Queensland's Liberal National Party government has announced sweeping and controversial changes to workplace legislation, marking a significant departure from its cautious approach since taking office. The proposals would grant Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie the power to break strikes by public sector workers in certain circumstances, including when deemed "in the public interest". The Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in parliament on 14 October and has been referred to a parliamentary committee for inquiry.
For nearly two years, the LNP's governing strategy has centred on avoiding contentious issues that might deplete its political capital. By moving forward with these reforms, the party risks alienating substantial portions of its suburban voter base—the demographic most critical to maintaining its current polling advantage.
What do the proposed changes involve?
The legislation would fundamentally reshape Queensland's industrial relations framework. Beyond granting strike-breaking powers, the government proposes making it significantly more difficult for public servants, including emergency services workers, to claim compensation for psychological injuries. Under the new framework, workers pursuing such claims would need to demonstrate that their workplace was the primary cause of their condition, a substantially higher threshold than current arrangements.
The bill also introduces a minimum three-working-day notice period for protected industrial action in specified circumstances. Additionally, the bill would allow the minister to issue directions after terminating protected industrial action, with civil penalties for breaches.
What prompted these reforms?
The proposals stem from an independent review of Queensland's industrial relations and workers' compensation schemes. The review was conducted by former WorkCover chair Glenn Ferguson and Industrial Relations Commissioner Gary Black, examining 62 industrial-relations recommendations and 42 workers' compensation recommendations. The government cited a 268% rise in psychological injury claims over the past decade and projected that premiums would increase 26% over five years without intervention. The review received written feedback from 97 stakeholders, including employers, unions, workers and insurers, and made 104 recommendations overall: 75 were accepted in full, 14 in principle, six noted and nine rejected.
Who supports and opposes the changes?
Several business groups have welcomed the reforms as necessary measures to control costs and maintain workplace productivity. However, opposition has been swift and vocal. Law firm Slater and Gordon warned that the changes would make it harder for Queenslanders to access support for psychological injuries. The United Workers Union, which represents paramedics and some healthcare workers, characterised the changes as "an underhanded attack on ambulance officers and other hospital staff".
Opposition leader Steven Miles described the proposals as a "Newman-era attack on workers", invoking memories of Campbell Newman's government—a comparison that carries significant weight in Queensland politics. The Newman administration's aggressive workplace policies, including proposals to sack public sector workers, triggered mass protests and contributed to its electoral collapse.
Why is this politically risky for the LNP?
The Crisafulli government's cautious approach since taking office in 2023 reflected hard-learned lessons from the Newman era. The premier and Bleijie both witnessed firsthand how "crash through" tactics alienated suburban voters. The party's 2024 election campaign deliberately avoided ideologically divisive positions, focusing instead on crime and cost-of-living concerns while keeping controversial stances on issues such as abortion and budget cuts off the table.
Workplace reforms carry particular political weight in Queensland because the public sector employs more than 320,000 people, making it a powerful political bloc in its own right. Many of these workers and their families live in suburban electorates critical to the LNP's polling lead. By moving forward with these changes, the government risks mobilising opposition among voters who have otherwise been comfortable with its approach.
The government has already demonstrated willingness to pursue ideologically driven policies on other fronts—including moves affecting trans healthcare and other contentious issues. However, those initiatives have had limited mainstream political impact because suburban and regional voters prioritise cost-of-living and crime concerns. Workplace reforms, by contrast, directly affect the economic security of the middle-class suburban voters who delivered the LNP to office.
What is the government's position?
Bleijie appeared acutely aware of the political battle ahead when addressing reporters at a press conference at Newstead the morning after the announcement.
You're going to see a mammoth campaign by the Labor party. It's going to be a lot of mistruths and misinformation, and I think everything they will be able to say … we will be able to debunk with facts.
The Crisafulli government remains comfortably ahead in the relatively few public polls available, though recent polling suggested Labor in Queensland had taken the biggest hit from the rise in support for One Nation. However, the political landscape remains volatile, and recent developments across the country demonstrate that political capital—whether accumulated through ideology or focus-group testing—offers no guarantee of durability.
What happens next?
The bill is now subject to parliamentary committee inquiry before returning to the House for further consideration. The government will face sustained pressure from unions, worker advocacy groups and opposition parties during this process. The outcome of the committee inquiry and subsequent parliamentary debate will determine whether the LNP can maintain its polling advantage while pursuing a more ideologically assertive agenda, or whether these reforms will prove to be the political miscalculation that suburban voters punish at the ballot box.
