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Federal Elections
The possibility that the Malcolm Turnbull may yet cling to power shouldn’t hide the fact that the results of this election represent a massive repudiation of his Government’s destructive policies over the past three years. For more than 12 months, union members nationwide have campaigned for a restoration of funding…
Unions and doctors mobilise to save Medicare
30 June 2016
Australian union members are continuing their campaign to protect Australia’s universal healthcare system by handing out one million replica Medicare cards to voters in major metropolitan areas and marginal electorates across the country. The million Medicare card drop comes as a new survey from the Doctors Reform Society of Australia…
Turnbull’s secret plan for big business to profit off domestic violence, homelessness services revealed
29 June 2016
The Turnbull Government has asked the Productivity Commission to investigate commercialising vital community services – a move that would divert scarce public funding away from supporting victims of domestic violence and homelessness services to shareholders of opportunistic businesses. In the days before the election was called, Treasurer Scott Morrison quietly…
The Turnbull Liberal Government has directed the Productivity Commission to prepare a plan to increase competition and privatisation in community services. Last Friday, the Productivity Commission called for submissions on which community services are fit to be commercialised and privatised. This could include any and all community services, including support…
Will you be voting for a better future?
24 June 2016
The 2016 federal election is about priorities. Whether $50 billion of taxpayers’ money is best used on corporate tax cuts or on health, education and infrastructure investment. In this report we demystify the issues for our members and supporters so you can be well-informed at the ballot box. The ASU…
Despite being the reason for calling a double dissolution election, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) has been barely mentioned by the Liberal Government during the protracted election campaign, however the Union for local government, energy and water sector workers needs to alert the community that chaos may follow…
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) sees the introduction of an objective test to determine the definition of a casual employee as having a fundamentally positive impact on millions of Australian workers. In its submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into workplace relations in 2015, the ACTU specifically asked…
The creation of 10,000 pre-apprenticeship places at TAFE for young people and a pilot program for mature-aged and retrenched workers are a win for Australian job seekers. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten today announced details of 10,000 new Apprentice Ready places that will give young job seekers who have been unemployed…
ASU takes campaign against community sector cuts up the yellow brick road to the PM’s doorstep
10 June 2016
Today at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s electorate office in Edgecliff, hundreds of community sector workers rallied and delivered pledges to the office collected from around Australia supporting their sector. Accompanying the pledges was a series of demands directed to Mr Turnbull to repair the damage done to local communities through…
An incoming federal government should commit to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) goals across Australia, said the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and unions. During the period of the Abbott/Turnbull Government, a period of policy stagnation in Occupational Health and Safety and workers’ compensation has been delivered. The ACTU…
Union response to ALP child care announcement
07 June 2016
The ACTU and ASU welcome the Labor Party’s commitment to the proper and timely funding for early childhood education and for early childhood educators in this country. Affordable and accessible early childhood education and care helps ensure that all children get the best start in life. This package recognises the…
When there are no beds available at a women’s refuge, no community legal services, no financial counselling support, what will you say to the woman leaving her violent partner? “This is the question Malcolm Turnbull needs to answer,” said Linda White, Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union (ASU),…
The Turnbull Government’s failure to strongly advocate to raise the minimum wage is a glaring and potentially costly omission, as the Fair Work Commission (FWC) today announced a $15.80 weekly increase for Australia’s lowest paid workers. While unions are respectful of the FWC process and welcome any rise in wages,…
At last night’s Leaders’ Debate, Mr Turnbull said the Government must seek “the right outcomes for our children because they are our future.” But which children was he talking about? The ones in our public education system? [Gonski not fully funded beyond 2017, with the Coalition to maintain an inequitable…