What’s at stake for all Queensland workers
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 3, 22 May 2026, page no.15
On International Workers’ Memorial Day (28 April), Queensland unions came together to launch the Hands Off Our Safety campaign — a united response to government proposals that could reshape workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation across the state.
This campaign brings together workers from every corner of Queensland: educators, health workers, paramedics, public servants, construction workers, miners, manufacturing workers, retail staff and many more. It reflects a shared commitment to defending the protections that keep workers safe and ensuring fair treatment when harm occurs.
The campaign was sparked by the release of the Queensland Productivity Commission’s report into the construction industry and the government’s acceptance of many of its recommendations. The Commission has labelled workplace safety laws “WHS red tape” that “impedes productivity”. These recommendations are not limited to construction and would apply to all Queensland workplaces — including schools and TAFE campuses.
At the same time, the government has announced a review of the state’s workers’ compensation systems. Together, these proposals represent significant changes to the rights and protections workers rely on.
The government has said it will:
- review the enforceability of WHS codes of practice, including those covering risk management, psychosocial hazards, asbestos, and workplace consultation
- restrict workers’ rights to stop unsafe work when at risk of serious harm arising from an imminent or immediate risk
- review whether compliance safety rules should be scaled back based on perceived levels of risk.
The government has also announced a review of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act. A key focus is reducing or removing access to compensation, and potentially, early access to support for psychological injury claims (see page 8 for more). It also plans to expand employer access to self-insurance arrangements, placing employers in charge of managing claims for their own injured workers.
Why these changes matter
Queensland currently provides strong workers’ compensation protections for first responders and other frontline workers, such as teachers, school leaders, and teacher aides. In your roles you face a daily risk of trauma, aggression, and psychological harm, simply from doing your job. The government is now proposing to cut or weaken these protections.
This could result in:
- the obligation on insurers to minimise psychological harm caused by workplace hazards being stripped away
- workers’ access to compensation for psychological injuries being limited or even denied, even when those injuries arise from physical workplace risks.
The solution is not to weaken protections. The solution is to strengthen prevention, enforce safety standards, and ensure workers have access to the support they need.
Effective workplace laws must:
- prevent injuries and fatalities
- guarantee fair compensation when harm occurs
- provide effective rehabilitation and return to work programs and support for injured workers
- reward and incentivise employers with good safety and rehabilitation cultures.
Anything less puts workers at risk.
The Hands Off Our Safety campaign delivers two clear messages:
- Workplace safety laws must not be weakened.
- Workers’ compensation protections must not be reduced.
Safety is not “red tape” or a barrier to productivity — it is about workers’ lives, health, and dignity. Every worker deserves to go home safe, and every injured worker deserves fair treatment and support.
It is critical that all workers know what is at stake!
https://qldunions.com/hands-off-our-safety/