Strengthening Protections for Queensland Workers Amendment Bill 2026
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill implements workplace anti-discrimination reforms that were passed by the previous government in 2024 but indefinitely delayed. It strengthens Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Act by adding new protections against sex-based harassment and hostile work environments, expanding the attributes protected from discrimination to include homelessness and domestic violence, and requiring employers to proactively prevent discrimination rather than just respond to complaints.
Who it affects
Workers and job seekers gain new protections against workplace harassment and hostile environments. Employers and businesses must take active steps to prevent discrimination or face investigation and compliance action by the Queensland Human Rights Commission.
Key changes
- Employers must proactively prevent discrimination and harassment (positive duty), not just respond after complaints
- New protections against sex-based harassment and hostile work environments, separate from existing sexual harassment laws
- New protected attributes including homelessness, subjection to domestic or family violence, physical appearance, and expunged conviction
- Vilification protections expanded to cover age, disability, and sex, including online conduct and social media
- Complaint timeframe extended from one year to two years, and the Queensland Human Rights Commission gains new powers to investigate systemic discrimination and issue compliance notices
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Introduced13 May 2026View Hansard
▸1 procedural vote
Vote to grant leave
Procedural vote on whether to grant the bill's mover leave to move a motion without notice required to progress the private member's bill; defeated 38 to 52 with the LNP government voting against, blocking the bill from proceeding.
Permission was refused.
A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (38)
Noes (52)
▸Committee13 May 2026View Hansard
Referred to Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee
The bill was referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee on 13 May 2026. The committee did not table a report. The bill was discharged before the committee completed its examination, as the procedural motion to grant leave was negatived in the Legislative Assembly, so the bill did not proceed. No findings, recommendations or report on this bill were produced.
▸Second Reading
As mover of the bill, presented it to restore respect-at-work protections for Queensland workers, including a positive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment, modernised protected attributes and strengthened vilification laws, and called on the LNP government to support the procedural motion to let the bill proceed to committee.
“The Labor opposition is bringing this bill back before the House because safe and respectful workplaces should never be treated as optional. No-one should have to choose between their job and their safety.”— 2026-05-13View Hansard
Referenced Entities
Legislation
Organisations
Roles & Offices
Sectors Affected
Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards
Source Documents
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