Queensland proposes powers to halt protected strikes under industrial relations overhaul

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Queensland strike powers reform

Highlights

Queensland's proposed bill empowers the industrial relations minister to terminate protected industrial action if it significantly threatens public safety or the state's economy.
The legislation, following an independent review with 97 stakeholder submissions and 104 recommendations, adopts 75 recommendations in full and amends notice requirements for strikes.
New provisions require employment to be the major significant contributing factor for psychological injury claims, raising concerns among unions about reduced access to support.

Bill expands ministerial intervention powers

As reported by ABC News, the legislation introduced by Deputy Premier and Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie would allow Queensland's industrial relations minister to terminate protected industrial action if satisfied there is a sufficient public interest justification. The proposed threshold includes cases where a strike would threaten life, personal safety, health or welfare, or cause significant damage to the state's economy.

Bleijie says he wrote to the federal industrial relations minister to intervene and argues the state changes largely mirror federal laws introduced by Julia Gillard's government in 2009. He says commuter disruption was a key concern, while the bill also requires at least three working days' notice for protected industrial action.

Review findings and worker impact concerns

The bill follows an independent review of Queensland's industrial relations laws that received written submissions from 97 stakeholders, including employers, unions, workers, insurers and other interest groups. The review made 104 recommendations, with the state government accepting 75 in full.

The proposed package also changes the test for psychological injury claims by requiring employment to be the major significant contributing factor. Queensland's peak union body says the changes would make it harder for frontline workers to access support for psychological injuries, and Jacqueline King says the measures should not be rushed through parliament.

The bill has been referred to a parliamentary committee for examination before returning to the House for debate, leaving the final shape of the reforms subject to further scrutiny.

We previously reported on Bangladesh’s move to form a new minimum wage board for the garment sector after workers protested in Dhaka over pay. The article outlined the nomination process for worker and factory-owner representatives, noting mounting pressure ahead of the upcoming wage review point as protesters demanded a higher minimum wage.

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