Victorian public service union withholds support from Labor at state election

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has announced it will not support the Labor party at the upcoming state election, dealing a blow to the government ahead of the 28 November poll. The union condemned the administration led by Ben Carroll for reducing public service headcount while directing significant funds toward external advisors. While the state branch lacks formal affiliation with Labor, it has collaborated closely with the party previously.

Jiselle Hanna, secretary of the CPSU, stated that the organization could not maintain its backing unless the government committed to halting public sector staff reductions. The administration has implemented several rounds of reductions within the Victorian public service to manage employee expenses, which represent the state's largest expenditure category. These measures involved eliminating roughly one thousand administrative and executive positions, alongside consolidating various government entities following an independent review directed by Helen Silver. Officials reported these adjustments generated four billion dollars in savings while protecting frontline operations.

Public service union withholds support from Labor over job cuts and consultant spending.

According to union analysis of government annual reports since the 2017-18 financial year, the administration allocated 1.2 billion dollars across ten departments for external consultants. The Department of Treasury and Finance recorded the highest cumulative expenditure, while the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action registered the largest annual outlay during the 2024-25 period. Hanna described the reliance on external advisors as a form of stealth privatisation that undermines career stability and increases precarious employment within the administration.

Union Campaign and Broader Labor Friction

In response to the developments, the CPSU initiated a campaign encouraging citizens to sign pledges supporting government employees and withholding votes from candidates advocating for personnel reductions. Although the initiative does not endorse any specific political group, campaign materials note that the Greens and the Victorian Socialists oppose such staffing cuts. The announcement follows similar friction from other unions, including the Electrical Trades Union, the United Firefighters Union, the Australian Services Union and the Australian Education Union, which have expressed various levels of dissatisfaction or active opposition toward the government's current trajectory.

Why it matters

The decision by public sector representatives highlights growing friction between traditional labor movement allies and the incumbent government during an electoral cycle. The outcome affects public administration workers, employment security standards, and the broader political landscape across Victoria as voters prepare to cast ballots on 28 November.