- The Crisafulli Government is repealing Labor's information-sharing laws to protect businesses and workers from the risk of CFMEU misconduct on Queensland construction sites.
- Repealing Labor's information-sharing laws that were set to commence in March will mean the Regulator can continue focusing on its core function of keeping Queenslanders safe.
- The changes in the Bill are another step to support the Crisafulli Government's zero-tolerance approach to bullying, fear and intimidation on Queensland workplaces.
The Crisafulli Government has taken another step towards stamping out the CFMEU's business model of bullying, fear and intimidation by repealing Labor's laws that risked increasing union misconduct on Queensland worksites from March next year.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie today introduced the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 to protect Queensland businesses from the real risk of the CFMEU weaponising laws that lack appropriate safeguards.
Under Labor's information sharing laws, entry permit holders (EPHs) and health and safety representatives (HSRs) would hold powers to request from the Regulator enforcement and compliance information, such as improvement notices, prohibition notices and non-disturbance notices.
Labor's laws provided minimal limitations and safeguards and created a real risk of being abused and exploited by EPHs, such as the CFMEU.
Labor's information-sharing laws meant there was no limit on the number of requests that could be made, how far back the information could be sought as well as no requirement for a reason from EPHs or HSRs to explain the grounds for making the request.
It comes just months after the Crisafulli Government announced a landmark Commission of Inquiry would be held into the militant CFMEU and Labor's protection racket.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie said the move during Safe Work Month was a further step forward for the Crisafulli Government in delivering the change needed to restore safety and the rule of law on Queensland construction sites.
"For almost a decade Labor ran a protection racket for the CFMEU and these laws are another example of Labor legislating to enable the militant CFMEU," Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
"The Regulator's core function is to protect Queenslander's safety, not to assist in facilitating the CFMEU's orchestrated campaign of coercion, harassment and intimidation against non-union workplaces.
"These laws are a clear legislative overreach which serve no purpose other than give the CFMEU another tool to bully and intimidate employers and workers in the construction industry.
"Unlike Labor, the Crisafulli Government has a zero tolerance for this culture and we are delivering the change needed to restore safety and the rule of law on Queensland construction sites.
"There are already sufficient mechanisms in place under the Work Health and Safety Act to help representatives access the information they need lawfully and repealing Labor's CFMEU-enabling laws re-aligns this aspect of Queensland's work health and safety framework with the model laws."
The Bill will also reinforce the regulator's existing power to prohibit the sale or use and implementation of electrical equipment, where the regulator finds it does not comply with relevant safety criteria, following a sunset review of the regulation.
It does this by relocating unsafe equipment directions into the Electrical Safety Act 2002 from the regulation to recognise the significance of these powers to protect Queenslanders from electrical risks.
