News
Federal Elections
The Business Council of Australia’s failure to produce a shred of economic evidence to justify the Turnbull Government’s corporate tax cuts under questioning from the ABC shows that this policy is not designed to do anything other than hand cash to businesses and, bizarrely, the United States’ Internal Revenue Service.…
Barely eight days after it was announced, the Turnbull Government’s internship plan is in tatters, with employment law experts questioning the legality of its Youth Jobs PaTH program under the current legislative framework – potentially blowing a $478 million black hole in the budget. According to legal advice received by…
Unions will today continue their fight for a $30 a week increase to the minimum wage at the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review. The Government and industry groups have continued their opposition to the increase. On the ABC’s Q&A panel on Monday night, Australia witnessed how out of touch…
The ACTU today warned that the PaTH internship program unveiled in yesterday’s budget not only poses a serious risk for young people and inexperienced workers, but could also undermine Australia’s entire wage system. Instead of employing a worker on the minimum wage, businesses would be able to access a pool…
Budget cuts hurt
03 May 2016
In his first budget Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed he is a cruel conservative. Tonight in Canberra, ASU officials and staff have been on hand to witness Turnbull’s first budget to give you a rapid overview of how it will affect the communities we work and live in. This cruel budget…
A coalition of civil society groups, led by Australian Council of Trade Unions President Ged Kearney and spanning the aid, women’s, environment and social service sectors, as well as unions, have come together to urge the Federal Government to deliver a Budget that protects the living standards of all Australians,…
The Australian Council of Trade Unions today releases its extensive examination of corporate wrongdoing, providing an overview of corporate breaches pursued by ASIC, the ATO, ACCC, Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission. Given there is no central database to provide an overall view of corporate breaches, the ACTU commissioned…
Mr Turnbull, Panama Papers require action, not silence
20 April 2016
A coalition of Australian organisations including the ASU has published an open letter calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to end the Government’s silence over the Panama Papers and to commit to taking effective action on tax dodging by wealthy individuals and corporations. The Australian Services Union along with ActionAid…
Want to change the country for the better?
19 April 2016
When you change the government, you change the country. It’s a truism but it bears repeating as we hurtle towards a federal election. What isn’t as readily obvious but is also true is that changing this particular Federal Government may be easier than many people think. It could even be…
Labour rights, the upcoming election & the TPP
14 April 2016
Sliding living standards, wage stagnation for working people and rising wealth inequality will be big issues as the next Australian Federal Election approaches. Click here to read this on the AFTINET website While the election has not yet been officially called, the battle lines are being drawn on industrial relations.…
The Australian Council of Trade Unions today said urgent action was required to tackle corruption in the banking and finance sectors and tax avoidance by big companies. The ASU supports this call as we have been campaigning against unfair tax practices that put the burden of funding our society disproportionately…
The Australian unions are calling for a $30 a week increase in the minimum wage to $686.90 per week or $18.08 per hour. In its submission to the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review, the ACTU sees minimum wage levels which are still stubbornly low at 43.8 per cent of…
Around Australia this Easter weekend, millions will be taking a break and many will spend time with family and friends. Whether Easter itself means something religious or philosophical to you or not, everyone understands the importance of rest and spending time with loved ones. However, a very large number of…
The ASU lodged a submission to the ABCC Senate Inquiry into the Federal Bill to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). It is not widely known but the ABCC also touches large numbers of ASU members, so our concerns are very directly about advocating for our members’ rights.…