MEDIA RELEASE
28 November 2024
Queensland Unions Slams Deputy Premier for Rushing through Dangerous Laws
Queensland Unions General Secretary Jacqueline King said she was aghast that the Deputy Premier was attempting to rush through and pass draconian laws that will strip away Queensland workers’ rights to safe workplaces.
“It is simply outrageous that laws affecting workers lives and their safety should be rushed through Parliament on its first day. It is disrespectful to workers, their families and the Queensland community.
Ms King said that hundreds of authorised worker representatives exercised rights of entry to all types of Queensland workplaces without ADO on a daily basis, but the Deputy Premier appeared to be fixated on changing the laws because of his loathing of the CFMEU.
“The LNP need to understand that these laws affect nurses, teachers, police, public sector workers, manufacturing workers, truck drivers, as well as construction workers.
“Entry to workplaces is often exercised in response to calls by workers and Health and Safety Reps who are experiencing occupational violence, harassment and assault which are escalating on a daily basis in places like hospitals and our schools, or for other dangerous incidents involving serious injuries or the death of the construction worker at the Le Bain construction site just this week.
“This is a clear message the Deputy Premier has not changed his spots and is simply picking up from his time in the Newman Government where he let Queensland employers legally cover up non-compliance with WHS laws and jeopardised the safety of thousands of Queensland workers.
Background Information
The LNP Government has introduced amendments to Queensland’s work health and safety laws stripping back workers’ rights to safe workplaces in its first day of Parliament seeking to pass the laws in just one day without consultation or following normal Parliamentary procedures.
The proposed changes will mean authorised employees of registered unions who hold legal permits to enter a workplace to investigate breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act – will now need to provide 24 hours’ notice of that entry.
The Work Health and Safety Act (Qld) provides legal rights to union representatives who hold an entry permit to enter a workplace for the purpose of investigating suspected contraventions of the Act.
Permit holders are already required to:
- be approved as a fit and proper person,
- establish they have a reasonable suspicion there is a contravention of the WHS Act, and
- give notice of their entry as soon as practicable after entering the workplace to the person who conducts the business or undertaking.
The WHS Act also contains measures if a permit holder misuses their right to enter a workplace, including withdrawing permits and associated rights. These rights are part of model national WHS laws that govern access to workplaces right across Australia.
ENDS.