Industrial Relations supports improved productivity and fairness in Queensland workplaces. The Industrial Relations division provides:
- advocacy, advice, and support to government agencies, including government owned corporations, on public sector industrial relation matters and bargaining
- policy, legislation and research advice on state and national industrial relations matters
- compliance and information services on Queensland's industrial relations laws for state and local government, long service leave, child employment, trading hours and holidays.
- licensing and compliance services to protect vulnerable labour hire workers and promote the integrity of the labour hire industry in Queensland.
Our functions
Industrial relations strategic policy
Industrial relations strategic policy provides policy, legislation and research advice on state and national industrial relations matters.
Industrial relations regulation and compliance
Industrial relations regulation and compliance provide regulatory policy, compliance and information services in the state industrial relations system.
Compliance and enforcement policy
This Compliance and enforcement policy outlines the operational policy employed by Industrial relations regulation and compliance which involves case resolution procedures and the conduct of investigations and legal proceedings.
Industrial relations public sector
Industrial relations public sector provides information, advice, advocacy and support to government agencies including government owned corporations on public sector industrial relation matters.
Labour hire licensing compliance
Labour hire licensing compliance provides a mandatory licensing scheme to protect labour hire workers and support responsible labour hire providers. Learn more at labourhire.qld.gov.au
Industrial relations laws
Laws used to govern industrial relations throughout Queensland:
- Child Employment Act 2006
- Holidays Act 1983
- Industrial Relations Act 2016
- Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017
- Pastoral Workers Accommodation Act 1980
- Private Employment Agents Act 2005
- Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990
- Workers Accommodation Act 1952
The Industrial Relations Act 2016 provides an industrial relations framework for Queensland and regulates the state public sector, local government employees and the employees of a number of statutory authorities.
Industrial relations legislative and regulatory obligations
Regulation of the labour hire industry in Queensland
The Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 commenced on 16 April 2018. Read an overview of the regulation of the labour hire industry in Queensland.
Queensland Industrial Relations Framework
In 2015, a comprehensive review of Queensland's industrial relations laws resulted in the government adopting all 68 of the review's recommendations which will promote a fair and balanced industrial relations framework. Most provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 commenced on 1 March 2017. View the framework.
In 2021, independent reviewers Ms Linda Lavarch and Mr John Thompson conducted the five year review of the Industrial Relations Act 2016. Read more on the review, the review report and the Queensland Government response.
Building and construction Code of Practice 2000
To ensure its continued contribution to economic growth the Queensland Government is committed to the development and long-term viability of the building and construction industry in Queensland. Read more on the Code.