People dreaming of moving to Australia to live often see the country as a land of beaches and barbeques but it seems that Australians do not necessarily have such a rosy view.
Indeed, a new survey of more than 43,000 people shows working Australians feel anxious about their living standards and are deeply dissatisfied with the current Government’s policies and the direction it is taking Australia.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) surveyed 43,188 union and non-union members across all industries, in all states and territories, between November 2014 and January 2015.
The survey found that 74% said Australia is moving in the wrong direction and 94% are worried the Federal Government wants to reduce rights at work. Also, 92% are worried the minimum wage will be cut while 95% are worried about unemployment and 90% are worried about job security.
The research showed that 91% are worried higher education fees will be increased, 82% said childcare has become less affordable in the past year, 93% want superannuation increased and 94% are worried about privatisation.
‘We have been out talking to our members and the wider community about what their concerns are at work and more broadly. They’ve told us living standards, wages and rights at work are the biggest concerns and they want us campaigning on these issues,’ said ACTU president Ged Kearney.
‘We will provide the training, people power and materials to enable our two million members and supporters to campaign in their communities on the issues that matter to them, both online and on the streets,’ she pointed out.
‘The union movement’s strength has always come from people standing together and standing up for what is right and that is at the heart of all our campaigning,’ she said, adding that there will be a national day of action on 04 March.