SPRING 2017 State Election The Final Countdown MESSAGE FROM ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK or the past two-and-a- Queensland is a state of We implemented a Nursing F half years, your Labor economic opportunity. Guarantee, with legislated Government has been Before the 2015 election, nurse-to-patient ratios. working to restore the we made 553 commitments We reintroduced civil frontline services cut by Tim to the people of Queensland. partnerships, legislated Nicholls and the LNP. We have now delivered for equal age of consent, And we’ve continued 484 of those election and made an apology on our investment in the commitments. behalf of the Government Queensland economy which In two-and-a-half years, for historical homosexual has helped 115,000 jobs be 87 per cent of our election convictions. created in Queensland since commitments have been We have employed more the election. completed and delivered. than 4,400 extra teachers We want more jobs We have returned the and teacher aides to improve for more Queenslanders values of dignity in work, education in Queensland and that’s what the state fairness and respect for state schools. conference was all about. others in our state. Thank you for your ongoing In what was the final We have reinforced a support and I look forward to state conference before the separation of powers, and your support as we prepare election, we released our we have re-established trust for an election. Buy Queensland policy. in how government works. The last thing Queensland Under this policy we We returned portfolio needs is a coalition will prioritise Queensland Estimates hearings to Government of the LNP and workers and Queensland seven days to allow proper One Nation. companies to ensure we questioning of Ministers. I need your help in the lead see better benefits for We appointed Directors- up to the next election. Queensland workers. General through a merit- In combination with other based selection process. actions that Labor has taken- We restored much of the like keeping our electricity arts funding that has been 2 assets in public hands - we so cruelly slashed by the Annastacia Palaszczuk will continue to ensure Newman Government. Queensland Premier MESSAGE FROM THE STATE SECRETARY From little things, big things grow. Cairns candidate Michael Healy showing the local sights to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister Steven Miles. n 2015, our Opposition in government, beholden We might be up against I of nine Members to Pauline Hanson’s One the preference deals with of Parliament, led by Nation. Nicholls and Hanson, but we Annastacia Palaszczuk, took When I was elected have a grassroots army of on the massive majority of as Secretary in 2014, volunteers, a strong Labor Campbell Newman and Tim I said I wanted to lead a policy platform and a leader Nicholls. And won. Queensland Labor that was in Annastacia Palaszczuk. Our election victory has a big party, that welcomed We might be the little delivered a strong Labor new members and built guy, but we’re ready for agenda for Queensland. strong local campaigns. this campaign; Queensland Our Labor Government has Across Queensland, needs a Palaszczuk Labor restored frontline services, we have more than 80 local government. made workplaces fairer candidates running strong and started to rebuild community campaigns, and Queensland jobs after there are more candidates Newman – all without selling to come. our assets. Our membership is now Evan Moorhead But as we look to the next more than 10,000 strong, State Secretary State election, we again are and our field campaign is building our movement, for bringing new volunteers the cause is just as great as to our campaign each 2015. week. Our Community The combined forces of Action Network provides Tim Nicholls and Pauline dedicated resources to reach Hanson are looking to out to Labor supporters, return us to the position of asking them to join our underdog. While Labor will campaign for change. More always put One Nation last, people are wearing red the LNP are prepared to Labor shirts each weekend, preference One Nation in a knocking on doors and 3 deal that will see the LNP talking to voters. JOHN BATTAMS – PARTY PRESIDENT John Battams addresses the 2016 Queensland Labor state conference Time for members to have your say! committee has been established to review current 4. How can branches better support local A Party structures and procedures in an effort to campaigns? improve rank and file involvement in the ALP, and to 5. Should the current system of geographical improve campaigning capacity through increased branches continue to be the foundation of the Party membership activism. Branch Structure? This Committee (Branch Structure Review 6. Should there be an expansion of the number and Committee) has after initial consultation with Party range of specialist branches? Units and members, during the first part of 2017, 7. Do you support the need for more training of produced an Issues Paper designed to focus branch officials? If so, what form should that take? feedback to the Committee on possible changes to be 8. Is the current role of the Electoral Councils (MEC, implemented. SEC, FEC) in need of change? If so, what do you The Issues Paper has for example, identified the suggest? fact that the Branch Registration process for new 9. What should be the role of the Electoral Councils members is in need of review and improvement. For during election campaigns? example, at the end of 2016, of the 10,011 financial 10. Do you have any other specific members of the Party, 2800 were unregistered and recommendations to improve the operations and therefore not participating fully in the Party’s activities. activities of Branches? Another fact that would indicate the need for change Some other suggestions already received during is the significant number of new members who joined the initial consultation stage prior to the production since 2011, did not renew their membership. of the Issues Paper have been included in that Paper. The Issues Paper asks 10 key questions which For example, the Committeee has agreed that Party members may wish to respond to: Administration should develop an annual recruitment/ 1. Is the current system of member registration retention plan, which would include strategies to appropriate? If not, what specific changes should maximise Branch Registration by members. occur? 2. Are the current Rules in relation to Branch The deadline for feedback from Party Units and Meeting procedures/standing orders (Rule 59) members has been extended to Friday, 1 December, adequate? If not, what changes should be made? 2017. Please send any feedback to John Battams, 4 3. What should the “objects” or Charter of branches be? ALP President & Chair of the Branch Structure Review Should their current scope be addressed? Committee - [email protected] Bill Shorten MP addresses the 2017 Queensland Labor state conference A MESSAGE FROM BILL SHORTEN ’m writing this message Annastacia’s government is jobs boom for your region. Iwhile in Mackay – my 20th playing their part and funding We’ll protect penalty rates trip to Queensland since the the recovery – but Turnbull’s for local workers. We will election. LNP has left the recovery close the dodgy loopholes When I was here back in effort $81 million short. that allow employers to April, communities were It’s a disgrace, and it shows import and exploit foreign picking up the pieces after he isn’t listening. workers, and undercut local the devastation of Cyclone My team and I are listening. wages and conditions. Debbie. We are working hard We will make the tax system Talking to people in Bowen on policies for the next fairer – because I don’t and Proserpine, Rocky, election – and we’re already think it’s fair for a nurse in Emerald and Airlie Beach – announcing them. Brisbane to be paying more I was struck by their courage Labor will invest in job- tax than a CEO in Sydney. and perseverance. creation right up and down We will close the schools No one was looking for the Queensland coast. funding gap, we will boost sympathy. No one was We will fund the apprenticeship numbers, complaining – though they infrastructure projects local and we will make TAFE and had plenty of reasons to. communities need – like university more affordable. Everyone was just rolling up the hydroelectric power This is what Queenslanders their sleeves and getting on station in Townsville, or the are telling me they want – with the job – cleaning up, important flood levee in this is what my Labor team rebuilding, getting back to Rockhampton. will deliver. work. We will invest $1 billion It’s one of the great qualities exclusively in tourism of Queenslanders – in hard infrastructure in Northern 5 times, you bounce back. Australia – a tourism and Meet Your Candidates Cynthia Lui - Cook Michael Healy – Cairns ynthia has strong connections to the Cook ichael Healy is an established leader in C electorate having been born on Thursday Island MQueensland’s tourism industry. Michael and his and raised on Yam Island in the Torres Strait. Her wife Trudi have lived in Cairns for more than 20 years, grandfather was a community teacher and both he together raising their two children in the tropical north. and her father served as Chairperson of Yam Island Michael has vast experience over many decades Community Council. Cynthia grew up valuing the as a businessman and on state, national and regional importance of community service and has a real tourism boards. Driving new job and economic understanding of how unique and diverse our region is. opportunities for the region is a priority for Michael.