Queensland's industrial relations minister would gain powers to terminate protected industrial action under a workplace bill introduced by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie on Wednesday (14 October). The Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has been referred to a parliamentary committee for examination.
The proposed powers would allow the minister to issue a written declaration ending protected action for a proposed enterprise agreement. Grounds include threats to life, personal safety, health or Queensland's economy, significant disruption to a public service contrary to the public interest, or another significant effect contrary to the public interest.
The government's explanatory notes say the changes aim to balance workers' and employers' rights with maintaining essential public services. They describe the ministerial provision as modelled on federal powers and an option of last resort.
A separate provision would require the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to suspend or terminate protected action when it was satisfied the action was causing or threatening serious public-service disruption and harm to people outside the proposed agreement, and was contrary to the public interest. That process would require an application.
Different Review Rights
The notes acknowledge that the new powers limit workers' rights to take protected action. A commission decision could be appealed to the Industrial Court, whereas a ministerial declaration would not be appealable, although it could be subject to judicial review.
The bill also proposes at least three working days' notice for protected industrial action and would remove protection for action during conciliation or arbitration. The government says those restrictions would help employers plan for disruption and encourage negotiations towards an agreement.
ABC News reported that Bleijie said ministerial intervention would be reserved for extraordinary situations. Labor opposition leader Steven Miles argued that federal law set a much higher threshold for damage-causing industrial action than the Queensland proposal.
The state industrial relations jurisdiction covers about 383,000 workers, according to ABC News, while an estimated 2.66 million others are covered by the federal Fair Work Act. The Guardian reported that several business groups welcomed the changes.
Psychological Injury Changes Also Proposed
The package would also require employment to be the major significant contributing factor to a psychological injury for workers' compensation coverage. The explanatory notes say the aim is to maintain fair benefits for injured workers alongside an affordable and viable scheme for employers.
Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King warned, in comments reported by ABC News, that the proposed threshold risked excluding workers from compensation and support. She called for stakeholders to have sufficient time to scrutinise the changes before parliament proceeded.