Queensland backs new plan for fair industrial relations system

The Queensland Government is backing a plan for a new co-operative industrial relations system that respects state rights and ensures employers benefit from unified legislation, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said today.

The plan is based on an inquiry carried out for the New South Wales Government by Professor George Williams, who consulted with the Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations.

“The plan represents for the first time a real chance at developing a unified system that benefits employers and employees because it is fair, balanced and involves all the states and territories, as well as the Commonwealth,” Mr Mickel said.

“An industrial relations system based on Professor Williams’ plan would see the creation of a cooperative, national system that does not require a general referral of the states’ industrial relations powers.

“Such a system would have enough flexibility to allow the states to retain chosen areas and matters and participate in the shape and future of the system so that it benefits everyone involved.”

Mr Mickel said that unlike the former Howard Government’s draconian Work Choices industrial laws, the new co-operative plan highlighted by Professor Williams was based on consultation with state and territory governments, unions, employer groups and industrial relations academics.

“The system would give the states a choice of mechanism for how they want to participate,” he said.

“This could be done either by adopting uniform legislation and/or by referring power to the Commonwealth to enact specific legislation which would operate as Commonwealth legislation in the state.”

Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay 3237 1125.

January 25, 2008