Support for cultural heritage overhaul
The Annerley Branch has voiced its support for the recommendations of the final report of the inquiry into the destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves, calling on the federal Parliament to introduce the necessary legislative changes.

Recommendations of the final report include:
o A required re-writing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (1984) to set a national standard for protection.
o Any amended legislation to be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
o Reviewing all Aboriginal heritage areas to create a national register of tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites, including those already destroyed.
o Creating harsher penalties for corporations that destroy cultural heritage, and giving Traditional Owners the right to pursue damages.

However, in relation to the report’s recommendation to establish a veto power for Traditional Owners to refuse consent to projects impacting their cultural heritage, branch members have advocated the view that the Treaty process should outline decision making protocols for each state jurisdiction to deal with the protection of cultural heritage sites.

The Annerley Branch has called for the recommendations to be implemented as soon as possible.

Cashless debit card promise applauded
Annerley branch members have hailed federal Labor’s promise to scrap the controversial cashless debit card scheme. Noting significant community criticism regarding its operation and the government’s own commissioned evaluation, which failed to find conclusive evidence that the scheme reduced social harm, branch members welcomed Labor’s policy.

The card, since it was introduced, has been severely condemned for its ‘dehumanising’ effect on its users, as well as its links to the private company, responsibile for its operation, that is well known for its ties to the Coalition.

Labor recently introduced a Private Member’s bill to federal parliament to abolish the program and has re-iterated its public commitment to scrap the program, if it wins government at the next election.

Election dominates southside members meeting
Branch members from Griffith and Moreton met in early November to discuss the next federal election, which is due by May 2022. Meeting as the Brisbane South Regional Member Assembly (RMA) at St Luke’s Hall, Tarragindi, Party members heard details about Labor’s ‘on the ground’ campaign to retain the seats of Griffith and Moreton.

In attendance to speak to members were federal MPs for Griffith and Moreton, Terri Butler and Graham Perrett. Both highlighted the stark failure of Scott Morrison and his government to lead Australia during a crisis – firstly, the horrific bushfires of early 2020 and then during the global COVID pandemic.

The meeting also received a special briefing on some of the key policy issues that Labor will be taking to the election, such as climate change, health, COVID, government integrity, child care, housing affordability and jobs.

Members also debated a range of policy topics relating to youth arts funding, criminal code reform, multicultural representation, age of criminal responsibility, climate change and voluntary assisted dying.

Griffith wins inaugural ‘Seat of Origin’ trivia competition
Griffith has taken out the very first ‘Seat of Origin’ trivia competition, in a very close match with Moreton. Winning by just half a point, the ‘Fully Vaxed and Fully Waxed’ team (pictured), representing the seat of Griffith, won in an exciting ‘nail biting’ finish.

The successful trivia night saw almost 100 branch members from across the federal electorates of Griffith and Moreton vie for the ‘Cup of Knowledge’, the trophy what will be on proud display in the office of the MP representing the winning seat.

The competition will be an ongoing event to help raise funds for the Labor campaigns for Griffith and Moreton and is organised by the Annerley Branch.