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.

Branch adopts new Agenda for Progress

Annerley Labor has endorsed a new, revitalised Agenda for Progress – which articulates the ongoing policy advocacy program for the branch over the next few years to come.

The statement, reflecting the core progressive values of Annerley Labor, contains a preamble and is built on ‘6 pillars’ – Just Society, Inclusive Economy, Responsive Governance, Sustainable Planet, Co-operative World and Supportive Community.

Currently, members are assisting with prioritising the newly adopted agenda items, to focus on some of the key issues the Branch is keen to see embraced and implemented by the Australian Labor Party.

Some of the prioritised agenda items as identified by members include:

• Improving affordable housing availability through investment in public housing, planning and development initiatives, limits on investor tax concessions, and rent caps and controls.
• Reforming our tax system to ensure progressive, fair and equitable contributions from individuals and corporations, the removal of tax concessions that adversely impact our social fabric, and the implementation of tax policies that support wider social goals.
• Reforming our media laws to ensure diversity of ownership, transparency and balance, requiring factual reporting and the corporate disclosure of the media’s primary purpose.
• Rapidly moving towards a sustainable, low carbon economy that is significantly dependent upon renewable energy.
• Ending offshore processing and indefinite detention for people seeking asylum in Australia.
• Providing access to regular low-cost public transport options including access to safe, active travel across existing and future road networks.

To access the new Agenda for Progress, visit https://annerleylabor.org/agenda-for-progress/

ALP elected representatives encouraged to publicly support Voice

Annerley Labor members have called on all elected ALP Federal, State and Council representatives to publicly confirm their support for the proposed Voice to Parliament and to outline their activities to support the Yes campaign.

Members strongly view the Voice to Parliament referendum as a ‘once in a generation opportunity to unite our nation and correct a wrong that has been with us for 123 years’ and are most eager to see all Labor representatives publicly and actively campaign for a win later this year.

Locally, Graham Perrett MP, federal Member for Moreton and Mark Bailey MP, state Member for Miller, have been very vocal in their support for the Yes campaign.

At the recently held Junction Park State School fete, both representatives were active in spreading the message as to why the Voice was instrumental in the reconciliation process with our First Nations communities.

Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee report welcomed

The recent release of the first report of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee (EIAC) has been warmly welcomed by Annerley Labor. The report, which examined a range of issues, such as the adequacy of income support payments, full employment and support for families, recommended an immediate increase to JobSeeker – with a suggestion that it be raised to 90% of the age pension.

The Branch has since urged the Albanese Labor government to adopt all recommendations that will lift more than a million Australians out of dire poverty. These include:
• Substantially increasing JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related working age payments,
• Increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance, and
• Restoring Parenting Payment Single to when the youngest child turns 16.

It is important to recognise the work already undertaken by the Albanese government, such as making it easier for pensioners to work more hours without losing their pension; improving employment services to better support people with disability to find employment; investing in Paid Parental Leave to give more families access to the payment and providing parents greater flexibility in how they take leave.

However, in addition to supporting the EIAC recommendations, Annerley Labor has written to the Federal Treasurer urging the reversal of the so-called ‘stage 3’ tax cuts, which are described as ‘unaffordable and fail to accord with Labor’s core value of economic justice’.

Budget 2023: delivering ‘positive change’

In his post budget message to Moreton voters, Graham Perrett MP has voiced a timely reminder of the ‘wasted decade under the Coalition’, stating that Federal Labor was ‘getting on with the job of delivering the positive change that Australians voted for’.

Graham outlined that many residents across the electorate will receive rebates off their electricity bill under the Albanese Government’s ‘Energy Price Relief Plan’. Eligible households and businesses may receive a rebate of up to $500 off their power bills.

In other highlights, Labor’s Budget will:
• improve access to bulk-billed doctors
• provide aged care workers with a pay rise
• support pensioners, renters and parents
• make childcare cheaper for families
• strengthen paid parental leave.

Federal Labor has also allocated $120 million in the Budget to establish the federal Environment Protection Agency (EPA). The new EPA signifies a shift towards more stringent conservation standards and a proactive approach to safeguarding Australia’s natural heritage. The EPA’s ability to impose legally binding environmental standards will ensure accountability and strengthen the enforcement of environmental regulations nationwide.

The 2023 Budget also included over $3 billion for energy saving measures and hydrogen projects, as part of the plan to “electrify” large parts of the economy.

“The Albanese Labor Government has delivered a common sense budget, providing Australians with the stability, confidence and security that we need”, Mr Perrett stated.

“Our government is supporting families and businesses in our community. There is more to be done in these difficult times but this Budget sets us up to do so”.

Despite the usual, widely anticipated criticism from the Greens and a divided Opposition, post Budget opinion polling still gives Labor a large two party preferred lead.