Qld law changes will cost jobs: councils

Changes to state industrial relations laws will cost at least 1500 jobs, say Queensland councils.

Labor's Industrial Relations (Restoring Fairness) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill passed parliament on Thursday night with the support of the two crossbench Katter MPs.

The legislation scraps the former Liberal National Party (LNP) government's laws requiring the state's Industrial Relations Commission to consider government fiscal strategy in making determinations.

The laws also allow greater union access to work sites and make it harder for government services to be contracted out.

Councils claim the reversal of "sensible and fair" IR laws will cost 1500 local government jobs.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam says it could be more difficult for councils to manage their workforces.

He says the changes will also entrench the "inherent unfairness" of having council employees doing the same or similar work getting different pay and conditions.

"I am particularly disappointed that the passage of this legislation relied on the support of the Katter's Australian Party MPs, who did a deal with Labor and the unions, apparently in exchange for mandated ethanol in fuel," Mr Hallam said.

"I cannot see how the KAP's efforts would benefit anyone in (Rob Katter's) Mount Isa electorate."

Opposition local government spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the councils would probably have to pass on new costs to ratepayers.

"Not only will Queenslanders lose their jobs but they will be faced with a rates increase," she said.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said changing the LNP's "draconian IR laws" was a matter of urgency.

"We've returned their hard-fought rights and conditions, which will deliver real benefits for Queensland workers," Mr Pitt said on Thursday night.

Under the changes, the personal and contact details of new public servants can be passed on to their relevant union.