New legislation to restore fairness in Queensland workplaces

Published Thursday, 01 September, 2016 at 04:52 PM

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

The Palaszczuk Government has introduced new legislation to restore fairness to Queensland workplaces.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the Industrial Relations Bill 2016 introduced today would wipe away the last vestiges of the former Newman Government’s unfair industrial relations laws in Queensland. 

“The LNP’s laws stripped away the hard fought and won employment conditions of state and local government workers,” she said.

“Their laws failed to respect the rights of workers to collectively bargain with their employer for their wages and conditions, while tying up registered industrial organisations in expensive and ineffective red tape.

“Their laws made it harder for workers to be represented in their workplaces.”

Ms Grace said the Palaszczuk Government established an independent review of the State’s industrial relations laws and tribunals to provide recommendations for fair and balanced reform, delivering on a key election commitment.

“The review was conducted by an independent reference group comprising key stakeholders and headed by Jim McGowan AM,” she said.

“The Bill incorporates the reference group’s recommendations, establishing key defining features for the state’s industrial relations system, including:

  • a set of minimum employment conditions and standards;
  • collective bargaining as the cornerstone for setting wages and conditions;
  • a set of individual rights to fair treatment;
  • effective, transparent and accountable governance and reporting obligations for all registered industrial organisations and employer associations; and
  • a strong and effective independent umpire.

"The LNP went further than any government in the state’s history with their attacks on workers.

"Our reforms will restore the balance and return fairness to Queensland workplaces.”

Media Contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548