Two key unions turn on Labor, running attack ads and pulling campaign funds a month out from Victorian election

Exclusive: ASU launches ‘Ben Lied. Labor lies’ ads while ETU diverts money to defending members at royal commission

Two major unions in Victoria have turned their back on the Labor government a month out from the state election, with one launching attack ads calling Ben Carroll a liar and the other pulling campaign funding.

The Labor-aligned Australian Services Union (ASU), which launched the ads, has also confirmed it won’t doorknock for Labor in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) state council resolved on Wednesday not to run a statewide campaign for Labor, despite spending more than $1.6m supporting the party at the last election, with funds to be diverted to support members who could be called before the construction royal commission.