Implementation of reforms

Workforce framework

Workforce frameworks have been developed by the state government in consultation with stakeholders to protect employment terms and conditions for employees affected by water reform.

There are two workforce frameworks in place for South East Queensland (SEQ) water service providers.

Retransfer workforce framework

The SEQ Distribution and Retail Water Retransfer Workforce Framework (PDF, 135K)* protects employment terms and conditions for employees affected by councils’ withdrawal from distributor-retailer Allconnex Water.

In 2011, the Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council and Redland City Council chose to withdraw their water businesses from Allconnex and re-establish their businesses within council operations by 1 July 2012.

The South East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009 was amended to provide for the re-establishment of council water businesses and the transfer of assets and staff to councils.

The retransfer framework supports the transition of Allconnex employees and ensures the appropriate and fair treatment of council employees.

The retransfer framework was negotiated by an industrial relations working party comprising representatives from the Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council, Redland City Council, Allconnex, various unions, and relevant State agencies.

It will replace a previous 2009 framework for Allconnex Water, Redland City, Logan City and Gold Coast City Councils.

The Minister for Energy and Water Utilities approved, by gazette notice, the retransfer framework with a commencement date of 16 December 2011.

For questions about the framework, call 1300 789 906 or email: qwcenquiries@qwc.qld.gov.au

Workforce framework 2009

The SEQ Distribution and Retail Water Reform Workforce Framework (PDF, 125K)* was developed in 2009 to protect employees affected by water reform changes.

The framework protects the terms and conditions of employment for employees affected by the transfer of water and wastewater functions from the 10 SEQ local governments to the three distributor-retailers established under the South East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009. This includes staff:

• transferring from an SEQ local government to a distributor-retailer
• remaining in the employment of a local government and undertaking work on behalf of a distributor-retailer in accordance with a service level agreement.

The framework was negotiated by the Council of Mayors SEQ (on behalf of the SEQ local governments), various unions and relevant State agencies.

The workforce framework was approved by the then Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations on 20 December 2009.

For questions about the framework, call 1300 789 906 or email: qwcenquiries@qwc.qld.gov.au.

Transfer scheme

Distributor-retailers Unitywater, Queensland Urban Utilities, and Allconnex Water became operational on 1 July 2010. A major part of making these entities operational was ensuring the SEQ councils' existing assets (such as water and wastewater infrastructure and other assets), employees, instruments and liabilities could be transferred to the distributor-retailers. Section 56 of the Distribution and Retail Act sets out the matters that can be provided for in a transfer scheme between council and distributor-retailers.

A full copy of the certification statement was published in the Queensland Government Gazette on 28 May 2010.

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