Media releases ACTU media releases are ordered chronologically. Use the advanced search function to find media releases on specific topics.  Subscribe to media release updates. ACTU media enquiries Mark Phillips Media Coordinator T: (03) 8676 7266 F: (03) 9600 0050 M: 0422 009 011 mphillips@actu.asn.au Amanda Nguyen Media and Communications Project Officer T: (03) 9664 7326   F: (03) 9600 0050 M: 0418 479 455 anguyen@actu.asn.au

Paid parental leave ‘over my dead body’, says Abbott 09.02.10 | Media Release | Paid Parental Leave Reports that Liberal leader Tony Abbott is considering a taxpayer-funded paid maternity leave scheme must be treated with extreme suspicion given his track record as a supporter of WorkChoices and previous hardline opponent of helping working...

Skilled migration changes on the right track 08.02.10 | Media Release Major changes to Australia’s skilled migration program announced today will better target skills shortfalls, but need to be accompanied by tighter labour market testing to ensure Australians are given job opportunities.

Reserve Bank has done the right thing by working families by keeping rates on hold 02.02.10 | Media Release | Jobs, Rights & GFC The Reserve Bank has done the right thing by keeping interest rates on hold, with the recent sequence of rate hikes putting extra pressure on household budgets.

Abbott misses big economic picture on climate change 02.02.10 | Media Release | Clean Energy Jobs The federal opposition’s response to climate change fails to grasp the enormous challenge of moving Australia onto a cleaner energy footing, and ignores the economic and environmental risk of doing too little too late.

Intergenerational Report is a wake-up call; time to increase super to 15% 01.02.10 | Media Release Unions will push for the superannuation guarantee to be raised to 15% following the release of a new government report on the economic impact of Australia’s rapidly ageing population.

North West shelf workers deserve to be treated with more respect 29.01.10 | Media Release Workers helping build the Pluto project on the North West shelf should comply with the orders that have been issued by the Federal Court and return to work.

Liberal plan to cut industry support would cost hundreds of thousands of jobs 21.01.10 | Media Release | Jobs, Rights & GFC A Coalition proposal to cut industry support to manufacturing would put the jobs of hundreds of thousands of hard-working Australians at risk and undermine the domestic economy.

Investment in skills and infrastructure crucial to boost Australian productivity 19.01.10 | Media Release Major investment in skills, training and infrastructure will be needed if Australia is to respond to the challenge of lifting productivity growth.

Welcome news on jobs, but underlying problems mean stimulus must continue 14.01.10 | Media Release | Jobs, Rights & GFC A drop in Australia’s unemployment rate for the third month in a row is encouraging and may indicate that the peak has passed, but December’s over-reliance on part-time jobs growth may also be masking underlying problems, say unions.

Growing number of employers are recognising workers’ rights under new IR system 13.01.10 | Media Release | Rights at Work Rio Tinto’s decision to negotiate a new collective agreement for train drivers in the Pilbara iron ore region is a welcome sign that the Rudd Government’s Fair Work laws are working, say unions.

Tougher action is still needed to rein in executive salaries and bonuses 04.01.10 | Media Release | Jobs, Rights & GFC Australia enters a new decade at risk of repeating the mistakes of the past few years unless tighter restrictions are imposed on executive pay packets, say unions.

New protections and minimum standards will be better for all Australian workers 01.01.10 | Media Release | Rights at Work New minimum employment standards that come into effect on New Year’s Day will be good for all Australian workers and represent a major step forward from WorkChoices.

Australia Post management is putting job security, workplace safety and pay at risk 22.12.09 | Media Release | Rights at Work Australia Post executives are causing disruption of Christmas postal services by stubbornly refusing to negotiate with employees over job security, workplace safety and pay.

Copenhagen climate conference fails to deliver a satisfactory deal to cut greenhouse gases 19.12.09 | Media Release | Clean Energy Jobs At the close of the Copenhagen conference, world leaders must move to resume negotiation to tackle climate change, before it is too late.

Australian PM raises stakes towards ‘grand bargain’ 17.12.09 | Media Release | Clean Energy Jobs Australia has moved the Copenhagen climate talks forward, with key advances outlined in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s ‘grand bargain’ speech to world leaders now negotiating a global deal.