The Queensland public service experienced an intensive period of tumult and change in recent years under the conservative Newman government. Newman swept to power on a raft of promises in early 2012, but soon broke those promises and suffered a surprise defeat after only one term. In particular, Newman promised stability and harmonious industrial relations for public servants but, once in power, pursued the all-too-familiar neo-liberal agenda of cuts to public services, threats to job security, alienation of major professions, hostility towards unions and a general de-privileging of public employment (Fairbrother, O'Brien, Junor, O'Donnell, & Williams, 2012; Pollitt & Bouckaert, 2011).
This paper traces industrial relations developments in this tumultuous period from the election of the Newman government in March 2012 until the change of government in January 2015. It begins with an outline of the government’s election commitments to public servants and unions about job security, collective bargaining and better pay rises. It traces the sudden policy reversal, based upon the ‘surprise’ findings of the Commission of Audit, which led to an austerity drive including extensive downsizing. It traces the deterioration in the relationship with unions, as the Newman government failed to reach bargained agreements, rescinded longstanding agreements on job security and delivered an even lower wages policy. Public sector unions had been instrumental in supporting Newman’s election in 2012, and mobilised heavily to oust the government in 2015. It reflects on the government’s attempt to portray austerity conditions as justification for industrial relations changes, the hostile response of public servants and their unions, and the ultimate electoral consequence.
Fairbrother, P., O'Brien, J., Junor, A., O'Donnell, M., & Williams, G. (2012). Unions and Globalisation: Governments, Management and the State at Work. New York: Routledge.
Pollitt, C., & Bouckaert, G. (2011). Public Management Reform. A Comparative Analysis: New Public Management, Governance and the Neo-Weberian State. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
