NSW LABOR POLITICAL BRIEFING

Transcription

1 NSW LABOR POLITICAL BRIEFING Report from the Administrative Committee Meeting November FEDERAL PRESELECTIONS ROUND TWO At the close of nominations for State Preselections Round One, the following nominations were received: Blaxland Chifley Lyne Parramatta Sydney Calare Kingsford Smith Macquarie Riverina Watson Jason Clare Ed Husic David Keegan Julie Owens Tanya Plibersek Jess Jennings Matt Thistlethwaite Susan Templeman Tim Kurylowicz Tony Burke The above candidates were endorsed. 2. FEDERAL PRESELECTIONS ROUND THREE Nominations are called for rank-and-file preselections in the following Federal seats: Cunningham Bennelong Cowper Gilmore Lindsay Newcastle Robertson Wentworth Whitlam The timetable is as follows: Nominations open: 2pm, Friday 6 November 2015 Nominations close: 2pm, Friday 13 November 2015 Local Credentialing: Saturday 21 November 2015 Challenges Close: 5pm Wednesday 25 November 2015

2 Ballot (if necessary): Saturday 12 December 2015 Nomination Fee: $750 All nominations must be on the official form, which can be obtained from the NSW Party Office. Nominations will be accepted by the General Returning Officer (or delegate) at the NSW Party Office, Level 9, Sussex St, Sydney. Pre Poll Voting (if necessary), for the above seats will only be available at the NSW Party Office, Level 9, Sussex St, Sydney at the following times: 10.00am to 12.00noon on Monday 7 December noon to 2.00pm on Tuesday 8 December pm to 4.00pm on Wednesday 9 December 2015 Please Note: There is no postal voting. 3. NSW LABOR STATE CONFERENCE The 2015 NSW Labor State Conference will be held at the Sydney Town Hall on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February Timetable for Agenda Items The following timetable will apply for agenda items from all Party Units and Affiliated Unions: Policy Platform Changes to be considered at Annual Conference must be received by the Party Office by 12noon Friday 20 November 2015 Rule Changes to be considered at Annual Conference must be received by the Party Office by 12noon Friday 20 November 2015 All other Annual Conference agenda items must also be received by the Party Office by 12noon Friday 20 November Submission of policy NSW Labor has launched a new website to allow Branch, SEC and FEC Secretaries as well as Affiliated Unions to submit policy motions online. Secretaries can submit motions via: members.nswlabor.org.au. Policy Committees The Policy Committees will finalise their report by Friday 27 November 2015.

3 Life Membership Nominations The last date for submission of nominations for Life Membership has been extended to 12 noon 1 December Fringe Events Expressions of interest are now open for interested groups to hold a Fringe Event at the Conference. Please find attached the form to register your interest. 4. NOMINATIONS FOR STATE CONFERENCE Nominations are called for the following positions to be elected at the State Conference to be held Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February Positions Assistant General Secretary (2) Country Organiser Conference Agenda Committee (5) Health Policy Committee Chair Health Policy Committee Deputy Chair Health Policy Committee Secretary Health Policy Committee Members (10) International Relations Committee Chair International Relations Committee Deputy Chair International Relations Committee Secretary International Relations Committee Members (10) Sustainable Communities Chair Sustainable Communities Deputy Chair Sustainable Communities Secretary Sustainable Communities Members (10) Education Policy Committee Chair Education Policy Committee Deputy Chair Education Policy Committee Secretary Education Policy Committee Members (10) Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation Chair Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation Deputy Chair Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation Secretary Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation Members (10) Economics Policy Committee Chair Economics Policy Committee Deputy Chair Economics Policy Committee Secretary Economics Policy Committee Members (10) Industrial Relations Committee Chair Industrial Relations Committee Deputy Chair Industrial Relations Committee Secretary Industrial Relations Committee Members (10)

