim Ginnane (now Justice Ginnane of the Supreme Court of Victoria). His practice has been principally concerned with matters arising from the employment contract – industrial, employment, discrimination – and contract disputes, mainly in the building and construction industry. Between 2000 and 2006 Bruce maintained chambers in Townsville, practising in the same area and also performing pro bono work for members of the North Queensland Indigenous people. Bruce’s wider community interests include the Rotary Club of Collingwood and he is a member of the Board of The Wellington Community Centre in Collingwood.
Bruce is a member of the committee of the Australian Institute of Management Employee Relations Management Group. He is also admitted in Queensland.
