SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE

 DEAL REACHED IN APS ENTERPRISE BARGAINING

The Albanese Government has reached agreement with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) on Australian Public Service (APS) bargaining.

Labor came to Government with a commitment to genuine negotiations in APS wide bargaining, aiming to reduce the fragmentation in pay and conditions and establishing the APS as a model employer.

We have delivered on that commitment.

This follows on from a decade of neglect of the important institution of the APS and disdain for the hard-working public servants who embody it by the former Liberal/National Government.

The Minister for the Public Service, Senator Katy Gallagher, said she is pleased the Government has been able to reach an agreement with the CPSU on a common approach to wages and conditions with a solid majority of CPSU members voting in favour of the agreement.

“Today’s CPSU members ballot shows overwhelming support for the Government’s position on public service wages and conditions.”

“This package is a significant improvement in pay and conditions for public servants.”

This deal will deliver an 11.2% pay increase over three years, with more than 50 common conditions agreed across the service.

It includes:

• Major improvements to parental leave conditions, primary caregivers will receive 18 weeks paid leave.
• Secondary caregivers will receive 8 weeks paid parental leave, rising in increments to 18 weeks over the life of the enterprise agreement.
• Paid premature birth leave from the date of birth, to what would have been 37 weeks gestation, a new entitlement for the APS.
• All qualifying periods for paid parental leave will be removed.
• Consistent flexible working rights across the APS, where agencies genuinely consider requests and approve where possible.
• Full-time employees would have access to 18 days of personal leave, an improvement for agencies such as the ATO and Defence.

Agencies will incorporate the common conditions and wages outcome into agreements, and we are hopeful of some agencies proceeding to votes this year, with the rest to follow early in 2024

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30 2023