4 Social Justice and Legal Affairs Chair Social Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Chair Social Justice and Legal Affairs Secretary Social Justice and Legal Affairs Members (10) Organising, Recruitment and Training Committee Chair Organising, Recruitment and Training Committee Deputy Chair Organising, Recruitment and Training Committee Secretary Organising, Recruitment and Training Committee Members (9) State Policy Forum Deputy Chairs (2) Opening & Closing of Nominations Nominations Open: 12noon Friday 6 November 2015 Nominations Close: 12noon Friday 11 December 2015 Nominations must be on an official nomination form available from the NSW Party Office. Nominations will be accepted by the General Returning Officer (or delegate) at the NSW Party Office, Level 9, Sussex St, Sydney. 5. VALE ROBERT (BOB) WHAN 5th January th October This month we lost one of the Labor Party s most popular figures, when Bob Whan AM passed away. His funeral was held this week (13th October) attended by a large number of former Members of Parliament, industry representatives family and friends. Bob was born in Wodonga Victoria. Leaving school at 14 he started work on dairy farms and in shearing sheds. He later went back into study qualifying in a degree in wool technology before winning a scholarship to Leeds University. This is where he met his life long partner, Gill. They have been married for over 50 years. In 1969 Bob stood for the Coalition held seat of Macarthur. Despite losing, the Liberal majority was reduced from to He then became active in supporting John Kerin s political career before Bob won the seat of Eden Monaro at the 1972 Federal Elections which saw the election of the Whitlam Government. He held the seat in 1974 however was defeated in 1975 in the landslide defeat of the Labor Government. Bob s talents and knowledge of Rural issues had him take up many positions such as Chairman of the Pork Council and Chief Executive officer of the New South Wales Milk marketing Board. He was also instrumental in establishing work programmes in Canberra and involved in overseas aid. In addition to many other roles, he provided reports for Labor Premier Wran, Ministers Jack Hallam and John Kerin. In 1995, he took up a position as a Policy advisor in the office of the Agriculture Minister, Richard Amery and later became the Chief of Staff in that office. His expertise was

5 invaluable to the Carr Government during the many Competition Policy reviews carried out by that Government. Former Minister Richard Amery said this week that Bob Whan was the best connected and knowledgeable person he had met. He would have been the best Agriculture /Primary Industry Minister this country had ever seen had his circumstances and location been different. Bob will be sadly missed by all, in particular, by Wife Gill, son, Steve Whan daughter Susie and all the Grandchildren 6. VALE PETER KNOTT Peter Knott passed away on 29 October He was a real Labor character - a passionate and colorful political figure, who held strong views and strong views were held about him. Peter served as the Federal Member for Gilmore from 1993 to 1996 and ran as Labor s candidate for the seat in As our candidate in 1993, Peter took 6 months off work and doorknocked his entire electorate - on horse-back when necessary. The night before the election, he performed to much acclaim at the local Jamboree music festival, singing a self-written song about John Hewson and the GST to the tune of Give me a home amongst the gum trees, opening line Give me a home without John Hewson, he s rather gruesome. Prior to his election to Federal Parliament, Peter was a teacher and librarian and served on Kiama Council. His father was Bill Knott, a former NSW State MP who represented the electorates of Kiama and Wollondilly. Peter was active in Young Labor and the local branches his entire life. Peter was a great lover of music. He was regularly seen around town with his guitar, and successfully campaigned to revive busking in Kiama. He was also instrumental in helping others through charity, putting together a benefit concert for those affected by the Black Saturday Victorian bushfires. Knotty s approach to politics and political life were well expressed when he said: ''If you don't fight for what you believe in, you get walked on. Peter will be missed by all who knew him and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family. 7. VALE KEN PALMER Ken Palmer was a dedicated and active member of the ALP. He joined the Party in 1965 at the Caringbah Branch and was a long time Branch President. He also held the position of branch Secretary on two occasions. For many years he was the branch delegate to the Cronulla SEC and he was regularly a Cronulla SEC delegate to State Conference. His commitment to the Party really shone at election times. He took on the role of campaign manager for several Local and State elections where the candidates

