Restrictions on Stop Bullying Orders Where Anti-Discrimination Laws Apply
Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
civil penalties employment rights sexual harassment work health and safety workplace bullying workplace injury
Introduced by: The Hon Sophie Cotsis MP (ALP); The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Damien Tudehope LIB
“The Opposition does not oppose the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025, although I will raise some concerns expressed to us around issues relating to some of the provisions in the bill shortly.”
Abigail Boyd GRN
“I speak on behalf of The Greens as our spokesperson for industrial relations, and work health and safety, to support the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. I am glad to see this bill before the House today.”
Sarah Kaine ALP
“I speak in support of the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. The bill is not just a policy update; it is a statement of values. It places gender equality at the heart of our industrial relations framework. In 1996 Australia made a landmark decision and outlawed unequal pay for equal work.”
Mark Latham IND
“I contribute to debate on the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. My starting point in debate on any industrial relations bill in this Parliament is that we should not have that power in a national economy and given the principles of national economic focus. Industrial relations powers should sit with the Commonwealth.”
Tara Moriarty ALP
“I speak in support of the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. I acknowledge the Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Work Health and Safety, who is in the President’s gallery.”
John Ruddick LIBT
“The Libertarian Party opposes the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. My hunch is that the Government is going in the right direction with the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, but it has made its union base unhappy and so has decided that this bill is the consolation prize.”
Anthony D'Adam ALP
“I do not want to follow the Hon. John Ruddick’s contribution to debate on the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025, but it is a parallel universe. His contribution is indicative of a view that is blind to the asymmetries of power that exist in workplaces.”
Emily Suvaal ALP
“I make a brief contribution in support of the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. As the Hon. Anthony D’Adam said, it is an excellent bill. I commend the Minister from the other place for her work in pulling it together, along with key partners in the union movement who have been so important in advocating for these reforms over the years.”
Cameron Murphy ALP
“I make a brief contribution in relation to the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025. This bill is incredibly important. It took 30 years of advocacy by the trade union movement to get these sorts of protections in place. I will not go through the detail of the bill. My colleagues have done that in exceptional detail already.”
Mark Buttigieg ALP
“Damien Tudehope, Ms Abigail Boyd, the Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, the Hon. Mark Latham, the Hon. Tara Moriarty, the Hon. John Ruddick, the Hon. Anthony D’Adam, the Hon. Emily Suvaal and the Hon. Cameron Murphy. Government members are proud to continue this Government’s progressive industrial relations reform. The Minns Labor Government is making New South Wales a better and safer place to work.”
News articles and press releases
Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025
Ms SOPHIE COTSIS, Minister for Industrial Relations — 2025-05-27
The bill introduces critical measures, including establishing new anti-bullying and sexual harassment jurisdictions before the Industrial Relations Commission; clarification of the commission’s powers during industrial disputes; and changes to the freedom from victimisation provisions. Regarding the Work Health and Safety Act, the bill also introduces measures to strengthen work health and safety protections for workers in New South Wales.