Annerley Labor’s May general meeting was jam packed with discussion on several policy matters, as both the national and state ALP conferences fast approach.

The Branch adopted a resolution, sponsored by Labor Against War, that strongly condemned the US and Israeli war on Iran as an ‘illegal act of aggression against a sovereign nation’. Members called out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his support of the war as a ‘grave mistake that breaches the fundamental principles and policies of the Australian Labor Party’. The resolution also called for the immediate withdrawal from the AUKUS pact, as well as the closure of US military intelligence bases that are being used to support the attack on Iran.

In support of Labor Environmental Action Network’s (LEAN) current campaign, Annerley branch members have called on the Albanese Labor government to reform the Diesel Fuel Tax Credit to ensure it no longer undermines the current Safeguard Mechanism and use any savings to create a new Decarbonisation Fund. In addition, LEAN is seeking to make the new Decarbonisation Fund available to all facilities within the Safeguard Mechanism to finance on-site emissions reduction. LEAN’s campaign argues that the current Diesel Fuel Tax Credit is working against the Safeguard Mechanism by ‘significantly reducing the financial benefit to Australia’s largest mining companies of moving away from diesel’.

Annerley Labor also condemned the ‘ongoing violence, destruction and displacement across occupied Palestine’ and has called on the Australian Government to ‘take urgent concrete steps to end Israel’s illegal occupation, and expedite the establishment of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state consistent with international law and UN resolutions’. In supporting Labor Friends of Palestine and their continuing advocacy, branch members expressed their support for the imposition of sanctions and implementing a two-way arms embargo on Israel.

The Branch also expressed its strong support for the continuation and expansion of funding for the Queensland Migrant WorkWise program beyond its current funding period which ends in June 2026. The program is seen as a highly effective, Commonwealth-funded initiative delivered by the Queensland Council of Unions that provides free and confidential education and support services to temporary migrant workers across Queensland. Continuing and expanding funding will ensure long-term, sustainable arrangements for migrant worker education and support programs across the country.

Finally, branch members were keen to support the campaign from Multicultural Labor Queensland (MLQ) to support multiculturalism and stand up to racism. The branch has called on the federal Labor government to implement an effective anti-racism strategy in consultation with the Australian Human Rights Commission, to address all forms of racism in Australia. Importantly the MLQ campaign encourages everyone to stand up to racist behaviour and support those who are facing discrimination and vilification.

Annerley Labor utilised its April general meeting to highlight the importance of local Council issues, in preparation for the next Brisbane City Council (BCC) elections due in March 2028.

As part of the deliberations, the Branch adopted a resolution calling on the Party to devote time at the next State Conference, scheduled for August, to hold a dedicated forum to discuss BCC policy issues. Recognising the importance of grassroots participation in shaping the next platform to be advocated by ALP BCC candidates, members were strongly supportive of having more of a say in the policy development process.

Many branch members have reflected on the poor performance of Labor at the BCC level over the past 20 years, agreeing that ‘business as usual’ was not an option, especially as previous attempts to foster member participation had been discouraged and even thwarted.

During the April meeting, members participated in a workshop to identify some key policy issues that Labor could consider taking to the 2028 BCC elections. Some of the ideas mooted included:

–              Providing cost of living relief such as rates discounts and CPI caps.

–              Supporting more active and public transport infrastructure and services, including frequent mid-sized e-buses across suburbs, light rail options, building more bridges and car free areas.

–              Supporting housing; including reviewing existing restrictions and planning/zoning laws – especially for Airbnb’s and making more land available for housing with a priority for affordable, environmentally friendly developments, & imposing a vacancy tax.

–              Creating more community spaces across the city.

–              Better financial management to create an affordable city which includes reducing current Council waste.

–              Using the UN Habitat – new urban agenda as a strategic framework for Brisbane.

–              Eliminating anti-homeless infrastructure and providing better support services for homeless people.

–              Fixing King George Square.

–              Providing more shade structures in our parks and rolling out more dog parks.

In another resolution adopted at the April meeting, members identified housing as a priority issue that should be addressed strategically across all levels of government. Renters, who now make up a significant and growing proportion of Brisbane households, continue to face rising rents, insecure tenancies, and limited protections, the resolution calls on a Labor led Council to develop and adopt a comprehensive housing policy centred on renters’ rights and security.

Annerley Labor will continue its advocacy of local government issues over the next two years to ensure Labor is ready to take the fight to the current LNP dominated Council which has clearly abandoned governing for all of Brisbane.