Australian Labor Party Victorian Branch State Conference April 2016 Venue Moonee Valley Racecourse McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds Book 2 Policy Committees Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 1 REPORT OF THE ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER (ATSI) POLICY COMMITTEE April 2016 A. MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORT 1.ELECTED POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Member Attendance Total Possible Rosalind Byass 5 (Leave of Absence) 8 Annalivia Carli-Haman 0 8 Hana Dalton 0 8 Helen Drake 8 8 Dennis Franklin 1 (Leave of Absence) 8 Sarah Jones 7 8 Janet Laverick 8 8 Jennifer Perlstein 5 8 Anne-Marie Scully 0 (Leave of Absence) 8 Harvey Stern 7 8 Sheena Watt 5 8 Lorie Werner 0 8 Nic Wishart 1 (Leave of Absence) 8 Shane Roberts 6 (4 by phone) 8 *Leave of Absence: Rosalind Byass (3 meetings), Dennis Franklin (7), Anne-Marie Scully (8), Nic Wishart (7) 2.MINISTER, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES & CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVES Minister/Parliamentary Secretary/Caucus Attendance Total Possible Representatives Minister Hutchins 0 8 Adviser Allan Murray 1 8 Chief of Staff Robert La Rocca 0 8 Note: There were also several special meetings with advisers Allan Murray & Robert La Rocca involving Sheena Watt, Helen Drake, Harvey Stern, Jenne Perlstein, Janet Laverick & Lorraine Parsons. 3.ASSOCIATE POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 2 Name Attendance Total Possible Lorraine Parsons (joined at third meeting) 6 6 Robyn Williams (joined at the most recent meeting) 1 1 Kristina Olsen 1 8 B. CORRESPONDENCE REPORT Received / Sent Subject Date Received Action Sent to Minister for Education Ballert Mooroop October 2015 School retained. Sent to absent VIC ALP ATSI Ask if wish to continue January 2016 Some replies. members Received from Minister’s Adviser Report on Progress December 2015 To consider. (Gov.) Sent to VIC ALP Aboriginal members Policy Committee Election February 2016 Inviting to nominate. Tim Watts MP (Caucus Secretary) Social Security Legislation February 2016 Asking the FPLP to Amendment Bill oppose the Bill: they did. C. POLICY DEVELOPMENT REPORT The Committee adopted a resolution proposing, in part, “That Labor advocates referring, to a relevant joint parliamentary committee, the consideration of issues surrounding the possible transfer of the celebration of ‘Australia Day’ from 26 January to 3 March, the date in 1986 that the ‘Australia Act’ came into operation in 1986, or to some alternative date, in order to render the celebration of ‘Australia Day’ fully inclusive of the diverse peoples of modern Australia.” The Committee adopted a resolution proposing, in part, “That consideration be given to implementing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Language Week in concert with New Zealand’s Maori Language Week.” The Committee is currently exploring the use of consistent and appropriate language when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Mr. Lance Wilson (President, CAFR Policy Committee) briefed us on the discriminatory aspects of the proposed Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill. Our Policy Committee resolved to write to the Federal Caucus Secretary, Mr Tim Watts MP, asking that the FPLP oppose the Bill when it is put to Federal Parliament, which we did. Our Committee also resolved to move a resolution to this effect at the April-2016 State Conference. We are pleased to report that the FPLP has decided to oppose the Bill. Other Policy Issues: Indigenous Parliamentary Representation (Dr Chris Bourke) Treaty & Self-Determination Mining & Aboriginal People (Rosalind Byass) Lake Tyers (Helen Drake) Issues related to ‘Close the Gap’, ‘Aboriginal Justice’ and ‘Procurement’ 1. POLICY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 3 Plans are in place to interact with other Policy Committees (e.g. Economics, Arts & Culture, and Commonwealth Affairs) and to invite various individuals to our meetings to brief us on areas of common interest. 2. POLICY FORUMS None have been held thus far. After State Conference, (hopefully) with vacancies on the committee filled, plans shall be developed for such events in metropolitan Melbourne and in regional Victoria, as part of the policy development process. We have formed a Policy Forum subcommittee and a Policy Audit subcommittee (to review policies from previous ATSI Policy Committees). D. ANY OTHER ITEMS During the term, Nic Wishart resigned as Secretary and was replaced by Harvey Stern, and Helen Drake resigned as President, and was replaced by Sheena Watt. The Committee appointed a Deputy President (Lorraine Parsons) and a Deputy Secretary (Janet Laverick) to ensure continuity for periods when the incumbents are away from Melbourne. There are currently 10 vacancies on the Committee, which shall be filled at State Conference. A website is being designed, for the purpose of housing (for easy access by members) Minutes, Agendas and other documents. We are also exploring appropriate representation on the National (and Victorian) Indigenous Labor Network (NILN, VILN). Most regular meetings are held on the 4th Monday at State Office, but some shall be held at the Minister’s Office so as to enable the Minister and her Advisers to attend (this may change, once