Diesel tax credits
Australia imported 29 billion litres of diesel in the 2022 – 2023 financial year, an 197% increase in just two years. The Federal Government’s Fuel Tax Credit scheme feeds the fuel thirst of multinational mining corporations by providing a refund of 48.8 cents per litre. Help cap fuel tax credits for a just economy.
#Feb2024
Backpacker Exploitation
A government review of Australia’s Migration system has recommended changes to visas to help curb power imbalances leading to exploitation of those on working holiday-maker/backpacker visas. Evidence reveals cause for concern the within current the system, which is rife with wage theft and sexual harassment. Help us to change the system.
#Nov2023
Housing and Homelessness
Homeownership in Australia is falling sharply, and housing stress is increasing. Middle-income people are increasingly locked out of secure housing within a reasonable commute to their jobs. However, housing security need not rest on ownership. Providing secure rental housing, both in the private market and through public and community housing, is a source of housing security in itself.
#Sept2023
Tax Reform Related to Housing
Homeownership rates in Australia are falling sharply, and housing stress is increasing. Secure housing in Australia is increasingly out of reach for a growing proportion of the population. Further, the reduction in government investment in public and social housing has been bad news for those in most need. Help us advocate for a fairer system with affordable and secure home for all.
#July2023
Crown Casino Reforms
In October 2021, The Royal Commission made 33 recommendations to rein in the unethical excesses that resulted from decisions by Crown Casino’s owners, board and managers. The way those recommendations are implement need maximise the prevention of further harm inflicted by Crown’s management on the people who gamble there. Write to hold Crown Casio to account.
#June2022
Tasmanian Housing Reforms
Access to housing directly impacts a person’s ability to participate in community. More safe, affordable and secure housing is urgently needed in Tasmania as targeted support for vulnerable people. Write to encourage the Tasmanian Government to build on its announcements for housing support, and go to even further.
#Feb2022
Ending Credit Gambling
Contribute to implementing a ban on credit card and digital wallet gambling. Gambling businesses continue to profit from the vulnerability of people, particularly online gambling corporations. Gambling with credit is more likely to result in people being harmed. While the four major banks have offered some forms of assistance to people being harmed by gambling, they have so far declined to stop extending credit for people to gamble online.
#August2021
Preventing Australia being a haven for those involved in human rights abuses and grand corruption
Too many lawyers, accountants, and real estate agents in Australia are willing to look the other way when they are involved with shifting funds stolen from developing countries into Australia. Currently, these professionals and businesses have no obligation to report suspicious transactions to the police, unlike banks. Some of these professionals actively assist in setting up arrangements that can facilitate criminal activity and conceal the real controllers of assets.
#June 2021
Creating more jobs and safer social housing with energy efficiency upgrades
Social housing is provided to people on low incomes or with particular needs by government agencies or not-for-profit organisations. Energy efficiency upgrades are one of the most cost-effective measures to reduce emissions while also creating jobs. Help us create a fairer and more sustainable social housing sector.
#October2020
Stage 3 Tax Cuts
Imagine an Australia where tax was fairer, and progressive revenue raising met community need. This will only be achievable, in part or in full, if pressure is maintained to target and change tax expenditure that disproportionately benefits the wealthy. Help us create a fairer system.
#Feb2024
Closing Exploitation Loopholes Bill
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 introduced by the Labor Government has to potential to shake up regulation around wage theft and gig economy work, and these reforms are needed. At least 13 people working in the gig economy have died on Australian roads in the last few years, including nine Uber Eats riders. Also, one in three couriers had sustained injuries on the job. Unsurprisingly, big business is fighting this with every figure of their being. Help justice win, rather than corporate profits.
#Nov2023
Supermarket Chains and the PALM Scheme
The exploitation of people working on Australian farms, especially in horticulture, has had a long history. The major supermarket chains play a crucial role in creating an environment where exploitation has flourished on Australian farms. The PALM scheme has mechanisms making it likely people on the scheme are treated well. Help convince supermarket chains to commit to preferential sourcing from farms that use people on the PALM scheme for horticultural goods.
