The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the social inequality many young people have experienced for too long. While the world tries to manage an unfolding pandemic, this crisis has led to insecurity in housing, income, and study without action from our government. This crisis will affect all aspects of the lives of students and young people. Casual workers, most of whom are students, have no guarantee that they will get paid if their workplace is to shut down or they must self-isolate. Working people need to know they don’t have to make the decision between going to work sick, or self-isolating and not being able to pay their bills. At Universities, our campuses are closing and moving online, while ongoing fears about fees and future of study, especially for international students, remain unaddressed. So many questions remain unanswered, but what we know is that if this continues, bills will stack up, evictions will occur, and income support payments will be lost. In its silence, our government is finalising a generation of inequality for today’s young people. As they move towards announcing their second stimulus package, young workers and students are begging for support. The Morrison government is yet to respond to our concerns. Instead, focusing on lining the pockets of business and giving out one off welfare payments that will fail to bring students out of poverty. Students and young people cannot continue to be left behind. This statement is endorsed by dozens of student representatives from around the country, representing hundreds of thousands of students whose livelihoods and futures are under threat. We are demanding action. The government must finally take leadership during this crisis and support the Australians who have been forgotten. Workers, students, and young people need action to protect their income, housing, and study. To fail at this now will hurt this nation for years to come.

Monash University has not adequately supported students through the Covid-19 crisis. Communication of course changes come late if at all, learning formats are changed suddenly with little preparation, and overwhelmingly, there is a sense among students that the University is not prioritising them. We deserve better. Mismanagement at this time has, and will continue to have, disastrous consequences for students at all stages of their courses.

We need this government to step up and ensure all workers who are unable to work because of Coronavirus have access to special paid leave, and are not left out of pocket.

Without support, many of our beloved hospitality businesses will cease to exist in the very near future. Signing this petition and challenging these companies to consider the greater good of the industry and the wider community, will help to keep small business open and some of the hardest working people in the jobs they dearly love. Hospitality folk, lets band together and support each other however and wherever possible! Our beloved customers, please support your local. Stay safe, everyone.

All Ambulance Victoria staff place a vital role in our community helping Victorians when they are most in need. The exponential increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases highlights a new threat faced by Ambulance Victoria’s staff working on the frontline to protect Victoria at this crucial time.

We know that employing qualified professionals with the right expertise is essential for community safety and improves the quality of Canberra’s infrastructure. The ACT Government must ensure it has the appropriately qualified and accredited professional workforce it needs to inform decision making, enable efficient investment and maintain its position as an informed purchaser. Maintaining the integrity of the Infrastructure Officer (IO) and Infrastructure Management Specialist (IMS) classifications is critical to achieving this. These classifications were created because of a successful campaign led by Professionals Australia members for better recognition of their specialist skills and knowledge. The IO and IMS classifications were meant to ensure the ACT Government could attract and retain the people it needs to deliver major infrastructure safely, on time and on budget. Right now, Professionals Australia members across the ACT Public Service have serious concerns that IO and IMS positions are routinely misclassified and often awarded to applicants who do not have the expertise that qualified infrastructure professionals, including engineers, architects and degree-qualified building professionals can provide. We know that things will only improve when Government and the community understand the vital contribution Professionals make to community safety and efficient delivery of infrastructure projects. We are prepared to work hard to achieve a better future – but we can’t do it without you! Add your support and help raise the profile of Australian Professionals. Tell the ACT Government that professional expertise matters!

Right now all of Australia is concerned about containing the COVID-19 coronavirus and we need to make sure everyone has access to the necessary information. For our CALD communities, which includes the Deaf community, this means accurate translation and interpretation of information about the Coronavirus. It’s their right to know how to keep themselves safe. And it’s everyone’s safety too. If they’re denied access to information, they may – through no fault of their own – contribute to the spread of the virus.

If Casual Relief Teachers or Casual Education Support staff are sick or required to self-isolate they will not get sick pay. This puts real pressure on our colleagues to come to work sick. If schools are required to close they will not be paid. Public health is not an individual responsibility, it is a social responsibility.

No university worker should be forced to choose between quarantine and feeding their family. The Coronavirus Covid-19 crisis is engulfing Australia - and our universities are in the eye of the storm. Right now, job security is health security and we need university Vice-Chancellors to do the right thing by staff, students and the public. That means securing our rights at work so we can protect our health at home. No-one can predict how long this crisis will continue - perhaps weeks or months. That's why we need to lock in firm commitments from university employers now to keep things fair, and keep us safe.

The lives of thousands of Australians hinge on our government taking immediate action by guaranteeing paid leave and protective equipment for all home care & disability support workers.

We are in unprecedented times and as workers, we are petitioning for the Government to introduce an Epidemic and Pandemic Special Leave Policies.  We encourage the Government to recognise that this is an unprecedented situation and as front line transport workers, working with people and their goods, and continuously exposed to the potentially sick patrons, we are at a heightened risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.  We seek the Government to provide special leave to individuals who do not have sufficient sick leave to cover their absence or carer’s leave to look after an affected family member - be their employment contract a casual, part-time or full-time contract. Read more about the risk Qantas and Jetstar workers are facing here: https://www.theage.com.au/national/union-fears-deadly-risk-of-poor-cleaning-on-qantas-jetstar-flights-20200316-p54amu.html

There is Lots of Panic Buying in our Supermarkets at this time of need. Lots of people are scared about COVID-19 Virus, i feel our Elderly are being left behind when trying to shop for their everyday items. If all Supermarkets were open one hour earlier on this Pension Day 19-03-2020 our Elderly could shop in Peace, and be able to secure their Everyday Items before the panic Buyers Entered the store. It would a safe haven for our Elderly who are most Vulnerable to the COVID-19 Virus.