all the 10 vacancies are filled). In conclusion, we are looking at developing a strategic plan to guide our activities over the next year or two. President: Sheena Watt Secretary: Harvey Stern Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 4 REPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND FEDERAL RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE April 2016 A. MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORT B. ELECTED POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Member Attendance Total Possible Alan McPhate 4 6 Andrew Thackrah 6 8 Andriana Mantzouranis 1 8 Brenton Baldwin 5 8 Cameron Petrie 4 7 Damien Kingsbury 3 7 Daniel Gerrard 5 8 Dean Sherr 2 7 Evan Appathuri 1 8 John Jordan 5 8 Katherine Hardy 1 8 Lance Wilson 8 8 Lydia Senior 6 8 Max Costello 7 8 Pauline Brown 6 8 Peter Gelo 6 7 Rima Tawil 4 6 Samet Istar 2 7 Ilia Vurtel 5 8 Adam Hodges 7 8 2.MINISTER, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES & CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVES Minister/Parliamentary Secretary/Caucus Attendance Total Possible Representatives Frank McGuire, Member for Broadmeadows 1 4 3.ASSOCIATE POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 5 Name Attendance Total Possible Chris Smith 3 8 Damien Appoloni 1 8 Elliot Oliver 1 8 Harvey Stern 7 8 James Gaffey 4 8 Joseph Haweil 3 8 Mike Symon 3 8 Patrick Easton 2 8 B. CORRESPONDENCE REPORT Received From Subject Date Received Action Ivanhoe Branch Federal 9/9/15 Letter sent to Federal Government Policy Opposition Leader, Federal on Syrian Asylum ALP Secretariat and Federal Seeker intake Caucus Ivanhoe Branch China Free trade 9/9/15 Letter sent to Federal Agreement Opposition Leader, shadow minister for Foreign Affairs, shadow minister for Trade and Federal Caucus. Noah Carroll Associate Member 28/9/15 Noted voting rights C. POLICY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 1. POLICY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH People & organisations the Policy Committee or Sub-committees have met with. Organisation Person Topics Discussed Date Office of the Premier Cameron Harrison Taxation reform, Federal/State 12/8/15 funding Office of the State Sashi Belaramen Taxation reform, Federal/State 12/8/15 Treasurer funding ALP Health Committee Rennis Witham, committee Federal funding of Victorian health 14/10/15 president care 2. POLICY FORUMS - held & proposed Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 6 Date / Location Key Topics Guest Speakers No. of Anticipated Attendees Date TBC TBC Currently planning with the TBC N/A Economics Committee for a forum on Taxation and Federal funding for state health expenses. 4.ANY OTHER ITEMS: A submission was made to the National Policy Forum National Platform development process in relation to potential policy on Asylum seekers and refugee policy. The proposals particularly related to Chapter 9 of the Draft Federal Platform. President: Lance Wilson Secretary: Adam Hodges ATTACHMENT 1: SUMMARY EXPLANATION: WHY THE ATTACHED AMENDMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL (Note: text highlighted in yellow is regarded as desirable but not absolutely essential.) (1) Labor’s asylum seeker/refugee policy needs re-calibrating to: (a) over-all, re-establish Labor's credibility and presence in this area; and (b) specifically, ensure that Labor wins public acceptance as being: (i) the only Party with a policy that: C. is principled and practical; and D. transitions Australia to an internationally acceptable long-term solution; (ii) distinctively different from – and preferable to – the extreme alternatives (unprincipled Coalition, unrealistic Greens). (2) To thus re-establish and re-position itself, Labor must: (a) commit to implementing asap Labor's long-term, regional solution – a much increased humanitarian intake, creation of UNHCR-approved transit country processing centres, and timely processing of new arrivals (in such centres) plus prompt resettlement – which, by giving asylum seekers and refugees a safe pathway that works, makes dangerous boat journeys unnecessary and unattractive; 3.accordingly, characterise the present situation as a transitional phase (pending full implementation of the regional solution), during which Labor will: 4.on the one hand, maintain some existing arrangements, including: 5.strict ‘anti- people smuggler’ measures; and 6.the Manus Island and Nauru facilities; but (ii) on the other hand, reject, curtail or moderate others – for example: reject the “illegals” tag and the fiction that unarmed boat people threaten to destroy Australia’s borders; end boat turnarounds; repeal obnoxious Coalition legislation (e.g., boat turnarounds, Temporary Protection Visas; Refugee Convention dilutions); treat asylum seekers humanely and lawfully (notably by ensuring that OHS Acts apply in full – and are complied with – at both onshore and offshore facilities); and keep asylum seeker children out of detention; and Book 2 – April State Conference 2016 7 (c) address some long-standing human rights criticisms: (i) legislate ratified international instruments into domestic law, so they’re enforceable; (ii) tell people with a negative security assessment the essential case against them so that they can respond; and (iii) devise alternatives to the life-long detention of proven security risk or stateless people.