Overview
- The Commission of Inquiry has published a draft building and construction code for public tenders above $2 million and is seeking submissions until July 24, 2026.
- Unions say the draft would outlaw features of many CFMEU enterprise agreements, including paid time off for union activities and non‑working delegates, and would restrict negotiating ratio arrangements that support apprentices.
- Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King has written to federal workplace minister Amanda Rishworth and warned the code could conflict with the federal Fair Work Act and invite constitutional or administrative‑law challenges.
- Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and the Crisafulli government say they will consider the inquiry's recommendations, deny any outright ban on firms with CFMEU agreements, and say site‑specific enterprise agreements will be used for 2032 venue sites.
- The draft would add higher procurement and productivity checks for larger projects (over $10 million for building work and $20 million for civil work) and could affect firms’ ability to tender, which industry groups say could restore productivity but unions say risks delaying Brisbane 2032 builds.