Snaps during Labourstart conference Sydney (Photo credit: markfchristopher)

Unions launch High Court challenge

8 April 2013 • Press Release

NSW unions will today launch a High Court challenge to the O’Farrell Government’s electoral donation laws, arguing they breach the freedom of political communication and association that is implied in the NSW and Commonwealth constitutions.

As well as Unions NSW, other parties to the High Court action are the United Services Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Transport Workers Union, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and the Teachers Federation.

The laws were passed by the NSW parliament last year and hinder working people in expressing their political views by:

• Banning peak councils such as Unions NSW from levying its affiliates to run movement wide election campaigns (such as the highly successful Rights at Work campaign);
• Combining the caps on election spending for political parties and affiliated unions;
• Banning trade unions from paying affiliation fees to political parties

Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon said the High Court action would serve as a crucial test case on the basic concept of freedom of political expression.

“If they’re allowed to stand, the O’Farrell Government’s electoral donation laws will muzzle debate and silence the voice of working people in NSW,” Mr Lennon said.

“This case transcends the interests of any one political party. At its heart, our High Court action is about the right of working people to ensure their collective voice is heard.

“The O’Farrell Government’s election funding laws are a cynical attempt to undermine the political strength of its opponents, all the while masquerading in the public interest.

Bret Walker SC will represent unions NSW and its affiliates in court.

Further reading about this:
http://agitateeducateopine.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/why-progressives-should-oppose-nsw-style-donations-laws/

What did time with your new baby mean to you?

English: Histogram of countries by weeks paid maternity leave provided by law (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you or your partner had a baby? Were you able to access any paid time off work to spend time with your child in those important first weeks and months?

Working people and unions fought hard for the right to take time off work when you have a child. We won our first universal Paid Parental Leave scheme in 2011 and Paid Dad and Partner pay in 2012. We are proud of these achievements and the difference they make in working families' lives. But improvements are still needed.

Tell us your story and experiences by filling out this short online survey about paid parental leave.

The Federal Government is currently conducting a Review of the Paid Parental Leave Scheme and we want you to get involved.

We will use your stories in a submission to the Federal Government’s Review. The union movement will be talking about the importance of spending time and caring for new babies and telling the Government where the scheme needs improvement.

For many households the reduction in wages they experience on the Paid Parental Leave Scheme is a barrier to taking the leave. We want to see this addressed. We also know that women retire with much less super than men. We want to see this addressed by having superannuation paid during Paid Parental Leave. And we want the time that parents can have spend with their new child increased.

So we can include your thoughts, please take the time to complete the survey or send us an email.

More information on the Paid Parental Leave scheme and the Review can be found at www.facsia.gov.au/pplreview .

I hope you can join us in improving the lives of working families.

Thanks,

Emma Maiden
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Unions NSW