ASU welcomes Federal Government action on salary packaging

By ASU - the social and community services (SACS) industry union

The Australian Services Union (ASU) welcomes the Federal Government announcement last night that the Government will move urgent amendments to the law next week in the Senate to restore the use of the net reportable fringe benefits definitions for Family Assistance. This will maintain the current position and so ensure that thousands of ASU members in the community and not-for-profit sector who salary package do not lose the benefit of Family tax or child care benefits after the 1 July 2008.

As the largest union of workers in the not-for-profit community sector, ASU members have campaigned hard over the last few weeks for the reversal of this Howard Government measure by bombarding the Ministers with emails, phone calls and letters calling for change.

ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White said, "In making this announcement the Federal Government has recognised the vital role workers in the community sector play in delivering services and support to disadvantaged Australians. This campaign has also shone the light on the low pay and conditions they endure for performing this work."

"The ASU calls upon the leader of the Opposition to work with the Government to ensure the swift passage of the proposed legislation. No one will appreciate this issue becoming the victim of political point scoring."

"Thousands of workers in the community sector remain ready to focus their concerns on the Opposition if the Government's legislation is delayed or blocked," said Linda White.

The ASU campaigns for better wages and conditions for workers in the community sector continue in every state and territory. Our focus remains on the critical workforce issues the sector faces.

"We are pleased with the Federal Government's response and now will return our focus to the significant funding and workforce issues that still remain in this sector. We hope the Government's response to these outstanding matters will be just as swift in future," said Linda White.

Further information

Transcript of Wayne Swan and Jenny Macklin's joint press conference and their joint media release of 19 June 2008 can be downloaded below.

Previous ASU news items on this issue: 

• Government to act on SACS salary sacrifice problem - 19 June 2008
• Pressure builds on Federal Government to make changes to SACS salary packaging - 17 June 2008
• Urgent information on salary packaging and SACS workers - 5 June 2008