It's just been uncovered that Queanbeyan hospital has formally banned surgical abortions, which were previously available for terminations of cases of feotal abnormalities or other medical reasons requiring surgical abortions. The service was stopped abruptly in August. One woman was turned away on the day of her planned procedure. The Southern NSW Local Health District has stated saying that this is due to a lack of resources to support performing this procedure. In reality, the hospital has claimed it is "conscientiously objecting" to abortion. Cases which require surgical abortions are time sensitive and there can be dire repercussions if this healthcare is not received in time. If these procedures cannot be performed locally it puts women in an already difficult position under more stress and financial strain. Women's healthcare is consistently underfunded and under resourced and this is simply not good enough.  This has happened in the context of moves being made around the country which restrict or threaten to restrict abortion access. Orange hospital recently introduced a now reversed policy banning access to abortions for people with no identified pregnancy complications or medical reasons on the basis of the hospital administration conscientiously objecting to these procedures. The election of Donald Trump in the US and the rise of an emboldened and virulently sexist far right in has its echoes here. In South Australia, an anti-abortion bill was narrowly defeated by just one vote. In Queensland, after the election of the Liberals and Crisafulli, a similar bill is on the table. In this context it is crucial to fight to defend women's access to abortion. We the undersigned demand: • That Queanbeyan Hospital reinstate surgical abortion, and that NSW Health Minister Ryan Park ensures that no other hospitals make similar moves across the state.  • That abortion be available on demand for free, not just in cases deemed medically necessary: it's a woman's right to choose. • That hospitals employ specialists which ensure that abortions are able to be performed at any stage of pregnancy

ACL is offshoring its call centre to Malaysia in order to reduce costs.  Patients deserve better. They deserve to know that their information is secure, that their personal details and medical information remain private. Workers deserve better. A company funded by Australian tax-payer dollars should ensure jobs remain in Australia.  We also deserve better. ACL needs to put patients before profit. 

If Accolade Wines fails to meet workers’ demands for fair pay, it threatens the future of secure, long-term jobs for the next generation of winery workers in our regions. Accolade profits significantly from South Australia’s rich winemaking heritage, yet without stepping up to provide decent wages, they risk undermining the very communities they rely on. To ensure our regions continue to thrive, Accolade must come to the table and take responsibility for sustaining these essential jobs that drive one of South Australia’s most iconic industries.

This blatant disregard for Australian jobs is a slap in the face to every skilled worker in our industry. We demand immediate action to protect our livelihoods and ensure that Australian workers are always given priority for these critical roles. If the government fails to act, we will not stay silent. The refusal to fix this issue will be met with escalating resistance, and we will fight relentlessly until Australian jobs are safeguarded for Australian workers—no exceptions, no excuses.

Farm workers at Perfection Fresh worked around the clock during the pandemic to ensure our fresh produce supply during Australia's lockdown.  Now, the job security of these same workers is being sacrificed in the name of Australia's national tomato supply.  The Federal Government owes it to these hard-working people to provide them with real income support and assistance in returning to secure work when the lockdown ends.  

Big business is funding "astroturf" (fake grassroots) lobby groups intent on starving our social institutions of the funding they need.  They accuse scientists, universities, public media and artists of representing "woke elites" - trying to turn us against the workers in those fields who are just doing their jobs. Instead, they reckon "real" Australian voices are represented by Gina Rinehart, Clive Palmer, Rupert Murdoch and career politicians!  ​Groups like ​Advance​ spend millions of dollars to get their ads in front of your eyes. They exist to stir up outrage and division about migrants, unemployed people, trans kids and others. They import culture wars from the United States, inventing controversies to divide us from one another - to divide the working class.​ The purpose of all this division and noise is to make democracy seem hopeless. If we fear and suspect each other, we can't join together to win campaigns for the things we all need - great working conditions and wages, good schools and healthcare, honesty in media. The big business funders of ​Advance​ know that workers deserve more of the wealth we create - and their biggest fear is that we'll stand together to demand it. ​ We know Advance is funded by billionaire business owners - but half of their funding is kept secret.

