Queensland gig couriers could soon have set conditions, couples will have more flexibility over paid-parental leave and casual workers can take domestic violence leave under new laws.
State parliament has passed a bill empowering the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to set minimum entitlements and conditions for couriers, such as those working for UberEats, DoorDash and Deliveroo, and truckies.
Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace says the changes won't come into effect until the federal government amends a contractor law, which it has already done for other states.
She says the laws also allow parents to choose who takes paid parental leave, enable casual workers to take domestic violence leave and provide more protections from workplace harrasment.
"We're committed to providing good, secure jobs as our economy continues to grow and I am proud that Queensland is driving the national industrial relations conversation," Ms Grace said in a statement.
"The changes empower the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to conciliate, arbitrate and issue injunctive relief to protect victims of sexual, sex or gender-based harassment."
The laws will also effectively hobble the Red Unions, which rose to prominence in their opposition to workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The Nurses Professional Association of Queensland and the Teachers Professional Association of Queensland have links to current and former members of the Liberal National Party.
The Queensland Labor Party and its affiliated unions have accused the Red Unions of being "fake unions".
The NPAQ has been trying to gain trade union status after the regulator last year found its corporate status was inconsistent with a registered union.
Under the new law, organisations found to be "misrepresenting an entity's registration status or its ability to exercise rights" would face fines of up to $3722.
The industrial watchdog can also declare an organisation ineligible for registration to represent workers.
