A nationwide beer shortage threatens to disrupt Australia Day celebrations as transport workers initiate strike action against logistics conglomerate Qube. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has announced a 24-hour work stoppage commencing at 5am Wednesday, affecting operations in both Western Australia and Victoria.
The industrial action places critical supplies of Asahi beer, Coca-Cola beverages, and Mondelez chocolate products at risk during the peak holiday period. Union officials cite four years of stagnant wages and unsafe working conditions as primary catalysts for the work stoppage, despite Qube reporting consistent annual profit growth.
TWU Western Australia State Secretary Tim Dawson emphasized the strategic importance of consolidating state agreements into a national framework, stating this action represents a key component of the union’s 2026 initiative to elevate industry standards. “Transport remains Australia’s most lethal industry,” Dawson noted. “Fragmented agreements and relentless cost reduction measures exacerbate an already dangerous situation.”
Victorian TWU Director Sam Lynch reinforced these concerns, highlighting the growing disparity between corporate profits and worker compensation. Union representatives maintain that Qube’s offer of 12% wage increases over three years fails to address fundamental safety concerns and does not constitute adequate compensation given inflation rates.
Qube Logistics has denounced the strike as a “calculated scare campaign” while asserting the implementation of contingency supply arrangements. Company representatives revealed that the action involves minimal workforce participation—merely five drivers in Western Australia and twelve in Victoria—and should not significantly impact supply chains.
The confrontation represents a broader national debate about wage stagnation, worker safety, and corporate responsibility in Australia’s logistics sector during a period of record corporate profitability.