parliament

On the weekend I attended the annual Labor Party Country Conference. Held this year in Port Macquarie, it is one of the largest grassroots political conferences held in NSW.

Premier Nathan Rees made a speech that if you are interested in how Labor understands and works with it's own history and traditions this one is worth a look.You can check it out here.

The Premier also announced funding for infrastructure in the bush, broadband development, country libraries, country halls and local tourism projects.

With the Local Government elections fast approaching, Parliament's Education section is organising a course for the public about what happens ‘Behind the Ballot Box'.

The sessions are free, and include an overview of elections and voting systems around Australia and worldwide; a visit to the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council chambers of the NSW Parliament; a voting simulation and information about the role of parliament and elected representatives in Australian democracy.

Courses will be held on Tuesday 26 August, Wednesday 3 September and Friday 12 September.

The NSW Parliamentary Library has recently released two new research reports: The regulation of lobbying and Education in Country and City New South Wales.

How NSW ensures continued energy supplies into the future is at the heart of the electricity debate. Who is best (public or private or a combination of both) to provide the energy? Who should pay? What are the costs to the government with any given option? Are there environmental implications to any option that is chosen? How are workers and consumers protected?

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.

Posted Monday 20 November 06

Today in parliament house a seminar was held to mark the 7th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. The day is an international event that remembers those who have been killed as a result of anti transgender violence.

Kate Walker gave a paper on transphobia and it’s origins. This was followed by the first time showing of a film called A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story.

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 Thursday 28 September 06

State parliament rose today. In this session the parliament has passed 39 laws.

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.