The Queensland Government has announced new industrial relations laws which it says will introduce much needed transparency for the sector.

Attorney-General, Jarrod Bleijie, said that the amendments would provide greater accountability for all industrial organisations in the state.

“These organisations occupy a unique and privileged position in the industrial relations system,” Mr Bleijie said.

“In light of that position, members deserve to know where and how their membership fees are being spent.”

“The new laws will apply to 32 employer associations and 34 trade unions currently registered in Queensland.

“The Newman Government believes in freedom of association, and the amendments if passed will support workers’ rights to choose whether to join an association or not.”

Mr Bleijie said these laws would also delete union encouragement clauses in public service contracts.

“If unions want to increase their membership, they can do it themselves; this government is not a recruitment agency,” he said.

Under the amendments, four publicly available, retrospective registers will be set up and required to be kept up to date from 1 July 2012.

These include a register of material personal interests declarations, gifts and benefits given and received by officials and employees and a register of ballots for expenditure on political items greater than $10,000.