CCIQ appalled at Federal Government interference in Queensland business

Friday 21 September | Categories: Workplace and Employment Policy

CCIQ (Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland) is today appalled at proposals by Federal Employment Minister Bill Shorten MP to force private organisations to match conditions offered to public sector workers.

Minister Shorten’s ill-considered proposal effectively either creates a class of public servants that are unemployable by the private sector due to their conditions attached, or alternatively it significantly diminishes the attractiveness to the private sector of taking over government activities if these types of caveats are placed on free commercial enterprise.

These are a poor outcome for the taxpayers of Queensland.

Time and again the benefits of private sector delivery are proven and this measure effectively places lead in the saddle bags.

By moving out of activities the private sector can do better, government can free resources to provide front line services that only it can supply.

The private sector has the potential to deliver significant benefits including improved quality at lower cost, however the Federal Government’s interference clearly prevents this desirable outcome from being realised and is based on ideology not the interests of Queensland business community or taxpayers.

The State Government and any business considering tendering for the outsourcing of Government activities will be significantly aggrieved by the Federal Government‘s interference.

This sort of meddling in free enterprise is not what people want or expect from their government.

CCIQ President David Goodwin said, "Once again we see out of touch ministers in Canberra imposing more regulation and burden on Queensland businesses that will not help the business community employ Queenslanders and keep the state’s economy strong."