IR reforms to restore fairness for Queensland public sector workers

State Parliament has passed landmark industrial relations reforms to restore fairness for Queensland public sector and local government workers.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the Industrial Relations Bill 2016 restored key workers' rights and conditions, while strengthening industrial tribunals and giving back workers their rights to proper representation.

“This Bill overturns the worst excesses of the previous LNP government’s extreme and unfair industrial relations laws,” she said.

“The LNP never saw a public sector worker they didn’t want to attack, or a hard-fought entitlement they didn’t want to strip away.

“Our Bill restores the balance with fairer and more effective laws that better reflect the reality of modern workplaces.

“I’m particularly proud that the Bill provides an entitlement of 10 days paid leave for victims of domestic and family violence.

“This measure should have been beyond politics, yet sadly the LNP voted against a Bill that included family and domestic violence leave, despite the overwhelming support it had from victims and advocates.”

Ms Grace said other reforms in the Industrial Relations Bill 2016 include: 

• introducing a right for all workers to request flexible work arrangements;
• declaring Easter Sunday a public holiday;
• making it easier for long-term temporary employees in the Queensland public sector to convert to full-time positions;
• 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
• a strong and effective independent umpire.

Ms Grace said the Bill followed a comprehensive review of the state’s IR laws, the first major review in nearly 20 years, with input from employer and business groups, unions, legal experts, academics and other stakeholders.

“It was also subject to the scrutiny of the Finance and Administration Committee, including public hearings and submissions,” she said.

“This is in stark contrast to the approach of the former LNP government which rushed through its legislative changes without proper consultation.

“Our new laws will remove the last vestiges of the LNP’s draconian industrial relations laws and help to deliver fairer workplaces in Queensland.”

Media Contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548