The Federal election has been run and won, with Labor securing at least 74 seats in the new Parliament.
Anthony Albanese has already been sworn in as the new Prime Minister, and the new Cabinet is expected to be finalised week.
WHAT DID WE DO DURING THE ELECTION?
The RTBU ran its own campaign during the election to put a focus on the need for investment in transport infrastructure and services, along with better job security and better pay in the rail, tram and bus industries.
Our Put Transport in the Fast Lane campaign included an online petition and ‘pledge’ for local candidates to sign. We then ran an active campaign on social media encouraging voters to support candidates who support better transport.
By election day, 32 current and aspiring politicians from across Australia had come on board and endorsed our Put Transport in the Fast Lane pledge.
Many of the candidates have now been successfully elected, or are on the cusp of being elected to the House of Representatives, including:
| Sharon Claydon | ALP | Newcastle (NSW) |
| Dr Gordon Reid | ALP | Robertson (NSW) |
| Sally Sitou | ALP | Reid (NSW) |
| Lisa Chesters | ALP | Bendigo (NSW) |
| Louise Miller-Frost | ALP | Boothby (NSW) |
| Tony Zappia | ALP | Makin (SA) |
| Matt Burnell | ALP | Spence (SA) |
| Dr Anne Aly | ALP | Cowan (WA) |
| Julie Collins | ALP | Franklin (Tas) |
| Brian Mitchell* | ALP | Bass (Tas) |
| Madonna Jarrett* | ALP | Brisbane (Qld) |
*Counting is continuing in these seats
While the result of the Senate election is still being finalised, it is likely that six Senate candidates who endorsed the pledge will be also elected, including:
| Jenny McAllister | ALP | NSW |
| Linda White | ALP | Victoria |
| Anthony Chisholm | ALP | Queensland |
| Penny Allman-Payne | The Greens | Queensland |
| Penny Wong | ALP | SA |
| Anne Urquhart | ALP | Tasmania |
HOW WILL THE RESULT AFFECT YOU?
The new Federal Government has a clear plan for growing the rail, tram and bus industries, and for improving our workplace relations system. Labor has promised to:
- Build more trains, trams and buses in Australia – and to develop a National Rail Manufacturing Plan;
- Invest in public transport infrastructure projects, including the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop;
- Conduct a comprehensive review of the rail freight sector to grow rail freight jobs; and
- Enshrine the principle of same job, same pay in law.
If you would like know more about the Albanese Government’s plans for our industries and for industrial relations, then check at the interviews that National Secretary Mark Diamond conducted with Shadow Transport and infrastructure Minister Catherine King MP and Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke MP before the election.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
The RTBU will continue pressing the Federal and state governments to do more to grow our industries, improve safety and improve your pay and conditions. Most importantly, we will continue to take up the fight workplace-by-workplace, organising workers and building collective power so that we improve the lives of members.
The Federal Government may have changed, but the essential work of the RTBU remains the same, and we will continue fighting for you every single day.
