The federal budget has now been released. Here's an update from our ASU national office representatives from the budget lockup.
- Government paid parental leave increased to 6 months representing the biggest expansion to paid parental leave since its inception
- Measures to improve the costs of childcare and to fix aged care
- A new Net Zero Economy Taskforce to make sure that workers benefit from Australia’s transformation to a renewable energy superpower.
- $560 million funding boost for community services that are federally funded to provide for wage increases won by unions in the Fair Work Commission
- $1.7 billion in funding for women’s safety programs including creating 500 new frontline domestic violence support roles, implementing all the recommendations of the Respect@Work Report, nationally accredited training for frontline DV workers, and introducing laws to expressly prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace.
- An independent review of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) where we will be advocating for better jobs, training, portable entitlements, and higher wages for members.
- Financial support for the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the referendum on the voice next year.
- Establishing a new Housing Accord which will include building 20,000 new social housing dwellings, and additional funding for crisis and transitional housing for women and children fleeing violence.
- 480,000 free TAFE places.
It's great to see the federal government has delivered on the commitments it has made to union members. We'll post more news about the federal budget as it becomes available.