We are community members in the seven target regions identified by Peter Dutton’s Liberal National Coalition as locations for nuclear reactors. We stand united in our stance against being bullied into accepting nuclear reactors with community consent. We demand nothing but genuine consultation with First Nations communities and Traditional Owners and consultation with communities, councils and site owners.  We need to verify the facts about nuclear reactors and hear directly from recognised experts about safety, economics and the implications for health and well-being in our communities. Our communities are already involved in the transition of energy.    Projects are well underway and locals already have jobs constructing our sustainable energy future, our renewable energy future. We seek clarity on the implications of this announcement for the existing employment and planned projects across our regions.  We urge the broader Australian community to support us in demanding  Transparency, fairness and accountability from the federal Coalition. 

1. Removal of RISSB from the Act: The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) must be removed from the Act to eliminate conflicts of interest and ensure unbiased regulatory oversight. The presence of RISSB within the Act compromises the integrity of safety regulations and undermines the safety of rail workers. 2. Establishment of a Ministerial Tripartite Body: A Ministerial Tripartite Body should be established to facilitate balanced representation and decision-making involving the government, employers, and unions. This body is essential for ensuring that all stakeholders have an equal voice in shaping safety standards and policies. 3. Adoption of Risk Management Mode, per Part 3.1 of WHS Regulation: We advocate for the adoption of a risk management approach as outlined in Part 3.1 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulation. Implementing this approach will enhance workplace safety protocols and help prevent accidents and injuries. 4. Introduction of a Caveat for ‘Prescribed Drugs’ s128: A caveat should be introduced for ‘prescribed drugs’ under section 128 to ensure that workers are not unfairly penalised for medically necessary treatments. Workers' health and well-being must be protected, and they should not face punitive measures for following medical advice. 5. Union Involvement in Development or Review of Classification Structures and Competencies: Unions must be a central component of any development or review of classification structures and competencies. This involvement ensures that worker perspectives and expertise are adequately represented, leading to more effective and fair policies. 6. Adoption of s273 WHS Act, Workers Not to Bear Cost:  Section 273 of the WHS Act must be adopted to ensure that workers do not bear the cost of compliance with safety regulations. It is essential to maintain equitable and safe working conditions, and the financial burden of compliance should not fall on the shoulders of the workers. These issues are non-negotiable for protecting rail workers' rights and safety. We need prompt and crucial action, not only for us but also our communities. The safety and well-being of everyday Aussies working in rail is in your hands. Your commitment to these critical concerns is essential to move forward and make sure we can come home to our families, friends and communities safe and sound.

We need to send a message to South East Water that we will not stand by and let them outsource public sector jobs.

NTEU members at RMIT have lost confidence in Vice Chancellor, Alec Cameron and in his ability to administer his role and responsibilities in accordance with the interests of staff at RMIT through the enterprise bargaining process. Under the stewardship of Alec Cameron and Mish Eastman, DVC vocational education, RMIT management have employed aggressive and unprecedented tactics such as non-union ballots and using the provisions of the Fair Work Act in an attempt to thwart the bargaining process and silence the voice of staff, the NTEU and RMIT students.

United Workers Union (UWU) members at MSS work in security and screening and have been bargaining with the company since 2022. MSS, which is wholly owned by an Indian-based firm SIS Ltd, has offered a four percent pay rise to workers this year. This is despite Hobart security officers being on little more than the minimum wage. Both MSS and Hobart Airport are extremely profitable entities and if they're serious about safety and security they need to show that by offering a more respectful wage increase.

The joint decision by Whitehaven & BHP to undermine workers entitlements at retirement is a major risk to all workers in the mining industry. Industry Awards reflects decades of agreed upon conditions of employment for workers, and are designed to provide the minimum foundations of any workplace arrangement. Without the foundation of the Award, workers that sign over as part of this deal will lose the right to basic fairness. Specifically, they will no longer be able to challenge shift changes, changes to working hours or have the right to seek assistance from the independent umpire. These common agreed upon conditions and significant retirement outcomes can be lost at a stroke of a pen by exploiting the loopholes in the Fair Work Act. A worker should not have their minimum foundation entitlements stripped away from them under the threat of unemployment just so major mining companies can save a few dollars. Accrued entitlements are entitlements owed to a worker, they are not bargaining chips to be used by executives in backroom deals. If major employers like Whitehaven and BHP utilised these provisions to undermine Award conditions, there will be significant impacts on the retirements of workers in the mining sector.