The Queensland Government has announced that contractors operating under agreements with the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) will be excluded from tendering for Brisbane 2032 Olympic infrastructure projects, marking one of the state’s most significant industrial relations changes since preparations for the Games began.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie confirmed the policy as part of the government’s proposed Queensland Construction Code, which is intended to reshape workplace arrangements on major publicly funded building projects.

According to the government, Olympic venues and related infrastructure will instead operate under project-specific workplace agreements that will not rely on the former Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) framework, a policy introduced under the previous Queensland Labor government.

Mr Bleijie said the Brisbane 2032 projects would use site-specific industrial agreements designed to involve multiple unions where appropriate while removing conditions the government believes have contributed to higher construction costs and reduced productivity.

Under the proposed construction code, contractors seeking work on Olympic projects managed by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority would be required to comply with the new state rules. Where contractors also have existing federal enterprise agreements, Queensland says the state code and project-specific agreements would take precedence during the tender assessment process.

The proposed code would prohibit a number of industrial provisions that have previously appeared in some enterprise agreements. These include restrictions on labour sourcing, certain all-in pay arrangements, fixed rostered days off, last-on-first-off redundancy provisions, payments linked to industrial action and other clauses that the government argues reduce flexibility on construction sites.

Beyond Brisbane 2032, the proposed rules are also expected to apply to large taxpayer-funded building projects across Queensland above specified contract values, signalling broader changes to procurement requirements throughout the state’s construction industry.

The announcement forms part of the Crisafulli Government’s wider effort to overhaul industrial arrangements in Queensland’s building sector following its earlier decision to suspend the BPIC policy. The government has argued that reforms are necessary to improve productivity, increase competition among contractors and help deliver major infrastructure projects within budget and on schedule.

Premier David Crisafulli has defended the approach, saying the objective is not to remove unions from construction sites but to ensure workplace arrangements place greater emphasis on productivity, safety and value for taxpayers. The government maintains that workers will continue to receive lawful wages and workplace protections under existing industrial relations legislation.

However, the policy has drawn strong criticism from organised labour.

The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) argues the proposed code extends beyond procurement policy and may conflict with Australia’s federal workplace relations framework. The organisation has written to the Commonwealth Government seeking clarification on how the Queensland code would operate alongside federal industrial laws, particularly for projects jointly funded by both levels of government.

QCU Secretary Jacqueline King has also questioned whether excluding contractors with existing CFMEU agreements could complicate the delivery of Olympic infrastructure, warning that uncertainty around workplace arrangements may affect project planning. Union representatives have argued that some of the prohibited provisions relate to issues such as apprentice training, workforce development and negotiated employment conditions rather than unlawful conduct.

The federal government is separately developing updated national construction guidelines through the National Construction Industry Forum. Those standards are expected to establish broader expectations for lawful and productive workplace behaviour across the construction sector, although the interaction between the proposed Queensland code and future Commonwealth guidelines has yet to be fully clarified.

The industrial policy changes come as Queensland enters a critical phase of planning for Brisbane 2032. Over the coming years, billions of dollars are expected to be invested in new sporting venues, athlete facilities, transport upgrades and supporting infrastructure. Timely procurement and workforce availability are widely regarded as essential if projects are to be completed before the Games.

The Queensland Government has indicated it will continue refining the proposed construction code while considering recommendations from the ongoing commission of inquiry examining the CFMEU in Queensland. Any final framework is expected to influence how major Olympic contracts are awarded as tendering accelerates.

For now, the announcement represents another significant chapter in the state’s broader industrial relations agenda, highlighting the balance governments must strike between delivering major infrastructure efficiently, complying with workplace laws and maintaining productive relationships with industry participants as preparations for Brisbane 2032 continue.