ACTU leaders Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil resign after eight years

ACTU secretary Sally McManus and president Michele O’Neil announced their resignations, ending the union’s first all‑female leadership team that has served together for eight years. They cited pride in the 47 new workplace rights introduced under the Albanese government, record wage gains in undervalued sectors, a historic low gender‑pay gap and the first growth in union membership in decades. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised them as "giants of the labour movement" and highlighted their role in strengthening working‑family finances.

Both leaders ruled out a move into federal politics. Potential successors include Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary Steve Murphy and Public Sector Union national secretary Melissa Donnelly. Analysts note McManus’s political effectiveness, citing major reforms such as multi‑employer bargaining, gig‑worker protections and criminal wage‑theft laws, while acknowledging the continued challenge of reversing long‑term membership decline.