Speeches & Opinions



Read speeches and opinion articles by ACTU officers and staff.



Our collection contains speeches delivered at conferences, forums, summits, rallies and events by Executive and senior ACTU staff.  It also contains op eds – previously published in mainstream media – by the ACTU President, ACTU Secretary or ACTU Assistant Secretaries.


Recent Speeches & Opinions

Tim Lyons closing address to the Australian Unions Organising Conference, Melbourne, 28 February 2014

February 28, 2014

ACTU Assistant Secretary Tim Lyons delivered the closing address to the 2014 Australian Unions Organising Conference in Melbourne on 28 February 2014.

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Dave Oliver opening address to the Australian Unions Organising Conference, Melbourne, 26 February 2014

February 26, 2014

In his keynote address to the 2014 Australian Unions Organising Conference in Melbourne ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver warned of the challenges ahead for unions under the Abbott Government.

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Address by ACTU President Ged Kearney to Australian Unions Organising Conference, Melbourne, 26 February 2014

February 26, 2014

ACTU President Ged Kearney spoke in the plenary session of the 2014 Australian Unions Organising Conference on the role of unions in campaigning for a better society.

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Address by ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver to the 2013 ACTU Superannuation Trustees Forum

December 9, 2013

ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver opened the 2013 Superannuation Trustees Forum by discussing the challenges for superannuation under the new Coalition Government.

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Ged Kearney speech to ‘White Cane Chain’ rally, Melbourne, 15 September 2013

September 15, 2013

ACTU President Ged Kearney addressed the ‘White Cane Chain’ rally against job cuts at Vision Australia Enterprises in Melbourne on 15 September 2013.

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Ged Kearney address to the National Press Club, 7 August 2013

August 7, 2013

In a major televised address to the National Press Club in Canberra on 7 August 2013, ACTU President Ged Kearney outlined what is at stake for Australian workers in the 2013 federal election.

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Dave Oliver: Bashing workers is no solution

July 25, 2013

To have a truly productive and prosperous society, we need workers with satisfying and secure jobs, good wages, training and a stake in the success of their workplace.

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Tim Lyons Paper to the 21st Labour Law Conference, Workplace Research Centre & Law School, Sydney University, 22 July 2013

July 22, 2013

In a paper delivered to the 21st Labour Law Conference hosted by Sydney University’s Workplace Research Centre & Law School, ACTU Assistant Secretary Tim Lyons discussed the purpose of industrial regulation, and its connection with productivity.

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Dave Oliver: A race to the bottom on wages and conditions is a dead-end strategy for the auto industry

June 24, 2013

In the search for cost savings and efficiencies, unions will seek to engage with auto industry employers to achieve greater productivity through the high road of high performance and high trust workplaces, not the low road of cutting wages and conditions, or creating a more insecure workforce, writes ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver.

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Dave Oliver address to CEDA ‘State of the Nation’ conference, 24 June 2013

June 24, 2013

ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver addressed the Committee for Economic Development of Australia ‘State of the Nation – Australia Adjusting’ conference on 24 June 2013.

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The ACTU Network

Australian Unions

Whether you want to join a union, take action in campaigns, or make the most of the benefits of being a union member, Australian Unions is the place to go for information and resources.
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Mind Your Head

We’re taking action to protect workplace mental health.
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Worksite

Your rights at work for students and for people entering the workforce for the first time.
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OHS

Information and resources for health and safety representatives and workers about how to speak up at work for health and safety.
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Union Aid Abroad

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the overseas aid and development agency of the ACTU. Our work aims to build self-reliance through support to educational and training projects for workers and their organisations in the developing world.
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ACTU National Union Directory

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Australian Council of Trade Unions

Representing Australian workers and their families.