Red Leather #93 - Now available

For Labor in NSW, 2011 has been our annus horribilis. Labor members dusted themselves off from the election defeat and wondered what next. Here are my five thoughts for Labor as we turn the corner into 2012:

1.   The NSW Policy Forumwill shape what Labor Governments in NSW will seek to do. The Forum must be open, it must be transparent and it must be prepared to test and develop new ideas. Nothing should be off the table, but what finally is included must be rigorous, evidence based and the policy must resonate with people beyond the usual suspects.

2.   Community preselections are a way of involving more people and reaching out to supporters of Labor in our communities. The Party must work hard and put adequate resources into making sure we get this right.

3.   Direct election gives real power to party members and should be expanded. Direct election gave me the second opportunity in 22 years of party membership to actually cast a vote for candidates...and it was online. We need more.

4.   If Labor is asking the people of NSW to one day again place their trust in the party to govern on their behalf, our elected representatives have to demonstrate honesty and integrity. To quote Yoda from Star Wars, do or do not, there is no tryon this issue.

And (to my non Labor readers I hope you are still with me):

5.   All the reform in the world is worth nothing if Labor fails to stand for anything.  It is values, it is policy based on principles and it is commitment to deliver that opens the door for people to decide whether Labor is worthy of their support. In 2012, Labor has a lot on the to do list.

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