Unions have won a High Court bid to have a Newman government decision to exempt Queensland Rail from the federal Fair Work Act struck down on constitutional grounds.
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But the Liberal National Party, now in opposition, had no regrets about its actions in light of the legal loss.
The 2012 introduction of the state Queensland Rail Transit Authority Act transferred all QR employees to the new QRTA.
As a consequence, workers were no longer subject to existing enterprise agreements, which the five unions representing QR employees argued was unconstitutional.
QR was, they argued, a "trading corporation" rather than a statutory authority and, therefore, subject to the Fair Work Act.
Last week, the High Court unanimously agreed.
Electrical Trades Union assistant state secretary Peter Ong, whose union was one of the five to launch the High Court action, said the QRTA Act was "anti-worker legislation" that was "explicitly aimed to strip conditions away" from all government employees.
"What (the High Court case) exposed was the fact the Newman government was ideologically driven to attack workers and their conditions," he said.
"In this case, like many of the ideological attacks, they were found wanting."
In a letter to the ETU, QR chief executive Helen Gluer said QR respected the court's decision.
"We are currently considering the full implications of the decision for Queensland Rail," she wrote to ETU state secretary Peter Simpson.
"...(We have) already advised our employees that there will be no change in their pay and conditions as we work through the implications of this decision.
"I want to reassure you that we will be approaching any changes arising from this case in a measured, methodical and calm manner."
When approached for comment, Opposition transport spokesman Scott Emerson did not directly address the High Court decision.
"The LNP stands by its record in regards to transport, especially Queensland Rail," he said.
"The LNP undertook a series of reforms when it came to office after inheriting a transport system left by the then transport minister Annastasia Palaszczuk where QR was at a three-year low in terms of reliability.
"Under the LNP, we steered QR back on track to the best on time and reliability performance in its 100-year history and the best rail performance network of any metropolitan system in Australia."
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad welcomed the High Court's decision.
"These laws were an arrogant attempt to strip away workers' rights, conditions and bargaining power which is why the Labor opposition voted against them at the time," she said.
"The government is currently working through all of the implications from (Wednesday's) High Court ruling.
"Importantly, Queensland Rail workers can be assured that there will be no change in their pay and conditions as we work together with employees and unions.
"Queensland Rail will shortly commence negotiations in good faith with Unions on replacement enterprise agreements under the Fair Work Act."