6 commended him for the help and support he gave them, always there, always calm, always reliable. Ken was a very hands on kind of campaign manager. Letter boxing, station stops, staking out posters, sorting out the booth rosters, making up the booth kits, Ken was in the thick of it. In his retirement he also rostered himself on for multiple shifts at the pre-poll booths. He and his wife, Jan, opened up their home for campaign fundraisers. It was his garage that stored the campaign material from one election to the next and his yard that was taken over for campaign working bees. On election day Ken in his van distributed the booth material in the early morning and collected it at the end of the day. And in between he spent many hours working on the booths. In 2006 the Caringbah Branch nominated Ken for life membership of the Party and he received his well-earned life membership that year. Ken was an activist in other areas too. He had a lifelong commitment to education, indigenous affairs and the plight of refugees. He was instrumental in establishing the Kirinari Hostel for Aboriginal students at Sylvania Heights and he was a regular visitor at Villawood Detention Centre, actively helping where he could. Ken held out his hand and opened his home to these people. Ken s life was characterised by thoughtful and committed involvement and constructive action. The Caringbah Branch had wanted to nominate Ken for a McKell Award. But Ken would have none of it he didn t think he had done anything out of the ordinary to deserve it. That was Ken - unpretentious. A truly decent man. On September the 29th he was hit by a car while cycling. Ken passed away on October the 2nd REVIEW INTO THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE At the 2014 NSW Labor Annual State Conference, it was resolved to conduct a review into the size, composition, scope and rules of the Labor Administrative Committee and NSW Labor Finance Committee. The committee s report has been finalized. Key recomendations include reducing the size of the Administrative Committee and requiring its members to be elected by the entire conference (while maintaining the 50/50 split between rank and file and affiliated union representatives), improving training and induction for committee members, the creation of a Senior Administration Manager, the provision of secretarial support for Assistant Secretaries and the renaming of the Administrative Committee.

7 Any requisite rule changes will be determined at the 2016 Annual Conference. Thank you to the Independent Directors, John Tarrant and David Tierney, co-chairs of the review, for their work on this report FEDERAL CAMPAIGN Preparations of the 2016 Federal Election are progressing with the conduct of interviews for 10 Field Directors, and the preselection of the first round of federal seats post redistribution. In recent weeks the Turnbull Government has commenced a discussion on increasing the GST to 15%. The next election is now expected to be called in September or October 2016, although preparations are being made in case an election is called in the first quarter of next year FEDERAL REDISTRIBUTION AND FEDERAL PRESELECTIONS The Commonwealth Electoral Commissioner, has determined that a Redistribution of Federal Electoral boundaries is required in NSW. The draft boundaries were released by the Commission on Friday 16 October Overall the draft boundaries propose the loss of one seat, with the existing seat of Hunter being divided between the existing seats of Charlton and Paterson, and Charlton being renamed Hunter. The seats of Paterson, Dobell and Barton become notionally Labor on redistributed boundaries, and the seats of Ried and Macarthur become more favorable to Labor, while Gilmore, Macquarie, Page, McMahon, Robertson and Eden Monaro all become slightly more favorable to the Coalition. A Redistribution Committee consisting of the Party Officers, Mark Morey and Jan Primrose with support from Zach Alexopoulos and Shane Easson has been established to take submissions from individuals and Party Units on the draft boundaries. Submissions may be directed to redistribution@nswlabor.org.au. 11. NSW LABOR ORGANISING CENTRE In October the NSW Labor Organising Centre has been continuing it s volunteer recruitment and direct voter contact campaign for the 2015 federal election. The NSW Labor Organising Centre is open Tuesday, and Wednesday. Opening hours will increase as general campaign activity increases.

8 The NSW Labor Organising Centre will be assisting marginal seats across New South Wales. NSW Labor Organising Centre will be utilised in the training of the 2016 Federal Election Field Directors. The resources made available to campaigns with provide Field Directors with practical, hands on experience. The NSW Labor Organising Centre will play an ongoing role in the training of new organisers and assisting electorate officers to play a more active role in constituent management. Direct voter contact, on phones, and on doorsteps will be essential to our success at the next federal election. The NSW Labor Organising Centre will be providing the skills and resources to campaigns to perform direct voter contact effectively. 12. LABOR ACTION COMMITTEES Labor for Innovation held a packed event featuring Federal MPs Tanya Plibersek and Terri Butler to discuss policies Labor is adopting to boost tech, start-ups and womens participation. It was standing room only at the event, held at the Headquarters of Hey You. Labor for Drug Law Reform has held it s establishment meeting and submitted paperwork for affiliation. The paperwork is attached. Vietnamese Friends of Labor continue to prepare for their annual dinner on 22nd November 2015 at the Crystal Palace Restaurant, Canley Heights. Irish Friends of Labor are preparing for their next function which will be in late February. 13. CENTRAL POLICY BRANCH The October meeting of the Central Policy Branch was unfortunately cancelled due to unforeseeable circumstances. The next meeting of the Central Policy branch will be held on Monday 9 November to mark the 40th anniversary of Gough Whitlam's dismissal on 11 November Joining us will be Graham Freudenberg (Gough Whitlam's Speechwriter) and Troy Bramston (co-author of the new groundbreaking book, The Dismissal: In The Queen's Name) to maintain the rage and discuss the event that shook a nation and still reverberates through Australian politics. Details are as follows: Date: Monday 9 November 2015 Time: 6pm for 6:30pm Venue: Trades Hall Auditorium, entry via 377 Sussex St, Sydney

