Published Yesterday at 03:54 PM

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie

Reforms to protect small and family businesses and workers

  • Crisafulli Government to ease Canberra’s burden on Queensland small and family businesses with reforms to WorkCover scheme and crackdown on fraudsters. 
  • Changes will help save small and family businesses more than $1.46 billion a year by preventing increased premiums, while aligning with reforms in Victoria and New South Wales.
  • Industrial relations amendments to align with Commonwealth Fair Work Act to address union violence and ensure Queenslanders aren’t collateral damage in protracted industrial disputes.
  • Consistency and a stronger voice for public sector workers, while also protecting flexible work and parental leave entitlements.  

The Crisafulli Government will help ease Canberra’s burden imposed on small and family businesses with reforms to protect Queensland’s workers compensation scheme, preventing skyrocketing premiums while ensuring injured workers get the treatment and support they need to get back on their feet. 

At a time when small and family businesses are being smashed by the Albanese Government and after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government, businesses would be slugged more than $1.46 billion every year in increased premiums by 2035 without the Crisafulli Government taking action. 

Medical expertise within WorkCover will be strengthened and the scheme brings Queensland into line with other states, including Victoria and New South Wales, to address emerging trends and national developments including the increasing number of psychological injury claims, which has increased by almost 268 per cent in the past decade. 

The reforms will also crackdown on WorkCover fraudsters and non-compliant insurers including increasing maximum penalties and recording of conviction for workers compensation fraud, as well as stronger action against non-compliant insurers. 

WorkCover premiums would skyrocket by 26% in the next five years if no action was taken, decimating small and family businesses and costing local jobs.   

Queensland’s industrial relations laws will also be amended to align with national workplace legislation, delivering consistency, productivity and certainty for Queenslanders and public sector workers.  

The reforms will address union violence and intimidation and prevent Queenslanders from being collateral damage in disruptive long-running disputes, while also ensuring a stronger voice and more support for public sector workers, including protecting their flexible working arrangements and parental leave entitlements. 

During Labor’s decade of decline, Queensland was left behind by other states and territories who undertook many of these same reforms years ago.  

Following a statutory review, Queensland’s industrial relations legislation will be amended to align with the Federal Government’s Fair Work Act 2009 in a number of areas and will:  

  • Ensure union officials comply with a robust ‘fit and proper person’ test which requires them to act lawfully and in their members’ best interests, in order to exercise lawful right of entry powers.
  • Put Queenslanders first by reflecting national and other states’ provisions to ensure they and major projects are not unnecessarily disrupted due to protracted industrial disputes.
  • Streamline dispute resolution to ensure new pay and conditions deals are passed on to workers faster.
  • Increase resources and powers of the independent Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to ensure matters are dealt with in a timely manner.  

Queensland’s existing flexible working arrangements and parental leave provisions for public sector workers will continue, with public servants also gaining a stronger voice through:  

  • Direct balloting as part of enterprise bargaining agreements.
  • Freedom of association and union membership. 
  • Increased whistleblower protections for union complaints.  

Deputy Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie said the reforms would deliver security and certainty for Queensland businesses as well as consistency and safety for workers. 

“Queensland is open for business and we’re backing aspirational Queenslanders as well as ensuring workers get the support they need so they can get back on their feet,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said. 

“Small and family businesses are bearing the brunt of the Albanese Government’s taxes and fees and a lack of action during Labor’s decade of decline also saw them heading towards an extra $1.46 billion bill every year. 

“This is in addition to giving our public sector workers a stronger voice, delivering safer worksites and ensuring Queenslanders aren’t collateral damage in industrial disputes.  

“After Labor’s decade of decline, the reality is we’re playing industrial catch up to the rest of the nation and ensuring there’s consistency, productivity and certainty. 

“Fixing Labor’s broken bargaining framework to be fair and efficient will provide faster wage outcomes for workers dealing with cost of living pressures and certainty for Queenslanders with access to essential services.  

“Labor’s broken bargaining framework favours protracted industrial disputation, not fair outcomes for workers.    

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to being an employer of choice, ensuring everyone can work safely and deliver better services through a stronger economy.”  

Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin welcomed the move to tackle rising WorkCover costs as part of the Crisafulli Government’s plan to back small and family business to grow and thrive. 

