Debate resumed from 27 May 2025.
Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (10:45): I am delighted to make a brief contribution to debate on the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. Colleagues know that in mid-2023 the Government announced the establishment of an Industrial Relations Taskforce to build a modern industrial relations framework for New South Wales. That took place because members on this side of the House knew that the system was broken. Like many other matters that come before this place, particularly in industrial relations, the Government knows that it is playing catch-up. There can never be enough measures put in place for the protection of workers because it is important that workers return home from work in the same condition that they left. Ultimately, that is what the bill is about. I acknowledge the Minister for Industrial Relations and thank her for her enduring passion to provide an industrial relations system that protects workers in New South Wales.
The bill seeks to amend the Industrial Relations Act 1996 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to implement a number of recommendations made by the Industrial Relations Taskforce in its report of mid-2023 as well as ensure the State's work health and safety laws encourage a safer working environment for workers. The reforms are long overdue, and it took the coming to power of a Labor government to have those matters addressed in New South Wales. In many cases, the silence was deafening—and that is exactly what can be heard from the conservatives sitting on the other side of the Chamber, in their rightful place.
The bill seeks to insert additional objects into the Industrial Relations Act in relation to gender equality, bullying and sexual harassment. It implements a new workplace bullying and sexual harassment jurisdiction before the Industrial Relations Commission. The workplace bullying scheme will only apply to workers in the public sector, local government sector and those who work for unincorporated entities. The sexual harassment scheme will only apply to workers in the public sector and the local government sector. Furthermore, the objects of the bill amend the Industrial Relations Act as follows:
(i)to authorise the Industrial Relations Commission (theCommission) to make orders to prevent and remedy bullying at work and sexual harassment in connection with work,
(ii)to create civil penalties relating to bullying at work, sexual harassment in connection with work and other matters,
(iii)to make further provision for and consolidate existing provisions dealing with proceedings for contraventions of civil penalty provisions,
(iv)to make further provision for matters concerning principles of association and victimisation in relation to being a member or not being a member of an industrial organisation,
(v)to make further provision for gender equality in the objects of the Act and during bargaining and disputes,
(vi)to address other miscellaneous and consequential matters.
The bill makes miscellaneous amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The bill also makes consequential amendments to the Industrial Relations (General) Regulation 2020.
In concluding my brief contribution, the Government, the Minister and all of my colleagues on this side of the Chamber know that providing a safe workplace for workers is not a luxury; it is vital. It is essential to ensure that we have safe and healthy workplaces across New South Wales. I have no doubt that this will not be our last piece of industrial reform, because this is a progressive government committed to ensuring that workplaces are safe. The Minister for Industrial Relations knows that the worker is the backbone of our society and economy not only in New South Wales but also across our great country. I commend the bill to the House.