9 The December Central Policy Branch meeting will see the return of the Central Policy Christmas Trivia night with Senator Sam Dastyari hosting the event. Details are as follows: Date: Monday 7 December 2015 Time: 6pm for 6:30pm Venue: Trades Hall Atrium, entry via 377 Sussex St, Sydney 14. NSW LABOR TRAINING UPDATE Local FEC One Day Training Days Training our local activists is a priority in the lead up to the Federal campaign. NSW Labor held one training day seminars with the Hume FEC and Eden-Monaro FEC during October. We will be holding a training seminar with the Gilmore FEC on Sunday 8 November from 10:30-2:30pm at the Bomaderry Bowling Club, 154 Meroo Road, Bomaderry. Field Director Training We will commence training our Field Directors from 11 January This program will include train-the-trainer sessions, as well as information about developing an effective strategy, message, volunteer recruitment plan and campaign activity plan. 15. FEDERAL ELECTION FIELD DIRECTORS NSW Labor has now finalised the process to hire Field Directors for the Federal Election campaign. They are to be employed starting from Monday 11January. There were over 130 applications for the 9 Field Director positions. Initial interviews were conducted by the Party s Organising team, David Dobson, Dom Ofner, Jay Suvaal and Rose Jackson on Tuesday 27 October with over 40 applicants, with a final round taking place on Friday 30 October. The final interview panel was comprised of NSW Labor Assistant General Secretaries, Kaila Murnain and John Graham, WA Labor Assistant Secretary Lenda Oshalem, and QLD Senate Candidate, Murray Watt. The panel was supported by David Dobson on the day and he should be thanked for all of his hard work. All 130 applicants brought with them a range of experience and enthusiasm, and the high caliber of individuals applying made the process very difficult. The 9 successful candidates have been offered positions, with a further 5 invited to take part in the month long training in All applicants will be invited to a special

10 one day training seminar in December. A list of the successful candidates will be published at the December Administrative Committee meeting. 16. NSW PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS NSW Labor provided a submission to the Electoral Matters Committee Inquiry into the recommendations of the Schott Report. On Friday 30 October 2015, Assistant General Secretary Kaila Murnain appeared before the Committee to provide verbal submissions about the Schott Report and to answer questions about NSW Labor s position on a number of matters. 17. STATE POLICY FORUM Election of Country and Rural NSW Rank and File members At the close of nominations the following applications were received for the 5 country and rural NSW positions: NAME Leanne Atkinson Mirsad (Max) Buljubasic Melanie Dagg Trent Gilbert Tim Kurylowicz Michelle Miran Asren Pugh Sharon Sewell Ray Wilson SEC Bega Murray Cessnock Clarence Wagga Wagga South Coast Ballina Bathurst Bathurst At the close of the ballot on Wednesday 28th October 2015 a count of online and postal ballots was conducted by the returning officer, below is the result in order of their election: 1. Trent Gilbert 2. Leanne Atkinson 3. Sharon Sewell 4. Asren Pugh 5. Melanie Dagg We want to congratulate all the candidates who participated. We thank them for their passion and professionalism during the ballot. Thank you to everyone who participated in the State Policy Forum ballot. There was strong voter turnout in online and postal votes and enthusiastic member engagement through the Facebook forum. 18. POLICY COMMITTEES

