labor

I have just put in a submission (A more active branch structure, more power to party members and a dynamic state conference: some suggestions for reform) to the NSW Labor Party's current review of it's organisational structure. Time has not permitted me to consult widely with others in the preparation of the submission. I would really like to hear from Party members and others about how the Labor Party structure could be updated to embrace the modern political age.

My submission argues that there is a pressing need for organisational reform that will invigorate the participation of rank and file party members via:

Caucus committees are one avenue for government MP's to provide feedback and raise issues with ministers. Each Minister has a Caucus committee and it is this forum where Minister's first bring their legislation for discussion and endorsement.

For this parliament I will be on committees covering the following portfolios: Education & Training and Industrial Relations, Attorney General and Justice (this incorporates prisons), Community Services, Housing & Tourism, Women, Medical Research, Cancer and the Environment.

I will also attend the Caucus committee that covers Mineral Resources and Energy.

Check out Morris Iemma's Website

This week we heard the farewell speeches given by members who were retiring. In the Upper House these included: Jan Burnswoods, Peter Breen, Peter Wong, David Oldfield and Jon Jenkins.

Posted Tuesday 24 October 06

There was a baby in the Labor caucus meeting this morning. Angela D'Amore was back at work with her son. One of our Minister's has also recently has a child and the Labor candidate for Balmain, Verity Firth has a daughter who is only a few weeks old.

When I was elected last year, my son was one. He spent the first few months in my office a day a week.

No one likes to see "special" treatment for MP's compared to the rest of the community but if we are serious about women with children participating in our parliaments, onsite childcare is desperately needed.

Posted Wednesday 13 September 06

I recently attended a briefing about the development of the state plan. I support an approach that sets out what the government's commitments in a way that is clear and measurable.

At this stage of development I would like to see a clearer focus on specific population groups, in particular women and indigenous people as well as an upfront commitment to social justice (including some more specific issues such as homelessness).

Premier's department have developed an e newsletter that outlines the process so far.

Did the Coalition actually do any work over the parliamentary recess?

The past two weeks have seen every Minister attend an estimates committee meeting.

Estimates committees are an opportunity for Legislative Committee members from all parties to examine the expenditure for the upcoming year being proposed by the Government.

In practice they have a very wide brief that means that members can ask questions about any matter within a Minister’s portfolio.

It is a golden opportunity to interrogate a Minister and expose any problems within his or her portfolio.

Last night I attended the 21st Anniversary for ACON (AIDS Council of NSW). It was an evening of both reflection and celebration.

Reflection that in 25 years the HIV/AIDS epidemic has infected 70 million people worldwide and claimed 30 million lives. In Australia we have lost 6500 people, 3600 of them in NSW.

Celebration of how communities, and in the Australian context the GLBT community, can build a strong and dedicated community organisation that was prepared to fight the crisis unfolding around them.

Posted Friday 7 July 06

The Labor Party does history well. We write about it, we talk about it, we argue about it, we celebrate it. I want to share with you a speech that Senator John Faulkner made this week in Western Australia for the John Curtin Memorial Lecture called John Curtin: A Labor Life.

Here is just a taste:

Curtin believed that the Labor Party was best for Australia because it embodied what was best in Australia. He said: