Voice to Parliament gaining local momentum

The past month has seen a growing number of locals swing behind the Yes campaign for a First Nations Voice to Parliament. The recent ‘Walk for Yes’, organised and funded by Annerley Labor, saw just over 150 people proudly demonstrate their support for a long overdue change to our 19th century constitution.

The Walk for Yes was also attended by Federal Moreton MP, Graham Perrett, State Miller MP, Hon Mark Bailey and local Councillor for Tennyson, Nicole Johnston.

Finishing the Walk at a community BBQ in Yeronga, participants heard why the historic vote was important to First Nations communities and how a Voice to Parliament will ensure they are heard on the issues that affect them.

Coming soon, on the evening of Tuesday 11 July, Federal Attorney General, Hon Mark Dreyfuss MP, will be a special guest at a town hall session on the Voice at Sherwood Districts AFL Club in Chelmer. Graham Perrett MP is hosting the session, which is open to the public.

More public events, including town hall sessions and community BBQs are planned in the lead up the referendum, which is scheduled to be held later this year.

To find out more about the Voice to Parliament campaign visit yes23.com.au

75 years of The Catastrophe remembered

Annerley Labor has again called on the Federal Labor government to recognise the State of Palestine as it marked the 75th anniversary of The Nakba, which means ‘The Catastrophe’ in Arabic.

The Nakba, which occurred on 15 May 1948, saw the violent displacement and dispossession of at least 750,000 Palestinians due to massacres carried out by Zionist militias. At least 500 Palestinian towns and villages were ultimately either destroyed or de-populated.

A resolution, unanimously supported by Annerley Labor members, welcomed the recent decision of the United Nations (UN) to officially commemorate the Nakba for the first time as ‘an occasion to highlight that the noble goals of justice and peace, require recognising the reality and history of the Palestinian people’s plight and ensuring the fulfillment of their inalienable rights’.

The branch resolution also applauded the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) for ‘standing firmly against the extra-judicial killings of militants by Israel and the high number of civilian casualties – including children – in Gaza and their call for Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, to speak out on the issue’.

The branch resolution has since been conveyed to Penny Wong.

Support for more Party diversity

Branch members have called on the Queensland Branch of the Australian Labor Party to fully implement 50% representation of women by 2025 and conduct all pre-selections for the 2024 BCC and State Elections with the application of a 50% quota.

In a resolution, mirroring that which was adopted at the June ALP Queensland State Conference, members were eager to ensure that the make up of the next Labor Caucuses for State Parliament and City Hall were more representative of the gender balance of the wider community.

In 1994, the ALP made the historic decision to introduce quotas for women at its National Conference. The decision, at the time prescribed, that 35 per cent of candidates preselected for winnable federal parliamentary seats must be women – whether the ALP was in government or in opposition – by 2002.

Since then, targets for women’s representation in ALP caucuses have grown to 50%.

Federally, the ALP leads in the representation of women in Parliament. Following the 2022 election, and the Aston by-election in April 2023, the Australian Labor Party in the 47th Parliament is 53 per cent women (55 of 104 total caucus members):
• In the House, 48% of members are women (37 of 77)
• In the Senate, 69.2% of senators are women (18 of 26)

However, whilst Branch members acknowledged that there are existing ‘targets’ for LGBTIQ and First Nations candidates, there is currently no target or proposed rule for culturally and linguistically diverse Party candidates in Queensland. Considering the results of the 2021 Census, which shows that our state is becoming more culturally diverse, there is now growing support to see such diversity in the ranks of elected ALP representatives.

Branch donates again to Community Plus

Annerley members have once again rallied behind Community Plus in support of its valuable work in the local area. As a result of a special donation appeal, the Branch has donated $690 to the organisation as it ramps up its physical presence and activities in Annerley.

Community Plus performs an important role in empowering local communities to be the heart of inclusive social change through their neighbourhood centres, community resilience and tenancy advice services, programs and other social activities.

Annerley Labor is supportive of a permanent community centre to be located and operate in Annerley and has welcomed the decision of Community Plus to provide services from Braille House for a few days each week.