“Small and family businesses are the backbone of Queensland communities and economy, and they simply cannot afford unnecessary increases in costs,” Minister Minnikin said. 

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to putting small and family businesses first to grow and employ more Queenslanders, and that means no new or increased taxes, reducing cost pressures and providing greater certainty for the future. 

“While Queensland businesses are facing increasing pressures from the Federal Treasurer’s broken promises in Canberra, we are taking practical action to make it easier to run and grow a business in Queensland.” 

WorkCover Queensland Chair Chloé Kopilović said the recommendations provided a clear path to strengthen the scheme for the future. 

"We support the recommendations and their focus on protecting the ongoing strength and sustainability of the scheme, whilst also strengthening the management and administration of the scheme to ensure fairness for workers and employers in Queensland.” 

“We now look forward to working with the Government and the Regulator to implement these important reforms for all Queenslanders.” 

Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith welcomed Councils' calls for greater certainty across workplace and workers’ compensation laws for both employers and employees being heard. 

“Queensland councils employ more than 45,000 people across the state. Our submission highlighted the need for greater consistency in workers’ compensation decision-making and stronger support for injured workers’ recovery and a safe, sustainable return to work,” Ms Smith said. 

Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper said the system needed change and welcomed the reforms, saying they addressed many of the issues raised by Queensland businesses. 

"More than three quarters of our businesses tell us that the current scheme is difficult to navigate and that costs are skyrocketing. Queensland's small and family businesses are facing significant cost and operating pressures, and these reforms are an important step towards maintaining a workers’ compensation scheme that is affordable and sustainable for employers and workers alike,” Ms Cooper said. 

Australian Industry Group Queensland Head Michelle Farquhar said maintaining a sustainable workers' compensation scheme was critical for Queensland employers. 

"It is important that there are reforms to address growing and unsustainable pressure on the workers' compensation scheme. Sensible and balanced action must be taken to help provide the certainty employers need to invest, grow and create employment opportunities," Ms Farquhar said.  

Civil Contractors Federation Queensland CEO Damian Long said greater consistency with national workplace laws would provide confidence for industry.  

"Aligning Queensland's industrial relations laws with national standards and strengthening expectations around lawful conduct will provide greater confidence and certainty for businesses delivering the infrastructure projects our State relies on," Mr Long said.   

Housing Industry Association Queensland Executive Director Michael Roberts said reforms were needed to help contain growing pressures on the workers' compensation scheme. 

"A sustainable workers' compensation scheme is critical for the residential construction sector, and reforms that address claim pressures and fraud will help avoid unnecessary cost increases for builders and tradies," Mr Roberts said. 

Master Builders Queensland Deputy CEO Michael Hopkins said a fair and sustainable workers compensation was vital for the construction industry.  

"By its nature, construction is physical work and these reforms strike an important balance by supporting injured workers, strengthening fraud prevention and return-to-work outcomes as well as ensuring builders can also afford to keep building their businesses," Mr Hopkins said. 

Master Electricians Australia CEO Kate Raymond said small businesses needed workplace laws that were fair, practical and easy to navigate.  

"Small businesses need confidence that workplace laws are fair, practical and consistent, and these reforms will help improve certainty for Queensland sparkies," Ms Raymond said.   

Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said the changes would provide more clarity for employers managing workplace issues while preserving support for workers. 

“Providing greater clarity around psychological injury claims and reasonable management action will help employers manage their workplaces fairly while ensuring support remains available for workers who genuinely need it, and creates a more efficient and timely claims process to ensure Queensland workers get back to work sooner,” Mr Egan said. 

Queensland Hotels Association CEO Bernie Hogan said reforms that helped reduce costs would be welcomed by the hospitality sector.  

"Hospitality venues are facing significant cost pressures and working with a fit-for-purpose workers' compensation scheme is essential to protect our staff as well as supporting investment across the industry with more affordable insurance," Mr Hogan said. 

Red Union Group Managing Director Jack McGuire said workers should have greater confidence in the workplace relations system.  

"Workers deserve a system which protects their rights and enables them to organise for better pay & conditions. But successive Labor Governments have attacked their right to freedom of association, which is fundamental to our democracy. These reforms go a long way to restoring workers' rights," Mr McGuire said.  

ENDS 

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