Sada-e-Watan Sydney

Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
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More than 600 Delegated attended ALP State Conference at Sydney Town Hall
(Coverage by Mr.Harish Velji & Syed Zafar Hussain)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has urged NSW Labor to learn from its election defeat and undertake the reform necessary to rebuild the party. Ms Gillard told up to 600 expectant delegates at the 2011 NSW Labor State Conference in Sydney that Labor will rise again in the state.

"Gathering here today we understand reform begins by understanding what happened in March - a defeat as bad as we've ever known," she said.

"NSW Labor cannot and should not ever be the same again.

"Let's not imagine we can just move on - that would only be denying the judgement of the people.

"Rather, let's absorb the lessons and learn what it means to be Labor once again."

The conference on Saturday at Sydney Town Hall is the first big meeting of members since the party's historic landslide defeat at the March 26 NSW election.

The Conference provided a great opportunity for our Party to lay the groundwork for the great task ahead .of rebuilding. Delegates from all over NSW voted in favour of recommendations which will seek to rebuild our Party for the future, including:

- The trial of a number of community pre selections;

- Simplification of eligibility for pre selections, including a provision that those who have been party members for more than 10 years be granted full voting rights;

- The introduction of the NSW Policy Forum which brings together the entire shadow cabinet, trade union leaders and rank-and-file representatives to develop Labor Policies and ideas;

- FECs will elect one Delegate each to Labor’s National Conference;

- The introduction of Public Selection Forums to allow Candidates for public office the opportunity to speak directly to the membership;

- Expansion of the successful Central Policy Branch model;

-Expansion of NSW Labor Training Programs as part of the Campaign Insight Training Academy; and Stronger resourcing of Country Labor.

- Robust and meaningful policy debates were had over the two days including on important issues such . as industrial relations reforms, refugees and marriage equality.

- A summary of all of the debates at Conference can be found in this post conference report

said the General Ssecretary of the New South Wales Labor Party Mr.Sam Dastayri

ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER Hon.JULIA GILLARD

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Julia Gillard MP addressed the Conference on Saturday. Discussing the defeat in March, the Prime Minister addressed the achievements of the NSW Labor Government including “the best ever Olympics, great school literacy results, historic environmental achievements like saving the south east forests, the remarkable victory over James Hardie and so much more”.

The Prime Minister spoke of the opportunity that NSW Labor has to learn, to reform, to renew and to rebuild while in Opposition. The issue of reform within the Party was also discussed by the Prime Minister, who referred to the reforms proposed by current NSW General Secretary, Sam Dastyari as “significant reforms deserving of consideration”.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the many achievements of the past Labor governments and the history of being the Party to always reform and make the tough decisions. The history of making tough decisions leading to some of the greatest Labor initiatives such as the Snowy River Scheme, Medicare, Saving the Franklin River, Universal superannuation and Native Title.

The carbon price issue was also discussed by the Prime Minister. Speaking the day before she announced the full carbon package, the Prime Minister noted “Margaret Thatcher and John Howard...accepted the need to act” on the issue of climate change and challenged the Opposition’s stance by stating they “have the temerity to call our carbon price a toxic tax”.

The fighting spirit of the Labor Party was again emphasised by the Prime Minister as she challenged the Opposition, “We’re still here, we’re still ready to fight for our nation’s future”. As well as touching on the past achievements, the Prime Minister also reiterated the main aims of the party as “we will stick up for the people we have always stuck up for”, even restating Chifley’s historic words “fight for the right, and truth and justice will prevail” as she discussed the need for the Federal Labor Government’s policies in modern day Australia.

ADDRESS BY NSW LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION – JOHN ROBERTSON

NSW Leader of the Opposition, John Robertson addressed the Conference on Saturday morning, with a frank and honest examination of where the party currently stands, and where we must go from here.

He spoke of Labor’s achievements over the last 16 years, including: a doubled health budget upgrading or rebuilding very hospital reduced class sizes quality education, in which NSW students outperform all other States in numeracy and literacy 3000 more police on the streets all 17 crime categories are stable or declining. Despite this, in the last four years, the NSW Labor Government broke too many promises. This hurt the people of NSW, who could no longer put their trust in Labor.

He condemned the “Liberal way”, and how the Liberal government is already cutting jobs and preparing for privatisation, breaking promises and hurting workers. Worse still, Barry O’Farrell is shutting down debate to serve his own interests.

The Labor Party, on the other hand, must encourage debate in open forums with members and supporters, must stand up for the rights of NSW working families, and must regain the trust of the people of NSW.

INTRODUCING A TRIAL OF COMMUNITY PRE SELECTIONS

Opening up our Party will involve shifting our candidate selection process towards a community pre selection model, based on a primary model.

Under these changes, the local community will have direct participation in deciding who the Labor candidate will be for their area.

Beginning with some local government elections in NSW next year and five winnable state seats at the 2015 state election, voters who are prepared to identify themselves as Labor supporters will be able to participate and vote for who they think should be the Labor candidate for their area.

Primaries are a logical progression of the principles the founders of our party espoused – that our representatives should be chosen by a large cross-section of our members and supporters.

To vote in a community selection ballot, any person who is not a financial Party member must first sign a declaration stating that they:

(i) Are a Labor supporter;

(ii) Will assist the Labor candidate selected in the ballot for which they are registering as a voter; and

(iii) Are not a member of another political party or one of its affiliated organisations (Country Labor does not constitute another political party).

The introduction of community pre selections represents an historic opportunity to identify and recruit Labor supporters in our community. This will ensure that Labor supporters who vote in community pre selections are encouraged to continue their involvement by joining the Party.

Community pre selections should be just the beginning of a Labor supporter’s participation in the Party.They must be used to turn Labor supporters into Labor members.

Australians want to make their own choices and control their own lives.A primary school child using a computer at school has more information available at his or her finger tips than was conceivable at any other time in human history.