Actors Equity of Australia

{{Short description|Australian trade union 1920–1993}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Actors Equity of Australia was an Australian trade union representing actors and other performers. It existed from 1920 to 1993.{{cite web | url=http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0030b.htm | title=Actors Equity of Australia (ii) (1982 - 1993) | publisher=Australian Trade Union Archives | accessdate=10 February 2019}}

It was established as the Actors' Federation of Australasia in 1920. It was renamed Actors' Equity of Australia in 1936, and again to Actors and Announcers' Equity of Australia in 1945 following the collapse of the Announcers' Association of Australia. It reverted to the Actors' Equity of Australia name in 1983.

Actor and comedian Hal Lashwood was a key figure in its establishment and its president for 25 years.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122406368 |title=OBITUARY: Hal Lashwood The father of Actors Eauity |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=66 |issue=20,803 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=28 March 1992 |accessdate=3 November 2019 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

It ceased to exist in 1993, when it merged with the Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees' Association and the Australian Journalists' Association to form the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.