Calling all Kiwis - AWU backs NZ unions general election campaign

In October or November 2008 New Zealand will have a General Election. A Your Rights At Work NZ Campaign has been established in Australia to get eligible New Zealand voters based in Australia enrolled to vote.

What's at stake?

The polls currently show a significant lead for the conservative opposition NZ National Party (like Australia's Liberal Party).

Similar to John Howard's Work Choices laws, the National opposition are on record as wanting to do away with many rights and protections Kiwi workers currently have, including removing work rights in the first 90 days of employment, putting workers' fourth week of annual leave up for sale and giving employers the right to force workers on to individual agreements (just like AWAs).

Just as it was important to get rid of John Howard's Work Choices laws, Kiwi workers and their families will be exposed to cuts in their working conditions under the Nationals.

Kiwis living in Australia need to play their part in stopping this from happening!

New Zealanders working here in Australia can get enrolled today by visiting this official Elections New Zealand website.

So how can you be involved?

The 2006 Census identifies 389,465 people living in Australia who listed NZ as their place of birth.

There were 16,879 overseas votes cast in 2002 and 27,482 in 2005, so there is clearly more potential for getting Kiwis living in Australia enrolled and voting.

Every 16,000 to 18,000 more votes means one extra MP. As you can see, it is vital to get a higher turn out of Kiwis living in Australia this election.

How Kiwis can get on the roll and vote

Or NZ permanent residents who have visited NZ in the past 12 months are also eligible voters. Eligible voters can check their details and enrol at this official Elections New Zealand website.

Or you can visit a NZ diplomatic office (like the NZ High Commission in Sydney) and ask NZ based family or friends to complete the enrolment form.

One you are enrolled, when it comes to voting, you can download voting papers off the internet, apply to have the voting papers posted (normally send approximately 3 weeks before election day) or you can also vote in overseas booths, including the New Zealand Consulate, Level 10, 55 Hunter Street, Sydney, phone 8256 2000.

The list of locations of booths in Australia will be available from the Elections New Zealand website about four weeks before election day.

Also, if you happen to be in NZ two and a half weeks before election day, you can vote in person at advance polling stations.

If you don't want laws like Work Choices coming into New Zealand workplaces, it's vital that we get every possible Kiwi out voting.

For more information, go to the NZCTU website.

Vote for Your Rights At Work in the New Zealand Elections