The Palaszczuk Government will struggle to push through a controversial amendment to the public servant defined benefit scheme, with the Parliament's powerful cross bench looking at blocking the move.
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The reticence over supporting the amendment, which has seen the public sector union and LNP unite in an uneasy alliance to fight against the change, means the minority government is potentially looking at its second legislative defeat, on the back of losing the vegetation management bill in parliament last week.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt slipped in the amendment, revealed by Fairfax Media on Tuesday, to the Revenue and Legislation Amendment Bill, due to be debated later this year.
Essentially, it allows the Treasurer of the day to change the multiple used to change how some public servants have their retirement entitlements calculated.
While Together Union Secretary Alex Scott said he did not believe it would have a broad impact on the public service, he said the public servant union would join the LNP in lobbying for the amendment to be dropped.
"As a matter of principle, we never think any Treasurer should ever be allowed to interfere in the superannuation of defined benefit scheme members," he said.
In a statement released late on Tuesday, Mr Pitt said Mr Scott had "supported the aims of the government's proposed changes".
"He has questioned whether the Queensland Treasurer of the day should be the person to make the decision on adjusting the multiple applied when calculating payouts," he said.
"I will address those concerns directly.
"The all-party parliamentary committee that examined the legislation supported the remainder of the legislation.
"To be clear, all existing salaries that are superannuable, including more than 50 allowances available under industrial awards and published on the QSuper website as well as potential future allowances, will continue to be eligible as part of the defined benefit scheme.
"Nothing changes in that regard.
"The proposed amendments merely provide clarity for the future in the event that there is a redefinition of existing payments that have not previously been allowable for calculating super."
But Mr Scott has already sought meetings with the Katter Party and independent Rob Pyne to discuss his concerns with the amendment – concerns the cross bench, which holds the balance of power, share.
The government would need the support of at least three cross benchers to get their amendment through.
Mr Pyne said he believed it was a "dangerous precedent" and would discuss the matter further with stakeholders.
"Even if you are prepared to back the judgement of the current Treasurer it hardly makes it a defensible process," he said.
Robbie Katter said he was also uncomfortable with the government's intent.
"It does start to raise concerns when governments start talking about changing things with entitlements," he said.
Parliament resumes next week.
