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 Government continues to cut disaster payments as one in four hospitality and accommodation pre-pandemic jobs lost
October 7, 2021
Accommodation and hospitality workers continue to be the most impacted by pandemic job losses, with payroll jobs falling to 23.8 per cent below pre-pandemic level by mid-September, according to ABS data released today.
Threats to mental health and workplace violence among OHS risks faced by frontline workers
October 6, 2021
A new survey conducted for the ACTU shows that mental health continues to be the fastest growing challenge to the safety of working people in their workplaces, as well as appalling rates of workplace violence experienced by frontline workers who continue to protect the community from the pandemic.
Morrison refuses to support workers while job vacancies drop 10 per cent and effective unemployment hits 9.7 per cent
September 30, 2021
Job vacancies fell 10 per cent amid widespread lockdowns, ABS data reveals today, and the Morrison Government’s decision to cut disaster payments before the workforce recovers will only make the situation worse for Australian workers who have lost work or hours due to lockdowns.
Morrison cuts worker support payments early, again
September 29, 2021
The Morrison Government’s decision to suddenly cut disaster payments when states reach 80 per cent double dose vaccination will mean workers face a slow recovery and future lockdowns – which modelling shows will be needed for the foreseeable future – with no safety net.
New visa program a green light for worker exploitation
September 28, 2021
The Morrison Government’s new “Agriculture Visa” has already expanded to cover at least agriculture, fisheries, forestry and meatworks and contains many of the worst elements of previous visa programs which have resulted in systemic exploitation and mistreatment of migrant workers as well as the displacement of local jobs. It also fails to properly test if workers in Australia are first offered available jobs.
Casual workers bearing brunt of pandemic with millions of hours of work lost and 174,000 losing work
September 23, 2021
Casual workers are bearing the brunt of the pandemic with 8.5 million in total weekly hours lost and 174,000 losing work between May to August this year as revealed by the ABS today. Retail, hospitality, and the arts are the hardest hit.
Cairns workers lower paid and more insecure than most Australians
September 23, 2021
1 in 3 workers in Cairns are casual and have lower wages and less reliable employment than the rest of the nation according to a new report released today by the Queensland Council of Unions and ACTU. The Australian average for casual employment is 21.9 per cent.
ACTU Condemns Attack on Union Office
September 20, 2021
The ACTU condemns the violent attack on the CFMEU Construction Victorian office orchestrated by violent right-wing extremists and anti-vaccination activists.
Australians have lost 66 million hours of work in the month of August
September 16, 2021
146,000 workers lost their jobs, and those still in jobs have lost 66 million hours of employment in the month of August alone. Youth unemployment increased to 10.7%, and underemployment also rose to 9.3%, according to data released this morning by the ABS.
Morrison Government must not recognise Myanmar military dictatorship at UN General Assembly
September 15, 2021
The Morrison Government must support the end of the military junta and the return of democracy to the people of Myanmar. This includes the recognition of the National Unity Government (NUG) as the true representatives of the people of Myanmar, and not the military junta, at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly which convenes this week. The ACTU is joining unions around the world today on the UN International Day for Democracy to support the recognition of the NUG.
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