Paul Erickson

Paul Erickson is an Australian trade unionist and the national secretary of the Australian Labor Party.

Political career Erickson worked for the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in research and data. In 2014, he took up the position as assistant national secretary of the Australian Labor Party. He has also worked in the New South Wales and Victorian state governments, advising several Labor ministers including Peter Batchelor, Richard Wynne and Carmel Tebbutt.

Following the resignation of Noah Carroll in 2019, Erickson was appointed acting national secretary and was appointed to the role permanently on 16 August 2019. Erickson is a member of the left faction, and served as convenor of the Socialist Left in Victoria in 2010. In 2024, he was publicly touted by Labor Left allies as a potential candidate for the Australian Senate to fill the vacancy created following the death of Linda White. However, he declined the opportunity. Following the 2025 election victory, he denied further speculation he intended to enter parliament soon and noted his intention to re-nominate as party secretary at the next Australian Labor Party National Conference.

Erickson was afforded the number one spot on the "10 most covertly powerful people list" for 2025 published by the Australian Financial Review.

Personal life

Erickson grew up in the state of Victoria. and was elected President of the University of Melbourne in 2003. He is the younger brother of three time Olympian and Commonwealth Games medalist, Chris Erickson. In May 2025, shortly before that year's Federal Election, Erickson and his partner welcomed their first child, Elisabeth.