January 2024
In our 25th year, Self-Employed Australia has said ‘goodbye’. Yes, we’ve closed the doors.
The reason is simple. The political and legal environment has moved (and is still moving) aggressively against self-employed people. Our commentary over the last 12 months makes that aggression perfectly clear.
SEA was structured as a volunteer, not-for-profit advocacy group. That structure has served us well to date. However, in the new aggressive environment, advocacy alone will not offer the protections that self-employed people need.
There’s a truism: When things change, adapt.
The team behind SEA are still dedicated to the cause of self-employed rights, the right of all Australians to be their own boss should they choose.
Have a look at Self Employed First.
Self Employed First exists under the umbrella of Red Union, a strictly non-party political workers’ representative body. It has a solid administrative, legal and servicing infrastructure. Here’s its website.
Under this support structure, Red Union has established a new division just for self-employed people, called Self Employed First (SEF). SEF creates new opportunities to continue the battle to defend self-employed people. A wide range of support services, including legal services and more, will be available through SEF. This will be the vehicle through which everyone can try to limit the damage to self-employed people.
In joining SEF you’ll continue to support advocacy efforts and more, giving new strength to the battle.
SEA’s website will remain available for some time as an historical record of its work over 25 years. A lot has been achieved. You can read the issues in its background and advocacy papers from the drop-down menu in the light blue banner above.
