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
Federal Government must provide four days paid vaccination leave for aged and disability care
June 11, 2021
The ACTU has written to Prime Minister Morrison to call on his government to provide two days special paid leave per vaccination for all workers in aged care and disability support services, as well as ensuing that all workers are paid for travel to and from getting vaccinated.
Business groups seek to exploit lockdown to block min wage increase
June 8, 2021
Business lobby groups, who today have also demanded the Morrison Government renew attacks on workers’ rights, have made last minute submissions to the Fair Work Commission exploiting the Victorian lockdown to argue against an increase to the minimum wage to over 2.2 million workers from 1 July.
Government must act on incurable silicosis that affects 1 in 5 engineered stone workers
June 7, 2021
The ACTU calls on the Federal Government to urgently act on silicosis as 1 in 5 of those working with engineered stone are diagnosed with the incurable disease.
ACTU calls on Government to save lives and support a waiver on vaccine patents
June 7, 2021
Australia is just one of 12 countries stopping a waiver on patents for COVID-19 products which would allow developing countries to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The ACTU calls on the Federal Government to change their position at tomorrow’s meeting of the WTO Trade Related-Aspects Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council.
Morrison Government inches closer to yet another ideological attack on super
June 3, 2021
The ACTU condemns the passage of the Your Future Your Super bill through the lower house. This bill represents an ideological attack on the superannuation system driven by the fanatics on the government back benches, and would leave millions of working people worse off in retirement.
Federal payment too little, too late, and will not ensure connection to jobs
June 3, 2021
After a week of delay the Morrison Government has been forced to provide tokenistic support for the millions of Victorian workers who have been suffering through a lockdown caused by the failure of the Federal Government on the vaccine rollout and on quarantine.
ABC survey finds majority of Australians feel effects of insecure work as society becomes more unequal
June 2, 2021
The ABC’s 2021 Australia Talks survey shows the effect insecure work is having on the way young workers and women are thinking about their lives and their jobs, as Australia becomes a more divided society.
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.
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