Unions celebrate Albanese victory, vow to continue fight in Brisbane Labour Day march

Trade unionists, buoyed by the events of Saturday night, took to the streets of Brisbane in their thousands on Monday to celebrate Labour Day, less than 48 hours after the Albanese government’s stunning election win.

But while the labour movement was celebrating a huge victory for its political arm, some unions were steeling for imminent battles ahead.

Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles was at the head of the march to the RNA Showgrounds, alongside Dickson MP-elect Ali France, who defeated federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton on Saturday night.

Cameron Dick, Ali France and Steven Miles joined Labor and union members at the Labour Day march in Brisbane.Credit: Cameron Atfield

France took pride of place at the front of the march on a mobility scooter, speeding ahead of Miles and other Labor luminaries and urging them to “keep up”. She had a leg amputated in 2011, after she was pinned by a car.

“I’m just so proud of Ali,” Miles said.

“You know, my seat covers [parts of] Dickson, Petrie and Longman and it looks like we’ve got a chance to pick up all three with really, really strong women.”

An effigy of Peter Dutton’s head on a stick at the Queensland Labour Day march on Monday, May 5, 2025. Pic credit: Cameron AtfieldCredit: Cameron Atfield

Emma Corner has taken Petrie from the LNP, while Rhiannyn Douglas remained in a tight race with Coalition MP Terry Young to claim Longman.

“I’m looking forward to being able to work with them to deliver for our community,” Miles said.

Acknowledging it was a fraught exercise to read too much into the state ramifications of a federal election, Miles said it was a “big result” for the party in Queensland.

“But ultimately, it was a rejection of Peter Dutton and those Queensland LNP values, and that’s what I’m taking from it,” he said.

“You saw [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese] campaigning on healthcare, on education, on cost of living, on cutting HECS, while the LNP stuck to their bread and butter of fear and strongman tactics.”

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt was more willing to draw some state political parallels.

“Brisbane in particular, performed very strongly for labor at the state election as well, and we’ve now won almost every seat at the federal level in Brisbane as well,” he said.

Senator Murray Watt joined Labor and union members at the Labour Day march in Brisbane.Credit: Cameron Atfield

“So I think this sends a message to [Queensland Premier] David Crisafulli that he should think twice about cutting jobs, cutting services, cutting healthcare, because Queenslanders have spoken up on the weekend that that’s not what they want.

“It’s up to them, but if I was in their shoes, I’d be thinking twice about making the types of cuts that they’re already starting to flag.”

Speaking across town at an Upper Mount Gravatt police station, Crisafulli said he had a good working relationship with the federal Labor government.

He said he hoped, for Games purposes, the sports minister would continue to be from Queensland – member for Lilley Anika Wells currently holds that position in the Albanese ministry.

“Elections are bruising, and at the moment the federal Liberal and National parties have got soul-searching to do,” he said of his side of politics.

And, as the unions marched through the streets of Brisbane, Crisafulli said the government needed a public service that had job security and flexibility in order to deliver the LNP’s election promises.

“We’re continuing to negotiate and we’re doing it in good faith,” he said, adding that “offers should be made and discussed in good faith”.

“It’s important that unions are part of that process.”

Labor and union members at the Labour Day march in Brisbane.Credit: Cameron Atfield

One potential flashpoint was with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union, who have been threatened with a loss of backpay in its enterprise bargaining with the state government.

QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said “deeply concerning” move from the LNP.

“The offer that’s being put forward to members is about reducing the number of entitlements,” she said.

“There are some nuances to it, but anything that talks about being able to contract out services to private providers using public money is of deep concern to our members.”

Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union secretary Sarah Beaman.Credit: Cameron Atfield

Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Jacqueline King said the state’s public sector workers were like anyone else feeling the pressure of cost-of-living increases.

“It’s hard out there for a lot of people, and they will walk with their feet to the private sector. They’ll go in a state where they can get better wage offers,” she said.

“It’s a reality that this government, whether it’s in deficit or otherwise, has to put an offer on the table for fair and decent wage rises.”