Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Community and Public Sector Union

Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:53): I rise to acknowledge and celebrate the important work of the Community and Public Sector Union, State Public Service Federation Victoria Branch, a strong and proud union standing up for working people across our state. As a former union official I understand the vital role that unions play in protecting the rights and conditions of our workers.

Most recently the CPSU successfully negotiated a new parliamentary officers single enterprise agreement with the Department of Parliamentary Services. This agreement delivers a $5600 cost-of-living payment, a 3 per cent pay rise backdated to 1 May 2024, a 1.25 per cent annual mobility payment, 2 per cent progressions and 1.5 per cent top-of-grade payments. It is no surprise that 97 per cent of parliamentary officers voted in favour of this agreement.

Every member in this place knows that our parliamentary officers are the backbone of this place. They uphold our procedures in the chamber, they manage our live streams and produce the official record – from the library and committee staff that support our inquiry work to the dedicated individuals who maintain our electorate offices and ensure the security of this precinct. I commend the CPSU for their advocacy and encourage all parliamentary officers to join the union to safeguard their rights and build better conditions through collective action. With the electorate officer enterprise agreement also due for renewal, I similarly urge electorate officers to reach out to the CPSU and get involved.