Victorian public service union pulls support from Labor, cites job cuts and consultant spend

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) announced it will not support the Labor Party in Victoria’s state election, the Guardian reported. The union condemned the government for cutting public service jobs while spending $1.2 billion on consultants, describing the move as "privatisation by stealth". The CPSU said it will make the decision public on Wednesday, joining a growing number of unions that have either refused to back Labor or are actively campaigning against the Carroll government ahead of the 28 November poll. The Guardian noted that the union’s stance adds to a broader trend of union dissatisfaction with the incumbent administration as the election approaches.

Why it matters

The loss of union support could weaken Labor’s electoral prospects in a tightly contested state election.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

3 Nov 2026, 19:30 IST

Key names

Labor, Victorian, Public Sector Union, Carroll

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianPublic service union refuses to back Labor at Victorian election, condemning job cuts and $1.2bn consultant spend 3 Nov, 19:30

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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