11 The Indigenous Affairs Committee held a consultation with Tweed SEC and the new Minjungbal Branch on Saturday, 10 October 2015 at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre in South Tweed Heads. The Education and Skills Committee held a consultation with the Port Macquarie SEC on Saturday 17 October 2015 at Hibbard Sports Club. The Health Policy Committee held a public consultation in Tweed Heads on Monday 2 November In Attendance were Shadow Health Minister, Walt Secord, Committee members, local Union organisers, staff from Tweed Hospital, community and aged care nurses, and ALP members from the Banora Point Branch, Minjungbal Branch, South Tweed Branch, Tweed Coast Branch, SEC and FEC The next meeting of all NSW Labor Policy Committees will be held on Saturday 7 November 2015 at the NSW Trades Hall Auditorium. The Policy Committees will provide recommendations on policy motions from Party Units for the NSW Labor Annual State Conference NSW YOUNG LABOR CONFERENCE The NSW Young Labor Conference was held on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November The weekend was a success and included very thoughtful and passionate policy debates. The Conference was addressed by Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten, NSW Senator Sam Dastyari, Secretary of Unions NSW and Party President Mark Lennon, former Premier Kristina Keneally, National Director of the Australian Republican Movement Tim Mayfield and Member for Lakemba Jihad Dib. The Young Labor Women s Network hosted drinks for women delegates on the Saturday afternoon with Assistant General Secretary Kaila Murnain and Member for Londonderry Prue Car. Congratulations to the NSW Labor Young Labor Office Bearer team Todd Pinkerton, Penelope Parker, Dylan Parker, Jennifer Light, Casey Thompson, Jack Boyd and Sam O Leary for organising a successful Conference. 20. RECONSTITUTION OF FEC S ON DRAFT ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES A draft of the new electoral boundaries has been released by the Australian Electoral Commission. The final boundaries are due to be gazette in February As such; Branches should elect Delegates to FECs at their AGMs in March according to the redistributed Federal electorate boundaries; and FECs should be reconstituted at their AGMs in April according to the redistributed Federal electorate boundaries. 21. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE- INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

12 The NSW Labor Party Officers have called for nominations for one (1) Administrative Committee Independent Director. Amended Rules D.2(a)(f) and (k) state that: (f) (k) To be eligible for election as a non-voting member under subsection (a)(v), a person must have served on a Board of Directors for no less than two years at the time of their election. In these Rules, Board of Directors includes, but is not limited to, a body that oversees the activities of a company or organisation, regardless of the name that is given to that body. The timetable is as follows: Nominations open: 2pm, Friday 6 November 2015 Nominations close: 2pm, Friday 20 November 2015 Ballot (if required): By the NSW Labor Administrative Committee 10am-1pm, Monday 23 November 2015 Nominations must be on the official form, which can be obtained from the NSW Party Office. Nominations should be sent to the NSW General Returning Officer at the NSW Party Office, Level 9, Sussex St, Sydney. 22. BRANCH MATTERS a) Permission was granted to change the name of the Punchbowl Park Riverwood North Branch to Riverwood branch. b) Permission was granted to allow the Enfield South Branch to hold a resuscitation meeting on Monday 30 November at the Croydon Park Club at 7pm. This request was supported by the Member for Strathfield Jodi McKay. Executive Officer Dominic Ofner was appointed to attend the meeting as the representative of the General Secretary. c) A request from the Haberfield Branch to open a bank account with the Bendigo Bank in Haberfield was denied in accordance with Rule K.10(a) and the Party s obligations under the Electoral Funding, Expenditure and Disclosure Act d) Correspondence was received from the Wakeley Branch advising that six members applied to join the Branch at its October meeting. If no objections are raised within 30 days of the meeting, everything will be considered in order. e) Correspondence was received from the Shellharbour Barrack Heights Branch advising that five members applied to join the Branch at its November meeting.

13 If no objections are raised within 30 days of the meeting, everything will be considered in order. f) Permission was granted for a formation meeting of the Cootamundra Branch to be held on Saturday 28 November 2015 at Cootamundra Ex-Servicemens & Citizens Memorial Club, 299 Parker Lane, Cootamundra NSW Country Organiser Jay Suvaal was appointed to attend the meeting as the representative of the General Secretary. g) The Hurstville Branch held a successful formation meeting on Friday 9 October The formation of the branch is supported by the SEC. A Charter was issued by the Administrative Committee. 23. RULE I.7 Correspondence has been received from Gaylene Adamthwaite, Secretary, Merewether Branch, advising that Debbie Turvey requested to sign the Branch Attendance Book away from the Branch due to ill health. The request was noted and if no objections are raised within 21 days everything will be considered to be in order.