Local Government

On behalf of local government child care members, the ASU met with the Federal Minister's office to confirm that local government would not miss out on the early childhood funding applications. Please see our earlier item on this issue here: ASU meets with the Minister for Early Childhood and Youth.…

The ASU welcomes the news of and supports the United Voice equal pay application for private sector child carers as the need to recognise early childhood education and care grows. ASU Assistant National Secretary, Greg McLean, attended the first hearing of the United Voice claim for equal remuneration for early…

The ASU joins the ACTU and other unions in seeking a commitment from the Federal Opposition that local government, state government and all other public sector workers will not be disadvantaged by the Abbott Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme. The current scheme introduced by the ALP Federal Government allows a…

The ASU is concerned to have read in this week’s media reports that Abbott is planning to fund his controversial paid parental leave scheme by excluding public sector workers, including local government employees, from it. In effect, council workers, teachers and nurses, amongst many others, would lose out in order…

The ASU supports the Federal Government's announcement of additional child care help for parents using out of school hours care and is calling on councils to work with local schools to allow local government child care educators and carers to be part of the support mechanisms. "It makes sense to…

With the announcement of the federal election on 7 September, plans for the referendum for the Constitutional recognition of local government have been put on hold. The referendum cannot be held at the same time as the 7 September election because the required notice period will not have elapsed. The…

A referendum to recognise local government in the Australian Constitution is planned to accompany this year's federal election. The ASU asks Australians to vote YES for this recognition to ensure our local councils are able to continue to provide the services we have all come to expect. Local government employees…

A global tax justice movement rises: The new fight to end inequality On 23 June, World Public Services Day, PSI stands with the world's largest labour and non-governmental organisations in "putting world leaders on notice – members of civil society are uniting for tax justice everywhere." You can read this…

A briefing was given to the ASU today by the office of the Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP – Minister for Early Childhood and Youth. Greg McLean, Assistant National Secretary met with the Minister's office on current government funding for child care and the announcement earlier this week of a…

The ASU has been a major supporter of funding recognition of local government for a long time. We have supported the recognition of the role local government plays in our communities and the need to also recognise the problem of cost shifting by state governments, which includes asking councils to…