Qld councils could cut back on aged care services
The Queensland Local Government Association (LGAQ) says councils may have to cut back on services such as aged care if federal workplace laws are inflexible.
The Federal Government has begun the process of rolling back the Work Choices laws.
LGAQ’S workforce and organisational services branch director, Tony Goode, told a Senate committee hearing into the reforms in Brisbane that councils were in direct competition with the mining, building and construction industries.
Mr Goode said councils needed attractive workforce arrangements if they wanted to survive the challenges, but was worried the bill would not provide “flexibility”.
“Councils are no longer the ‘rates, rubbish and roads’ institutions they were 10 to 15 years ago.” He said the majority of councils used collective workplace agreements.