Respect at Work and Other Matters Amendment Bill 2024

As Attorney-General, introduced and strongly advocated for the bill as implementing key reforms from the Respect@Work report and Building belonging report to strengthen anti-discrimination laws and eliminate workplace sexual harassment.

“All Queenslanders have the right to feel safe from discrimination, sexual harassment, vilification and victimisation.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Opposed the bill citing concerns about rushed consideration, late amendments, piecemeal approach to Building belonging reforms, and threats to religious freedom and freedom of speech through subjective vilification tests.

“Given the concerns raised above about the respect at work bill, the short time for consideration and debate in the public realm, its rushed and incomplete nature, especially around the Building belonging measures... the LNP will not be supporting that bill.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

As committee chair, supported the bill's reforms to the anti-discrimination scheme including new prohibitions on sex-based harassment and positive duty provisions.

“Discrimination and vilification have no place in a free, democratic society.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

As opposition spokesperson, criticised the inadequate time for debate on significant legislation and deferred to the LNP position on the respect at work bill.

“I would like to put on the record, though, that 3¾ hours to debate two significant pieces of legislation, as well as amendments that have been circulated by the Attorney, is not adequate.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

As committee member, supported the bill's new prohibitions on sex-based harassment and positive duty requirements, dismissing concerns that Christianity would be threatened.

“I am very confident that Christianity in Queensland will survive this bill without having to resort to meeting in caves and drawing the shibboleth sign of the fish in the dirt to secretly identify themselves as Christian.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill citing concerns about uncertainty in free speech, religion and association rights, subjective vilification tests, and expanded Human Rights Commission powers.

“This bill should be rejected because it creates great uncertainty about freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of religion.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Supported the bill's expansion of protected attributes and new prohibitions against hostile work environments based on sex.

“Actions that create stigma or shame, hostility and hate have no place in the Queensland that I want for our future.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Stated the LNP will not support the respect at work bill while focusing comments on the criminal justice bill.

“I put on the record that we will not be supporting the Respect at Work and Other Matters Amendment Bill.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

As Minister for Women, strongly supported the bill's reforms to strengthen workplace protections against sexual harassment and introduce positive duty on employers.

“Workplace sexual harassment is not inevitable. It is not acceptable. It is preventable.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Acknowledged support for the bill's objectives but wrote a statement of reservation noting concerns about medical status not being included as a protected attribute and concerns raised by religious groups.

“The statement of reservation highlighted that the bill will increase uncertainty in the law and it will be important to assess whether this actually occurs.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Supported the bill but heavily criticised Labor for watering down the legislation and abandoning stronger protections, particularly religious exemptions that allow discrimination.

“Thanks to Labor's backflip, religious institutions, including schools, are exempt from laws that prohibit discrimination in other settings. Thanks to Labor's cowardice, a teacher can be fired or refused employment because she lives with a boyfriend or gets pregnant before marriage.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Supported the bill's anti-discrimination reforms including expanded protected attributes, new prohibitions on sex-based harassment, and positive duty provisions.

“People should never be made to feel less deserving of opportunities because they belong to a particular group.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill as treating people of faith with contempt, citing concerns about government overreach, unclear laws, and threats to religious freedom and parental rights.

“Rather than respect, the state Labor government has treated people of faith with contempt.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Supported the bill's workplace sexual harassment reforms and anti-discrimination amendments as implementing key Respect@Work recommendations.

“These laws strengthen our prohibitions on discrimination and protect the most vulnerable in society from those who may seek to exploit them.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Vehemently opposed the bill as a disgraceful attack on religious-based schools and a complete betrayal of faith communities.

“The Respect at Work and Other Matters Amendment Bill is, without doubt, a disgraceful attack on religious-based schools about which Queenslanders should be deeply upset.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

As Education Minister, supported the bill's workplace harassment reforms while noting religious schools would not be required to change teaching practices unless already unlawful.

“We are employers ourselves; we have our own staff. We work in a place that has many staff members... It is our responsibility, as members of parliament, to make sure we are setting the highest standards.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Opposed the bill citing concerns about undefined terms like 'equitable outcomes', the narrowed reasonable person test, and expanded Human Rights Commission powers.

“We all want to protect individuals from harassment and discrimination in all its forms, but this legislation will cause more issues than it fixes.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Supported the bill's fundamental principle that every Queenslander should feel safe to go to work without fear of sexual harassment or discrimination.

“Every Queenslander should feel safe to go to work without fear of or actual sexual harassment or discrimination. That is a pretty basic fundamental core value for this parliament to support.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Opposed the bill citing concerns from constituents about impacts on religious freedom and the vagueness of the reasonable person test which narrows the standard to specific identity groups.

“Whilst there is much in this bill that is worthy of support, because it has been rushed and it introduces a level of vagueness that could lead to unjust outcomes and to a lack of mutual respect, the LNP cannot support it.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Supported the bill as advancing workplace respect, acknowledging the need to balance religious freedom with protections where beliefs impact others in society.

“Within your communities, within yourself and within your soul, explore, believe, think what you like, but we have to think about what that means if you move beyond your sphere and the impacts that you have broadly in society.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill as draconian legislation threatening free speech and religious freedom, with ambiguous undefined terms and excessive Human Rights Commission powers.

“The provisions in this bill go to the very heart of free speech and freedom of religion in this state, particularly the right of conservative and religious groups to freely express their beliefs around sex, sexuality and gender.”— 2024-09-10View Hansard