News
Competitive super system better off with consumer protection
09 February 2015
Complexity, choice overload, low levels of financial literacy, lack of planning, procrastination and high search costs, among other behavioural factors, are influencing Australians' approach to their superannuation savings, says Industry Super Australia. Originally published on the ISA website 5 February - click here to read it there "This is the…
Your views are now in – union campaigns kick off
06 February 2015
A new survey of more than 43,000 people shows working Australians feel anxious about their living standards and are deeply dissatisfied with the Abbott Government's policies and the direction it is taking Australia. The ACTU surveyed 43,188 union and non-union members across all industries, in all states and territories, between…
Public Services Bulletin - January 2015
06 February 2015
This edition contains a summary of blog items published by Greg McLean in the previous calendar month. Items cover the areas of local government, energy and water, rail and public transport, international news including trade agreements, privatisation and general public sector matters. The articles all relate to the blog of…
Tony Abbott on notice – Queenslanders reject attacks on workers and living standards
02 February 2015
Queenslanders have sent a clear message to the Newman and Abbott Governments that they will not sit back while health, education, public services and workers' rights are attacked. ACTU President Ged Kearney said nurses, teachers, doctors, paramedics and public servants were just some of the tens of thousands of Queensland…
As state governments continue to tinker with council mergers and amalgamations, rather than look at how councils can provide more and better services to meet our growing community needs, the local government councils themselves, along with their employees and their Union (the ASU), and the community at large focus on…
As secret Trans-Pacific (TPP) trade talks resume in New York, an unusually diverse mix of 47 Australian community groups including the ASU, public health, environment, union, church, development aid and other groups have written an open letter to Trade Minister Robb citing mounting evidence that the TPP is not in…
Despite the fact the scope of the Productivity Commission's Inquiry reveals the Federal Government's obsession with workplace relations is alive and kicking, Australian unions will use the inquiry into workplace laws to make the case for significant improvements in Australian's rights at work and, of course, to fight any attack…
Davos 2015: The world needs a new business model
20 January 2015
The global economic system isn't working for six billion people, warned labour leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Click here to read this on the ITUC website Working people and their families need a new business model to stop the disintegration of democracies and economies. The world needs…
Federal Government gives green light for big bank super grab
19 January 2015
The Abbott Government has sent a clear message it intends to put the interests of the big banks ahead of working Australians by attacking industry super funds - the best performing area of the superannuation industry. "It's astounding that new Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's first public comment on superannuation is…
Light at the end of the tunnel - Jetstar EBA
16 January 2015
Your Jetstar National Negotiating Team (NNT) met with the company on 14th January 2015 and we are pleased to report we have made real progress and feel we are getting closer to an offer to settle the EBA which members can consider. We know the devil is always in the…