STATE CONFERENCE 2014 Labor STATE CONFERENCE 2014 PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST POLICY & AGENDA COMMITTEE REPORT 1 2014 STATE CONFERENCE CONFERENCE POLICY AND AGENDA COMMITTEE REPORT Introduction The Conference Policy and Agenda Committee was established following a rules change at the 2012 Annual State Conference. The Committee is responsible for setting the agenda of the Conference, as well as making recommendations to the Conference regarding policy items that have been submitted. The Committee formed the following nine sub-committees to draft recommendations for the submitted motions ■ A Healthy Society ■ Australia and the World ■ Building Sustainable Communities ■ Country Labor ■ Education and Skills ■ Indigenous People and Reconciliation ■ Our Economic Future ■ Prosperity and Fairness at Work ■ Stronger Democracy and Social Justice A Healthy Society The previous Federal Labor Government had many achievements in health policy. The Committee wishes to recognise the work undertaken by the former Government, particularly Health Ministers Nicola Roxon and Tanya Plibersek. Labor can be proud of its record, including the National Health Reform Agreement, the Preventative Health Taskforce, cigarette plain packaging, the Living Longer – Living Better plan and the rollout of the eHealth system. Unfortunately, the election of the Abbott Coalition Government has put these achievements at risk. We have already seen $50 billion ripped from the health system, which could see over 300 hospital beds closed in NSW alone. The universality of Medicare is at stake with the introduction of an up-front fee for patients when they see a GP. This co- payment will remove the incentives to take preventative health actions. The Doctors Reform Society, AMA, ANMF, College of GPs and eminent health economists are all in opposition to the GP co-payment system. This comes on top of the NSW Liberal Government’s $3 billion cut to the State’s health system. These cuts have had a direct impact on staff numbers and have resulted in a blowout in hospital emergency wait times. The Committee congratulates NSW Labor Leader John Robertson and Shadow Minister for Health, Andrew McDonald for their work in highlighting the impact of these cuts. Discussions were had about a number of items. The Committee discussed an item in relation to more medically-supervised injecting rooms. It is important to recognise the previous Labor Government decision to make the facility in Kings Cross permanent and its success in achieving its goals. A motion was also submitted by the Surry Hills branch calling for a financial supplement to HIV patients. The Committee believes that the very best support must be provided to HIV patients. The Federal Shadow Minister Jenny Macklin is currently leading a review into Federal Labor’s social policies, and this item should be referred to this process in the lead up to the next National Conference. Australia and the World Labor has a proud history when it comes to foreign policy – Curtin’s leadership during World War Two and building relations with the United States, Evatt’s role in the establishment of the United Nations, Whitlam’s recognition of China, Hawke’s role in defeating apartheid and Keating’s leadership in forming APEC. Conference recognises the achievements of the former Federal Labor Government in building on this legacy. The withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq, the release of the Asian Century White Paper and the successful campaign to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council are but some of the many achievements from our six years in office. 2 STATE CONFERENCE 2014 The Committee pays tribute to Labor’s Ministers for Foreign Affairs over this period, Stephen Smith, Kevin Rudd and Bob Carr. The Committee notes that the vast majority of policy motions received from Party units relate to the Middle East. The Committee recognises the fact that there is no easy solution to this issue. Labor supports the ‘two-state solution’ achieved through a negotiated settlement. Building Sustainable Communities With our population expected to increase significantly over the coming decades, NSW Labor must continue to recognise the importance of sustainable communities for all people in society. At the forefront of this must be tackling the challenge of climate change. The Committee received a number of motions recognising the achievements of the former Federal Labor Government in legislating a price of carbon. The Committee would like to recognise the work by the former Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet. The Committee congratulates the position taken by the FPLP to continue supporting a market-based mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, despite pressure from our opponents to change position. It is also important to note a number of motions that were received in relation to a second Sydney airport. The Committee notes the position taken by John Robertson to support a Western Sydney airport provided the following conditions are met ■ A curfew on flights the same as Kingsford Smith Airport; ■ Passenger services allow locals to use the new airport for their holidays and business trips; ■ The completion of major road and rail links before the airport opens; ■ There is community consultation including an updated Environment Impact Statement; and ■ A jobs, industry and skills development plan for Western Sydney is implemented. It is concerning that the Abbott Government has so far failed to meet these conditions. The potential economic benefits and new jobs created by this project are essential and supported by Labor. Labor stands for jobs, growth and local communities. The Committee has also received a number of motions from Party units expressing opposition to coal seam gas mining. The Committee recognises the work of the State Parliamentary Labor Party on this issue, in particular its call for a moratorium until an independent scientific investigation takes place. Country Labor The Coalition has taken country NSW for granted. It was evident from the policy motions submitted from Party units that rural and regional Australia has suffered from the State Government’s cuts to services and the failure of National Party MPs to stand up for their electorates. Thank you to the Country Labor Committee for assisting in making its recommendations. Education and Skills The Abbott Government’s continuing unprecedented attacks on education at every level means that there is now a very clear distinction between Labor and the Coalition, at both State and Federal levels. Foremost in this attack is the withdrawal of the universal support for a Needs Based Funding Formula for all schools. This universal approach was a position taken by the major political parties to the 2013 Federal Election. Labor fought for and developed the Gonski model, which received overwhelming support from both the community and from the majority of State governments. Within its first year, the Abbott government has rapidly retreated to the Coalition’s former position, which will entrench inequity once again. The attacks on the provision of skills training by TAFE and the withdrawal of allowances, such as the cost of tools for apprentices, give Labor a unique opportunity to position itself as the champion of vocational education at a time when the mining boom is receding and all experts are saying that Australia’s workforce needs re-skilling. The deregulation of funding and fees in universities, along with the demise of the tertiary infrastructure spend, and the increased rate of interest charged on student loans, are other areas where Labor can make a clear distinction between itself and the Coalition. Labor can also make significant political gain in areas such as Science and Research Funding where the Abbott government 3 2014 STATE CONFERENCE appears to be deliberately attempting to ‘dumb down’ public debate on crucial issues such as the Environment and Climate Change. They have withdrawn funding from Australia’s leading research organisation, the CSIRO, abolished many advisory boards, and announced the closure of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and have not appointed a Minister for Science. We note the motion from The Entrance SEC concerning the selective Gosford High School and would reiterate that it has been long standing Labor Policy that the “one-size fits all” model is not appropriate and that there are many models of secondary school structures across the state in both the public and private sector. Selective High Schools are but one of these. Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation Twenty years have passed since the Native Title Act commenced operation. It is important to reflect upon what has been achieved in that time, but also to consider what more needs to be done to achieve reconciliation and improve the quality of life for Indigenous Australians. While Labor can be proud that the former Federal Labor Government made an apology to the Stolen Generations, it is important to recognise that this is only the beginning in the process of reconciliation. Constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples as the first Australians, must be a priority for parties of all political persuasions. The Committee thanks Party units and affiliates for their motions on this topic. The Committee has recommended that support be given to motions calling for justice reinvestment to reduce the incarceration rate of young Indigenous people, as well as measures to protect Aboriginal culture and heritage. Our Economic Future Australia is in its 23rd year of continuous economic growth.