Deirdre O'Connor

Deirdre Frances O'Connor (5 February 1941 – 28 January 2024) was an Australian lawyer, academic, Judge of the Federal Court, President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

In 2008, O'Connor conducted an inquiry into the appointment, management and termination of Dr. Graeme Stephen Reeves. recommendation and established a right to family leave, including a right to take sick leave to care for a member of the employees family, with a cap of 5 days carers leave per year. O'Connor also led the full bench which decided the Public Holidays test case which determined that, while public holidays were determined by state governments, employees under federal award should receive at least 10 public holidays per year. The commission also gave effect to the Superannuation guarantee scheme in the Superannuation test case by providing an award right to the payment of superannuation. In the Supported Wage System case the commission established a model award clause intended to assist people with disabilities to obtain employment. The commission also determined the proper approach to the legislative protection on the right to strike in the ABC case.