Strong support for refugees ‘left in limbo’
The Annerley Branch has given its support to a Queensland Labor for Refugees motion reaffirming its support for “the people of the ‘asylum legacy caseload’ who are left in limbo, and in transitory status”. In adopting the motion, the Branch has again expressed its belief that these people should be granted permanent residency.

The motion calls on Federal Labor to act with ‘compassion and decency’ to grant safety, security, work and study rights to the thousands who have been kept in limbo as part of the ‘asylum legacy caseload’ after undergoing so called ‘fast track’ refugee processing.

Labor for Refugees has pointed out that over 7,000 people nationally have had negative refugee findings under the Coalition’s cruel ‘fast-track’ refugee processing and are still waiting over 12 years after their arrival in Australia, mired in Home Affairs red tape.

Annerley Labor has called for:
(1) A pathway to permanent residency for the remaining ‘legacy caseload’ people,
(2) Work and study rights for all seeking asylum while claims are processed, and
(3) An indefinite bridging visa with full work, study rights, and Medicare access, while claims are assessed.

Annerley Labor has also called on the Queensland Labor Party Caucus to continue to advocate for, and support, Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance funding until the matter is resolved at the federal level.

Branch discusses way forward on housing
Members of the Branch gathered together recently to discuss the critical issue of housing affordability and homelessness. Seen as an issue at crisis level by many in the community, members deliberated on the current situation facing many Australians who were finding it difficult to access affordable, safe and secure housing – either for purchasing or for renting.

Despite actions by Labor at the federal, and previously the state level, members have argued for a fast-tracking of many of the reforms needed to address the generational challenge. Some of the issues explored at the discussion focused on better planning laws and co-ordination with other services – such as transport, boosting supply, recognising housing as a human right, tax reform and creating a housing ombudsman for the rental market.

Labor supports Junction Fest again
The annual Annerley Junction Fest was held earlier this month, with Labor making a huge presence yet again. Junction Fest is Annerley’s only community wide festival focussing on bringing local people together and is auspiced by Community Plus.

Labor representatives sponsoring the popular local event were Federal Moreton MP, Julie-ann Campbell, State MPs Mark Bailey and Barbara O’Shea and Brisbane City Councillor Steve Griffiths.
This year’s focus was ‘connecting Annerley’ with activities aimed at getting people to meet others and learn more about their local area.

The festival, operating since 2012, hosts a wide array of live music, children’s activities, market and community stalls, a fashion parade and local art.

Annerley Labor once again supported the event with many members volunteering with the organising committee, volunteering or helping on the day with the Labor MP stall (pictured).

One year of LNP broken promises
October marks one year since the last state election, and according to State Opposition Leader, Steven Miles: “if the last 365 days have shown Queenslanders anything, it’s that they can’t trust David Crisafulli and the LNP”.

Across Queensland, State Labor has claimed that people are witnessing how much Mr Crisafulli’s broken promises have hurt:
• Promised cost of living relief was his number one priority, but rego is up 24%, energy bill relief has been cut and they didn’t support Labors bill to make 50c fares permanent.

• Promised there would be no privatisation or cuts to health, but work has stopped on hospital expansions, and they’ve said they won’t build new hospitals “without help from the private sector.”

• Promised to secure our housing foundations, but instead of delivering homes, they’ve cut over 1,000 and wound back crisis accommodation for people doing it tough.
“The last year proves they say one thing but do another — and Queenslanders are paying the price”, Mr Miles has said.

Interestingly, recent state polling has now shown Labor to be neck and neck with the hapless LNP government, with support for Crisafulli down in the SE corner.

Calls for stronger environmental laws
The Annerley Branch has called on the Albanese Labor government to adhere to several core principles for its proposed new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
The principles, as highlighted in the branch resolution, include:

1. That environment laws must protect and restore the environment.
2. Ensuring the Commonwealth exercises its full power in relation to matters of national environmental significance, including threatened species and ecosystems, World Heritage values and globally important wetlands.
3. Ensuring that decisions are rules based and transparent, grounded in evidence-based data, and governed by rules that define unacceptable impacts, and set binding national environmental standards.
4. No blanket exemptions for forestry, agriculture, mining.
5. Recognising that environment protection and productivity are inextricably linked – strong environmental protection laws must provide clear and unambiguous guidelines. Environment decisions must be made at the bio-regional level rather than at the project level for the acceptance or rejection of projects.

Annerley Labor has been very supportive of the ongoing efforts of Labor Environmental Action Network (LEAN) to ensure that the national ALP platform is fully implemented by the Albanese government during its second term, and has identified climate action as a key priority.