UnionsACT is launching an awareness blitz targeting the significant weakening of workplace privacy laws pushed by Greens’ MLA Shane Rattenbury.

Alex White, Secretary of UnionsACT, says the new laws, passed on Thursday 14 April, give undue and unjustified powers to insurance companies and employers to spy on workers outside the workplace.

“It is deeply troubling that these changes were rammed through the Assembly at the behest of big insurance companies,” Alex said.

“We have already seen insurance companies misuse covert surveillance powers in other states. The result is injured workers who have been harassed and victimised by insurance companies.

“The enormous scope of this change, and the serious invasion of privacy, should have seen the Minister pause and consult more widely.

“If there is criminal activity, then the appropriate agency to investigate is the police. The Government should not be deputising businesses and insurance companies to go out and spy on their workforce as they walk out their front door, go shopping, or pick up their kids from school.

“The right to privacy of over 160,000 workers in Canberra are being reduced to satisfy the commercial interests of insurance companies.

“ACT workers would be rightly surprised that Mr Rattenbury and the Greens are reducing the right to privacy instead of strengthening them.

“UnionsACT will ensure that working people are aware that their right to privacy has been seriously undermined by Mr Rattenbury.”