Please extend JobKeeper to all Victorian local government workers.

Email to Frydenberg

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Letter to Mr Frydenberg*
Dear Mr Frydenberg, I write to you as a concerned local government worker, a Victorian, and a member of the Australian Services Union. With the recent decision that metropolitan Melbourne will enter stage 4 restrictions and that regional Victoria will enter stage 3 restriction, I am deeply concerned about the future for myself, my colleagues and my family, as a local government worker not included in the JobKeeper scheme. Victorian council workers have been at the forefront of providing essential support and securing the well being of local communities during difficult times. These vital services include home and community care, libraries, parks and community maintenance, building and environmental health and school crossing supervisors, all of which foster strong communities and support our most vulnerable. During the most recent bushfire season, Victorian local government workers played a crucial role in guiding their communities through the crisis. As this crisis has unfolded what has not changed is the commitment that local government workers have towards supporting their communities. The support provided by local government is also critical in regional communities, where the council is the largest employer. Post-pandemic, Victorians will not be able to return to business as usual without the support of the services and benefits provided by local government. This support cannot be provided post-pandemic if Victorian council workers are not supported now. What we need now, is immediate action by your government to ensure that local government workers can rely on you, so we are not left behind. I urge you to extend JobKeeper to include Victorian local government workers. To stop the spread of COVID-19 Victorian workers are urged to stay home, yet there is no support for local government workers to do so. All Australians benefit from the work of local government workers. If local government workers are stood down with no income support, tens of thousands of Victorians will be left unable to pay their bills or put food on the table, and communities will struggle to rebuild post-pandemic. You can help support Victorians during this time. Please extend JobKeeper to all Victorian local government workers. Local government workers need to know you support us and give us a sense of hope and security. Please don’t unfairly leave us behind, as we’ve stepped up to make sure our communities have not been.