#July2023
Beneficial Ownership Disclosure
Shell companies do no real business, or are set up for illicit purposes, and provide a legal shield to conceal the people behind the company. However, Australia currently lags behind much of the rest of the world regarding disclosure of the beneficial ownership of corporations. Help us to convince the Government to fulfil its promise. The Commonwealth Government promised to introduce a register that would disclose the real owners of corporations.
#April2023
PALM scheme reforms
The Australian Government set up the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) in 2012 to allow people from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste to work on Australian farms for six months. Now called the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, there have been some problems with exploitation. More safeguards are needed to prevent exploitation, including minimum hour work weeks and access to Medicare.
#Feb2023
Ending Gambling Advertising on SBS
Gambling advertising seeks to maximise profits for gambling corporations on the losses of people who too frequently cannot afford it. SBS has played an essential role in community TV for more than 40 years, but continues to air gambling advertisements on its service. Express your concern over gambling advertising on the SBS.
#June2022
Preventing Exploitable Agricultural Visas
In June 2021 the Federal Government announced the introduction of a new seasonal agriculture worker visa. The visa will allow people from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to work on Australian farms. There are concern that some Australian farming industry bodies will actively lobby to ensure a minimum of safeguards on the visa against exploitation. Help ensure new agricultural visa have proper safeguards against exploitation.
#August2021
Decent Jobs for People from the Pacific on Australian Farms
Our Pacific neighbours have growing problems with unemployment due to limited opportunities for economic development. Help us campaign for fair and just treatment for Pacific workers coming to Australia through government programs so they are not exploited.
#August2020
Opposing Expansion of Gas
In May 2024, the Commonwealth Government released a “Future Gas Strategy” that unnecessarily locks Australia into using gas when it could be avoided. In contrast, Victoria is making efforts to move the state away from gas dependency. Help advocate for a better balance nationally on the role gas is to play in the transition of our economy a more climate conscious one, and less gas dependent.
#June2024
Exploitation Related to Broccolini
A boycott of Broccolini® is underway in response to concerns about the exploitation of people working on the farms of the largest Broccolini® grower in Australia, Vizzarri Farms. Perfect Fresh is the company that exclusively owns the Broccolini® trademark and sells to Coles and Woolworths. Learn more about United Workers Union (UWU) claims of exploitation and join that action against Broccolini®
#April2023
Government Chooses Mining Over Homelessness
The Government has decided to prioritise support for gas corporations over meeting community needs, such as housing, in its last budget. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, there were 116,000 homeless people in Australia, and more than 800,000 people struggled to pay rent. The recent budget announced a $41.3 million reduction in funding for homelessness services from July 2021, and an increase to mining funding worth over $130 million. Help us get the Government’s priorities to benefit those who need it the most.
#February2021
Stage 3 Tax Cuts
At the last election Labor made promises that led to their taking Government. These significant promises require revenue, but also chose to maintain the previous Morrison Government’s commitment to ‘stage three’ tax cuts that give massive handouts to the top wealthy 20% of Australians. Help us remind the government that as a society we have more important priorities than making the wealthy wealthier.
#Feb2023
End Online Gambling Using Credit
Gambling businesses continue to profit from the vulnerability of people, particularly online gambling corporations. Australian law now prohibits online gambling corporations from offering credit to people to gamble. However, people can still gamble with money they do not have using bank issued credit cards. Help us make the major banks aware that the broader community want them to act and end the use of the credit cards they issue for gambling.
#February2021
Payday Lenders
Every week, community and consumer advocates speak to people trapped in payday
lending debt. For years, they have been campaigning to stop the debt trap and harm caused by payday lenders. Australia already has one of the highest rates of household debt in the world. The COVID-19 crisis threatens to make that worse.
#May2020
Digital Corporations Profiteering off Covid
Digital corporations providing online services have benefited as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales on Amazon increased by 26% to $98 billion in the first three months of 2020. Meanwhile, 500 million people are expected to have been pushed into poverty by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Help us convince the government to introduce legislation addressing growing inequality in the world, and lift people out of poverty.
#February2021