PETER LLOYD: Protestors have hit the streets in Queensland in response to the State Government's turn towards draconian law-and-order measures.

This week has already seen the passage of tough anti-bikie gang laws, along with a move to give the Attorney-General the power to lock up sex offenders forever.

Today saw another bill introduced that bans workers who are hurt on the job from suing their employers for negligence.

The Opposition and demonstrators want the Attorney-General to quit or be sacked.

Stephanie Smail reports.

CAIRNS PROTEST CHANT LEADER: One, two, three and a bit -

CAIRNS PROTESTERS: - The LNP is full of shit!

CAIRNS PROTEST CHANT LEADER: One, two, three and a bit -

CAIRNS PROTESTERS: - The LNP is full of shit!

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Union members gathered in Cairns this morning to voice their anger about the workers compensation overhaul.

PROTEST LEADER: This change is a clear attack on the basic working premise that a worker should be able to go to work, do their jobs and go home safely to their families at the end of every day.

(Sound of protesters cheering and applauding)

STEPHANIE SMAIL: The law changes will ban workers from suing their boss for negligence if they're hurt on the job. A doctor would rate the injury and, if it's considered lower than a certain threshold, they have no case.

It's the latest in a raft of tough legislative changes by the State Government and Queensland's legal fraternity is outraged too.

Lawyer Kerry Splatt was one of the members of the Law and Justice Committee reviewing the workers compensation changes. He's now resigned from the committee and cancelled his membership with the Liberal National Party.

And he's scathing of Mr Bleijie's handling of the review.

KERRY SPLATT: Basically there's no input from anyone. The Minister just comes in and pontificates and that's it. There's no... I tried to discuss the issue with him several months ago and I was shut down as being self-interested lawyers. He's not talking to self-interested lawyers; he's going to talk to the people who paid the premiums, the business community.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Annette Bradfield from the Queensland Law Society describes the state's existing workers compensation system as the best in Australia. She's worried too many workers will now be denied fair compensation if their boss is negligent.

ANNETTE BRADFIELD: The concern that we have when we're looking at the rights of Queenslanders here: it's the fact that over 50 per cent of injured Queensland workers will lose their right to sue their employers for negligence. Bearing in mind it's not... They have to prove negligence so it's not like a given, a blank cheque, so to speak.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: She's also critical of the way the Queensland Government is carrying out major legislative change with little consultation.

ANNETTE BRADFIELD: It is concerning that when there's fundamental legislative changes like we've seen this week that affect the rights of Queenslanders that the proper process, whereby it's put out for consultation to the various stakeholders, referred to its relevant parliamentary committee, which was set up for that purpose, it's concerning that that proper process is not being followed.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Queensland's Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk pointed out the growing discontent in State Parliament.

She wants the Premier, Campbell Newman, to sack the Attorney-General, Jarrod Bleijie.

ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK: In the past 24 hours the Law Society, the Council of Civil Liberties and a leading lawyer who is also a former LNP member have criticised the Attorney-General, including comments that the Attorney needs to listen to advice and has little experience in the law and I ask: when will the Premier remove this Attorney-General?

(Sound of guffaws)

CAMPBELL NEWMAN: I wholeheartedly thank the leader of the Opposition for her question because firstly I'm happy to reiterate not only my personal support for the Attorney-General but I think without question he has the unequivocal, 100 per cent, rock-solid support of the cabinet...

(MPs say hear, hear)

CAMPBELL NEWMAN: ...and those honourable members from the LNP in this place.

(MPs say hear, hear)

STEPHANIE SMAIL: As the laws were being debated in Parliament, about 200 protestors were voicing their opinion outside.

BRISBANE PROTESTERS: Jarrod Bleijie hear us say:

BRISBANE PROTEST CHANT LEADER: Common law rights here to stay!

BRISBANE PROTESTERS: Common law rights here to stay!

STEPHANIE SMAIL: But Campbell Newman wouldn't back down.

CAMPBELL NEWMAN: This Attorney-General has had the ticker, the guts to actually stand up to entrenched interests right across this state without fear or favour and do what's right for Queenslanders; do what's right for Queensland families; do what's right for Queensland businesses with red tape and bureaucracy; do what's right when businesses are being subject to intimidation by criminal motorcycle gangs.

I could go on and on and on. He has done the right thing by Queenslanders.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Annastacia Palaszczuk kept up the pressure.

ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK: Will the Premier today commit to meet with key stakeholders such as the Law Society and the Bar Association to fill the consultation void left by the Attorney-General? Go on, do you have the ticker?

(Sound of lower house laughing)

CAMPBELL NEWMAN: I personally have met with the Law Society in relation to workers compensation laws that they now bleat about and say there's been no consultation on. So I don't know how much consultation is required with specific vested interest groups.

PETER LLOYD: That's the Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, ending Stephanie Smail's report.