EMPLOYEE INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS TO BE PROTECTED IN QUEENSLAND
Published Monday, 11 December, 2006 at 09:39 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The Queensland Government will introduce legislation to protect workers from the worst excesses of the Howard Government Work Choices industrial laws.
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the legislation would strengthen child labour laws and good faith collective bargaining provisions.
“The recent High Court decision on Work Choices means these unfair and unbalanced laws are here until the Howard Government is defeated at the ballot box,” Mr Mickel said.
“However, that won’t stop the Government initiating a number of laws and measures to protect the conditions of workers and advise them of their rights.
“This latest initiative ensures that young workers in the federal jurisdiction are employed on terms and conditions commensurate with employees in the state jurisdiction and are protected from unfair dismissal.
“Work Choices explicitly preserves the states’ right to legislate in the area of child labour – we’ll be doing exactly that to enshrine their rights and protect their workplace entitlements.
“The Queensland Government supports working Queenslanders and their families and that’s why it is doing all it can to soften the blow of Work Choices,” Mr Mickel said.
“Ultimately, a political solution is needed at the federal level to overturn these laws but there are a number of measures that the Queensland Government has carried out or is enacting that will help employees here.
“We have already legislated to protect minimum entitlements, established an advisory hotline on employee and employer rights and responsibilities and set up an inquiry by the QIRC to throw a much-needed spotlight on to Work Choices.
“A Workplace Rights Office will also be established to advise workers, promote fair industrial practices, and investigate illegal activity by employers.
“Work Choices threatens to take industrial relations in this state back to the stone age but by working with employees, their families and communities, the Queensland Government hopes to lessen the impact of these harsh laws.”
Minister Mickel has congratulated Federal Labor Deputy Leader Julia Gillard and welcomed her new role as the Employment and Industrial Relations spokesperson.
“I look forward to meeting and working with her to abolish these unfair laws, as a former IR lawyer she brings a wealth of talent and experience to the position,” Mr Mickel said.
11 December 2006
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the legislation would strengthen child labour laws and good faith collective bargaining provisions.
“The recent High Court decision on Work Choices means these unfair and unbalanced laws are here until the Howard Government is defeated at the ballot box,” Mr Mickel said.
“However, that won’t stop the Government initiating a number of laws and measures to protect the conditions of workers and advise them of their rights.
“This latest initiative ensures that young workers in the federal jurisdiction are employed on terms and conditions commensurate with employees in the state jurisdiction and are protected from unfair dismissal.
“Work Choices explicitly preserves the states’ right to legislate in the area of child labour – we’ll be doing exactly that to enshrine their rights and protect their workplace entitlements.
“The Queensland Government supports working Queenslanders and their families and that’s why it is doing all it can to soften the blow of Work Choices,” Mr Mickel said.
“Ultimately, a political solution is needed at the federal level to overturn these laws but there are a number of measures that the Queensland Government has carried out or is enacting that will help employees here.
“We have already legislated to protect minimum entitlements, established an advisory hotline on employee and employer rights and responsibilities and set up an inquiry by the QIRC to throw a much-needed spotlight on to Work Choices.
“A Workplace Rights Office will also be established to advise workers, promote fair industrial practices, and investigate illegal activity by employers.
“Work Choices threatens to take industrial relations in this state back to the stone age but by working with employees, their families and communities, the Queensland Government hopes to lessen the impact of these harsh laws.”
Minister Mickel has congratulated Federal Labor Deputy Leader Julia Gillard and welcomed her new role as the Employment and Industrial Relations spokesperson.
“I look forward to meeting and working with her to abolish these unfair laws, as a former IR lawyer she brings a wealth of talent and experience to the position,” Mr Mickel said.
11 December 2006