November 28, 2024
The Queensland Council of Unions has slammed State Government changes to “right of entry” legislation passed by the State Government this week, labelling them as “draconian”.
General Secretary Jacqueline King said she was aghast the government was stripping away 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,” Ms King said.
The changes remove automatic “right of entry” for union representatives who hold a permit – except for immediate or imminent risks to the health and safety of a worker.
The State Government says this will “restore productivity to worksites”.
The legislation requires Workplace Health and Safety permit holders to provide at least 24 hours’ notice before entering a workplace.
The government says this will ensure management and their safety specialists are “available on site … to discuss any safety concerns”.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie the laws would stop the CFMEU from using safety as an industrial weapon.
“The CFMEU’s cultural practice of bullying and intimidation that we see on Queensland worksites against workers, contractors, employers and the independent public servants who protect workers safety must end,” he said.
“Reintroducing the requirement to provide at least 24 hours’ notice will provide a circuit breaker to recent tensions we’ve observed regarding entry and will provide employers with sufficient time to respond to WHS entry permit holders on issues that they may raise.
“The LNP Government backs workers, their wages and their safety.”
But Queensland Unions said the changes were “disrespectful to workers, their families and the Queensland community”.
Ms King said hundreds of authorised worker representatives exercised rights of entry to all types of Queensland workplaces “without ado on a daily basis”, but Deputy Premier Bleijie appeared to be fixated on changing the laws “because of his loathing of the CFMEU”.
“The LNP needs to understand that these laws affect nurses, teachers, police, public sector workers, manufacturing workers, truck drivers, as well as construction workers,” Ms King said.
“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.”
The unions said the Act already required permit holders be approved as a fit and proper person, establish they had a reasonable suspicion there was a contravention of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, and give notice of their entry as soon as practicable after entering the workplace to the person who was conducting the business.
“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,” Queensland Unions said.
