Victoria Unions Withdraw Labor Support Ahead of November Vote

With one month remaining until the Victorian state election, two major unions have ceased active support for the Labor government. The Australian Services Union (ASU) and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) have shifted their strategies, moving from endorsement to opposition in a notable break from tradition.

The ASU, a Labor-aligned group, has paid for digital attack ads in key electoral districts. These advertisements feature a large image of Premier Ben Carroll with the text “Ben lied. Labor lies.” The union also confirmed it will not doorknock for Labor candidates in the coming weeks. Tash Wark, the secretary of the ASU’s Victorian branch, stated that workers cannot support a premier who has not shown up for them. The ads target Carroll’s seat of Niddrie, Pascoe Vale, and Bentleigh, as well as seats held by the deputy premier, the treasurer, and the local government minister.

The conflict stems from a council rates cap. The ASU claims a previous agreement with former Premier Jacinta Allan to lift the cap, which Carroll scrapped after taking office in July. The new premier cited concerns over cost of living pressures for non-council workers. Wark said the union would resume campaigning if the government reversed its decision on the cap.

The ETU took a different approach on Wednesday when its state council voted to skip a statewide campaign for Labor. The union resolved to divert funds previously earmarked for election advertising toward preparing for the construction royal commission. A copy of the resolution seen by reporters indicates the ETU will “not run a third-party campaign at the 2026 state election.” The document notes that the union must defend its members against potential summons and prepare for the impact of a possible Coalition victory.

The ETU’s decision follows polling commissioned in early October that predicted Labor would win only 25 seats. This is ten fewer than forecasts made before the July leadership spill. The resolution cites this data to justify the shift in resources. At the 2022 election, the ETU spent over $1.6 million supporting Labor, working with the agency Creative Edge to reach millions of voters online. No ads have been published for the current cycle by the ETU.

A Victorian government spokesperson defended Carroll’s record, stating he is fighting for working people. The spokesperson warned that a Liberal-One Nation coalition would scrap penalty rates, cut 31,700 public sector jobs, end paid parental leave, and implement $40 billion in cuts. One anonymous Labor MP accused the ETU of throwing a tantrum after failing to secure its desired policy changes.

Current polling places Labor behind the Coalition on a two-party-preferred basis at 44% to 55%. The election is scheduled for November 28, marking the fourth consecutive term sought by the Labor party. The rise of One Nation remains a variable that could influence the final seat count.