Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe in freedom of association. I believe in the right of Queensland nurses and Queensland teachers to choose who represents them in the workplace. Therefore, I am absolutely appalled at the Palaszczuk Labor government's attack on the rights of 10,000 Queensland nurses who, through the exercise of their own freedom of choice, have chosen to be represented by the NPAQ, and 3,000 teachers who have chosen, through the exercise of their freedom of choice, to be represented by the TPAQ. Why is the Palaszczuk Labor government attacking the right of NPAQ and the TPAQ to exist? Why? Follow the money.

The Nurses Professional Association of Queensland and the Teachers Professional Association of Queensland are totally independent of any political party. They do not make any political donations. Therefore, they can provide quality industrial relations services to the 10,000 nurses and 3,000 teachers who have chosen to be represented by them at a cost of $250 to $300 less per year. Why does any government of any political persuasion have a right to attack the rights of our teachers and nurses to choose an industrial relations organisation to represent them? I stand shoulder to shoulder with Queensland nurses and Queensland teachers to defend their right to freedom of choice and their right to choose the industrial relations organisation that is unaffiliated with the Australian Labor Party.