CPSU Members Vote on National Executive Elections
Postal ballots for the union's national executive close on 11 December as APS pay talks become the key election battleground.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Elections
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Members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) have begun voting in national executive elections, with postal ballots formally opened on 6 November and closing on 11 December. Wages and conditions negotiations for the Australian Public Service (APS) are central to the contest.
Why it matters
The ballot comes as the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) and the union remain far apart on pay, with almost 90 per cent of more than 20,000 members in a snap poll rejecting the APSC's first offer. The result will shape who leads the union's bargaining position for APS staff.
The APSC proposal is a 3.2 per cent rise from next March, 3 per cent from March 2028 and 2.8 per cent in March 2029, totalling 9 per cent over three years. The union's 15 per cent claim, lodged in August, is not yet resolved, and the outcome of the ballot is unknown.
The players
Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)
The CPSU is the principal union representing Australian Public Service employees and other public sector workers.
Rebecca Fawcett
Rebecca Fawcett is the incumbent national secretary of the CPSU, seeking to retain her position.
Christopher Warren
Christopher Warren is the Members United group's candidate for national secretary of the CPSU.
Australian Public Service Commission (APSC)
The APSC is the Australian Government agency responsible for the management and employment conditions of the Australian Public Service.
The details
Rebecca Fawcett, the incumbent national secretary, faces Christopher Warren, the candidate for the Members United group. The 2023 election was the first fully contested CPSU election since 2005, when Members United won about a third of the vote. The APSC proposal includes a minimum pay point increase of 3 per cent for eligible employees progressing through their salary range.
Timeline
August 2026: CPSU lodged its 15 per cent pay rise claim for APS staff.
6 November 2026: Ballots formally opened through Australia Post.
11 December 2026: Postal ballot polls close for eligible members.
Political Context
The 2023 election was the first fully contested CPSU ballot since 2005, when Members United took about a third of the vote. The 2026 contest is fought over whether the union's 15 per cent pay claim or the APSC's 9 per cent proposal better reflects the needs of the service's lowest-paid workers.
Eligible CPSU members must return their postal ballots by 11 December 2026 to have a say in the national executive election. The outcome may determine the union's approach to the APS pay offer that affects how public servants are paid from next March.
The takeaway
Union leadership contests can directly shape pay outcomes for public servants, so the result of this ballot is worth watching closely. Members should check their postal ballots and return them before the closing date.
What happens next
Postal ballot polls for eligible CPSU members close on 11 December 2026, when the result of the national executive election will be known.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections for context on how union leadership contests shape public sector bargaining.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Region Canberra.
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Do you think public servants' pay is keeping up with the cost of living?
