Media Releases
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
Vale John Coombs
September 1, 2021
The hearts of trade unionists across Australia are heavy today as we mourn the passing of John Coombs, MUA National Secretary from 1993 until his retirement in 2000.
Morrison Government blocks stronger workplace harassment laws
September 1, 2021
The Morrison Government and One Nation have today voted against key structural workplace changes recommended by the Respect@Work report, ensuring that the burden is still on individual women to enter complex and lengthy complaints processes to resolve instances of sexual harassment and violence in the workplace at their own cost and risk.
GDP bump hides grim reality
September 1, 2021
GDP data released today by the ABS covers the quarter prior to the Sydney lockdown and therefore does not reflect the current situation facing workers there, as well as in Victoria and the ACT, who are all facing ongoing lockdowns with no JobKeeper support to keep them connected to employment.
Equal Pay Day highlights the yawning gap between women and men’s wages.
August 31, 2021
31st August is Equal Pay Day – the conclusion of the 61 additional days after the end of financial year that women must work to earn the same as their male counterparts, based on the national average. However according to an ACTU analysis, in ten industries, women have to work as much as double that national average to make the same as men.
Morrison Government fails to act to make workplaces safe from sexual harassment.
August 31, 2021
Key recommendations from the Morrison Government’s own Sex Discrimination Commissioner, which would strengthen women’s rights to workplaces free from sexual harassment, are missing from legislation being tabled today in the Federal Parliament.
Industry super continues to outperform for-profit retail funds
August 31, 2021
Today the first round of performance benchmarks has been conducted on some superannuation products and once again industry super funds have outperformed for-profit retail funds, despite last minute changes by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to shield several for-profit funds from the consequences of their historic rorting of working people’s retirement savings.
ACTU calls to renegotiate huge RCEP trade deal
August 31, 2021
The Morrison Government must urgently amend the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Plan (RCEP) which has not been shown to have any projected benefit for a single Australian worker and would legitimise the military regime in Myanmar which has killed more than 1000 civilians since seizing power.
Vale Senator Alex Gallacher
August 30, 2021
The ACTU mourns the loss of Senator Alex Gallacher – a proud TWU member and official and a staunch supporter of working people in Federal Parliament.
Alex dedicated his life to the service of working people and the advancement of workers’ rights.
He was fighting to the end, especially to improve safety for those in the transport industry, and made a key contribution to the Senate’s landmark report into the road transport industry, tabled last week.
The thoughts of the entire union movement are with Alex’s family and all those who were close to him at this difficult time.
7,000 Toll workers forced to strike against dangerous Uberisation of industry
August 27, 2021
7,000 Toll workers have made the difficult decision to strike for 24 hours, in protest as one of the largest trucking companies in Australia seeks to replace permanent workers with an Uber-style system of insecure, short-term contracts and external contractors on lower pay.
Hospitality and retail lead job losses as workers continue to suffer without JobKeeper
August 26, 2021
Workers struggling through lockdowns without JobKeeper continue to lose jobs at an alarming rate with nothing to keep them connected to an employer while they receive support payments.
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