Weekend Wrap 22 October 2023: Middle East, Fee free TAFE, Worker actions, Parental leave, state tax bonfire

Ben Davison takes a look at some of the stories form this week
that Insiders missed given their focus on the Middle East. 
While the situation in Israel and Gaza is horrendous, Ben gives a
brief synopsis, there is lots happening in Australia.


The new National Skills Agreement is a win for the Australian
Education Union, workers and employers who will benefit from the
$30 billion investment in TAFE including another 300,000 fee free
places in 2024.


1,400 United Workers Union diary workers took a 48 hour strike
this week, AMWU members in Tasmania took action, NTEU workers
took actions in Victoria and Queensland while AWU and MUA members
stood up against a multinational gas giant and won!


Join your union at australianunions.org.au.wow


The Albanese government has introduced laws to increase paid
parental leave from 20 weeks to 26 weeks between now and
2026.  Ben discusses why this isn't just good for new
mothers but for all Australians.


This week also saw the most important High Court judgement about
state and federal tax powers in over 50 years as two EV owners
managed to get a Victorian road user tax ruled unconstitutional
and opened the door for billions in state revenues to be struck
down.  Ben discusses what might happen next and why we need
to engage with the potential reforms that will
emerge.