Qld senator urges workplace law overhaul

Queensland LNP senator Amanda Stoker has outlined radical reforms to Australia's workplace laws, urging the government to boost the power of bosses.

Senator Stoker gave her maiden speech to parliament on Wednesday, three months after replacing former attorney-general George Brandis in the upper house.

She said employers would give workers on the margins of the employment market a chance if the disincentive of "punitive" unfair dismissal laws was removed.

"Industrial relations reform is something our nation desperately needs and which the conservative side of politics should promote," she told parliament.

The 35-year-old lawyer also wants to strip unions of their tax-free status.

"When a union is selling insurance, investing, selling education services and running all manner of start-ups they should be taxed like the business they are," Senator Stoker said.

She wants to end unions' monopoly on workplace representation, arguing there needs to be competition for workers like teachers, nurses and tradespeople.

"Workers value workplace representation, however, they do not want politicised workplace representation," Senator Stoker said.

On the education system, the rookie senator said some teachers were lamenting children starting school without being toilet trained.

She said a large problem in education was the lack of some parents' effort in getting children ready for school.

"Better resources for schools are no replacement for a parents' interest in their child's education."

Senator Stoker is out to restore the public's faith in politicians, vowing to serve Queenslanders, the values of the Liberal-National Party, God and the Queen.

She's urging a return to personal self-reliance and believes government intervention reduces the institution of family.

"The government can't be the answer to all problems, nor should it be. If it is the answer then there is a problem with the question," she said.