No timeline for Queensland discrimination law changes

Queensland’s Attorney-General has refused to say when the government will implement Labor’s updated workplace discrimination laws following union pressure to push it through.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Queensland’s Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has refused to say when the government will implement Labor’s updated workplace discrimination laws following union pressure to push through the changes.

After pausing the July 1 start of the Respect at Work legislation, which was passed in the weeks before the last state election, the Liberal National Party minister said further consultation was needed to ensure the reforms had no unintended consequences.

“I said in my ministerial statement, we are putting a pause on it to consult something those opposite failed to do,” Ms Frecklington said.

The legislation bans workers from being discriminated against on the basis of homelessness, being a victim of domestic or family violence, sexual harassment, potential pregnancy, irrelevant medical or criminal records, and because of their physical appearance, including weight or height.

Businesses were also legally obligated to ensure they maintained a workplace free of sexual harassment. In addition, the bill strengthened the definition of sexual harassment to include subjecting someone to a work environment that is hostile on the ground of sex.

Around 100 union members gathered outside Queensland parliament on Tuesday to pressure the government to lift the pause. General Secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions Jacqueline King, said the updated measures reflected a modern society.

“There’s nothing new in this piece of legislation that doesn’t already exist under Commonwealth law around the country,” Ms King said.

“We are lifting the standards up in turning it around from a complaints based system to a proactive system where employers and other duty holders are required to actually do proactive steps to, heaven forbid, prevent discrimination and harassment happening in their workplaces.”

Ms Frecklington said last month that her department and police had concerns about the changes, despite Queensland’s Human Rights commissioner Scott McDougall confirming extensive consultation had already taken place.

Labor had already removed the most contentious elements of the legislation, including bans on religious school’s right to refuse to hire gay or non-religious teachers and expel gay or transgender students.

The union’s protest action coincides with the negotiations of enterprise bargaining agreements between the government and the state’s police, nurses and teachers.