Politics · Australia · 7 hrs ago
Law firm urges Queensland to abandon proposed workplace law changes
Queensland is considering major changes to its industrial relations laws, following an independent review of workplace relations and workers’ compensation.
The government accepted 104 recommendations from that review, and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says the changes are reasonable and protect workers.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn says the bill would weaken worker rights and has called for it to be abandoned or substantially reconsidered.
The proposed changes include a new test for union officials and giving the minister power to stop protected industrial action in limited circumstances.
The bill would also make it harder to qualify for compensation for psychological injuries, by requiring work to be the major contributing factor.
Business Chamber Queensland welcomed that change, while the Queensland Law Society warned unclear wording could lead to disputes.
A parliamentary committee will hold public hearings in Brisbane and report on November 27.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn has urged Queensland to abandon proposed changes to the state’s industrial relations laws.
The firm said the bill selectively adopts restrictive parts of federal law while omitting worker protections.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says the changes are reasonable, balanced and protect workers.
The proposals include new powers to terminate some protected industrial action and stricter tests for psychological injury claims.
A parliamentary committee is due to report on the bill on November 27.
- Who
- Maurice Blackburn is urging the Queensland government to abandon the proposed changes. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says they are reasonable and protect workers.
- What
- The state is considering changes to industrial relations laws, including rules on union officials, industrial action and psychological injury claims.
- When
- The committee is due to report on November 27. Public hearings are scheduled for the following week, according to the article.
- Where
- Queensland, Australia.
- Why
- The legislation follows an independent review of industrial relations and the workers’ compensation scheme. Maurice Blackburn says the bill would weaken worker rights and entitlements.
Maurice Blackburn
Queensland government
Worker protections
Maurice Blackburn
Maurice Blackburn says the bill omits protective provisions in federal law and would attack worker rights and entitlements.
Queensland government
Bleijie says the proposed changes are reasonable, balanced and ensure workers are protected.
Ministerial power over industrial action
Maurice Blackburn
Maurice Blackburn urges the bill to be abandoned. The Queensland Council of Unions says the proposed power could restrict workers’ rights and give the minister extraordinary power.
Queensland government
Bleijie says the power to stop strikes would be used only in very limited circumstances, such as when safety or the economy is at risk or action is highly disruptive.
Queensland unions rallied against the proposed changes, and the Queensland Council of Unions spoke out against them in parliament.
The article reported that Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie had introduced the proposed changes.
Public hearings on the legislation are scheduled to be held in Brisbane.
The committee is due to deliver its report.
- Review recommendations
- The government accepted 104 recommendations from an independent review.
- Union officials
- The bill includes a “fit and proper” test for union officials.
- Protected industrial action
- The bill would give Bleijie power to terminate it in certain circumstances.
- Psychological injury claims
- The proposed test would require work to be the major contributing factor, rather than a significant factor.
- Committee report
- November 27
What people are saying
Taken as a whole, the Bill represents the most significant attack on worker rights and entitlements since the Newman era.
Instead, they represent a cherry-picking of the restrictive provisions of federal law, while omitting the protective ones and going beyond our federal laws in key respects
very limited circumstances