Media Releases 2021
Read current and past media statements from the ACTU.
All ACTU media enquiries should be directed to ACTU Media team:
T: 03 9664 7315 (24 hours)
E: media@actu.org.au
Recent Media Releases
Morrison walks away from aged care and disability staff
June 2, 2021
The Morrison Government is attempting to walk away from the clear commitments given by Minister Greg Hunt, both in public statements and private meetings with aged care unions and the ACTU – that aged care and disability staff would be vaccinated alongside residents through inreach programs which delivered vaccines to their workplaces.
No economic recovery for workers without wage rise
June 2, 2021
GDP continues to recover – reaching 1.8 per cent growth in the March quarter and 1.1 per cent over the year – according to data released today by the ABS, but wage growth is at record lows and continues to stagnate with the Morrison Government not supporting an increase in the minimum wage – which the ACTU argues should increase 3.5 per cent.
Colbeck “comfortable” with failed vaccine rollout
June 1, 2021
Aged care Minister Richard Colbeck says he is “comfortable with where we’re at” on the vaccine rollout in aged care which has seen only 15 per cent of staff vaccinated and the rest facing serious financial disincentives to do so.
Casuals face critical week with no support from Morrison Government
May 30, 2021
More than half a million casual workers in Victoria will be facing increased uncertainty this week as the Morrison Government refuses to assist workers caught in a lockdown caused by its own failures on quarantine and the vaccine rollout.
Workers rally outside Harvey Norman stores across the country to support minimum wage increase
May 28, 2021
Workers are protesting outside Harvey Norman stores around the country today in support of a much needed pay increase for 2.2 million workers who rely on increases to award rates of pay. Harvey Norman doubled the company profits in the last 6 months, but their big business lobbyists continue to argue for real wage cuts for working people.
Victoria faces first lockdown without JobKeeper
May 27, 2021
The Victorian lockdown will be the first to extend beyond a weekend since the Morrison Government prematurely ended the JobKeeper wage subsidy at the end of March, despite an uneven recovery and a failing vaccine rollout which meant that additional lockdowns were likely.
Divide between state and federal aged care shows Morrison’s failure on vaccine
May 27, 2021
The ACTU and the aged care unions are calling on the Morrison Government to immediately seek the assistance of, and provide the necessary funding to, state governments to complete the vaccine rollout in aged and disability care.
New report finds Morrison siding with business against workers and recovery on wages
May 26, 2021
Wage increases for working people are essential for the recovery from the pandemic and the arguments being made against them are in bad faith and dangerous to the economy, according to a new report from Per Capita released this morning.
WHS ministers vote for huge step forward on mental health, sexual harassment, but miss opportunity on industrial manslaughter
May 21, 2021
The ACTU supports yesterday’s state and federal WHS ministers’ vote to regulate psychosocial hazards. This decision is a huge step forward for the prevention of mental illness and towards addressing sexual harassment and gendered violence in the workplace.
More than one million Australians desperate for more hours and reliable incomes
May 20, 2021
The headline unemployment figure, sitting at 5.5 per cent according to data released this morning by the ABS, does not capture the reality of working life for millions of Australians unable to find enough work to support themselves or their families, or trapped in insecure, unreliable employment.
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