State Council Council Regional CSC Platform
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History | Beliefs | Structure | Leaders | Getting Involved Welcome to the Liberal Party of Australia New South Wales Division The History of the Party Our Beliefs We Believe What we must look for, in the inalienable rights and freedoms of all people: we work towards a lean government that minimises and it is a matter of desperate interference in our daily lives and maximises individual and private-sector initiative; in government that nurtures and encourages its citizens through initiative, rather than putting limits on importance to our society, people through the punishing disincentive of burdensome taxes and the stifling structures of Labor’s is a true revival of liberal corporate state and bureaucratic red tape; in those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy – the freedom of thought, worship, speech and thought which will work for association; social justice and security, for in a just and humane society in which the importance of the family and the role of law and justice are maintained; national power and national in equal opportunity and tolerance for all Australians; progress, and for the full in the encouragement and the facilitation of wealth so that all may enjoy the highest possible standards of development of the individual living, health, education and social justice; citizen, though not through the that, wherever possible, government should not compete with an efficient private sector, and that businesses and individuals – not government – are the true creators of wealth and employment; dull and deadening process in the Australian Constitution; of socialism. in preserving Australia’s natural beauty and environment for future generations; and that our nation has a constructive role to play in maintaining world peace and democracy through alliances Sir Robert Gordon Menzies with other free nations. 1894 - 1978 In short, we believe in individual freedom and free enterprise. The Liberal Party of Australia was founded on Sir Robert Menzies believed the time was right for 16 October, 1944. a new political force in Australia – one that fought for the freedom of the individual and produced The Party was formed after a three-day meeting enlightened liberal policies. In his opening address in Canberra convened by the then Leader of the at that meeting, he said: Opposition (United Australia Party), Sir Robert Menzies. It is often said that Sir Robert Menzies stood for the ‘forgotten people’ of Australia; those mainstream Sir Robert Menzies had already served as Prime Australians whose goals, needs and aspirations had Minister of Australia (1939-40), but he believed the been ignored by government. non-Labor parties should unite to present a strong alternative government to the people of Australia. On 16 October, 1944, the name The Liberal Party of Australia was adopted, uniting the many different Eighty men and women from eighteen different political organisations. Two months later, at the non-Labor political parties and organisations such Albury Conference, the Party’s organisational and as the Democratic Party, the Liberal Democratic constitutional framework was drawn up. By May Party, the United Australia Party, the Institute of 1945 membership of the Liberal Party had swelled Public Affairs, the Australian Women’s National to 40,000. League and the Queensland Women’s Electoral League attended the first Canberra Conference. The name Liberal was chosen deliberately for its They shared a common belief that Australians associations with progressive philosophies of free should have greater personal freedom and choice enterprise and social equality. than that offered under Labor’s post-war socialist plans. Structure of the NSW Division 1 Branch Members and General Members Branch LGC Legislative Selection Council Committees Selectors SEC Policy Professional Branch Branch Senate SEAC Selectors FEC FEAC Young Liberal Women’s Rural & State Council Council Regional CSC Platform Convention Federal YL President WC President Committee JSCSP Council 12 State Council LGOC Disputes Panel Local Local Government Government Assembly Assembly President 23 State Executive State Finance Federal Federal Strategy Candidates Parliamentary Parliamentary Party Leader Audit & Party Campaign Governance Affairs Oversight State State Parliamentary Parliamentary Party Leader Fundraising Committee Target Seats 36 State Director Campaign Committee Assembly Membership & Finance & Fundraising, Campaigning & Party Affairs Administration Marketing & CRM Communications Structure of the NSW Division Structure of the NSW Division 5. State Electorate Conference (SEC) 7. Federal Electorate Conference (FEC) SECs are established in every NSW State FECs are established in every NSW Federal Electorate where there are a number of Branches. Electorate where there are a number of Branches. SEC Members are drawn from the local Branch FEC Members are drawn from the local Branch or Branches to support the selected candidate, or Branches to support the selected candidate, being an existing Member of Parliament or being an existing Member of Parliament or otherwise, in state election campaign planning otherwise, in federal election campaign planning and implementation at a local level. SECs and implementation at a local level. FECs and encourage the establishment and activity of encourage the establishment and activity of Branches within the electorate, seek to identify Branches within the electorate, seek to identify quality future candidates and raise funds for local quality future candidates and raise funds for local and NSW Division purposes. SECs act as a forum and NSW Division purposes. FECs act as a forum and communication link to Members of Parliament and communication link to Members of Parliament with respect to State Liberal Party policy issues. with respect to Federal Liberal Party policy issues. 6. State Electorate Assistance Committee 8. Federal Electorate Assistance Committee (SEAC) (FEAC) 1. Members 3. Policy, Professional Branches The SEAC consists of delegates from all SECs The FEAC consists of delegates from all FECs All persons who join the NSW Division are Any Member of the Party - at no additional fee charged with the responsibility of contributing charged with the responsibility of contributing Members. All Members of the Division are either - may nominate to join one Policy Branch and/ funding and manpower resources for use by funding and manpower resources for use by a Member of a Branch or a General Member. or one Professional Branch. The Policy Branches the State Director in his/her capacity as NSW the State Director in his/her capacity as NSW Membership of the Division is a pre-requisite for have a primary focus on policy development, Campaign Director with respect to state election Campaign Director with respect to federal election acceptance of any level of responsibility in the where as the Professional Branches are more campaigns. These resources are used by the campaigns. These resources are used by the functioning of the Division. Members are entitled focused around strengthening professional Campaign Director in support of local campaigns. Campaign Director in support of local campaigns. to attend any Branch meeting within the Division. networks. The Branches have been structured in each policy stream to reflect all agencies and activity of government - Local, State and Federal. 9. Selection Committees 2. Branch Application forms are available from LCHQ. Selection Committees for the House of Branches are comprised of Ordinary Branches, Representatives, Legislative Assembly and Local Young Liberal Branches and Special Branches. Council are formed when there are multiple Ordinary and Young Liberal Branches are 4. Local Government Conference (LGC) nominations to contest an election for the allocated to Local Government, State and Federal LGCs are established, subject to the approval NSW Division in seats where State Executive Electorate Conferences. Ordinary Branches of the Local Government Oversight Committee, has determined to call for nominations. The nominate delegates to Electorate Conferences, within a Local Government Area by a resolution of Committees are comprised of Selectors made up State Council, Women’s Council as well as electing all Branches and any Liberal Party Member who is of Branch Members, Members of State Executive Preselectors. Young Liberal Branches nominate a Councillor within the relevant Local Government and a selection of State Council Delegates. delegates to Electorate Conferences, Young Area. The LGC actively supports selected Selection Committees for the Legislative Liberal Council, State Council, Women’s Council candidates for local government elections Council are comprised of provincial candidates as well as electing Preselectors. Every Ordinary by raising funds and conducting the election for the Members of State Executive. Selection and Young Liberal Branch Member is entitled to campaigns for those candidates. Members of the Committees for the at-large Legislative Council attend meetings of the Electorate Conferences to LGC also form the Selection Committee (9) to candidates and the Senate are comprised of the Members of State Executive and the which the Branch is allocated. Special Branches select candidates for Local Government. are based on community, cultural, occupational or Members of State Council. The formation of a other interests. Special Branches are not allocated Selection Committee is based on criteria set out to Local Government, State and Federal Electorate in the Constitution.