All the motions

Posted on 1 May, 2011 by Ben Aveling

Below are all the motions to Conference that we know of.

1. Endorse the 2010 Review and demand it be implemented in full

We endorse the findings of the 2010 National Review and demand that its Recommendations be implemented in full.

Passed by: Alexandria, Ashfield, Ballina, Bellinger River, Bomaderry-Nowra, Bondi Beach, Double Bay-Bellevue Hill, Dubbo, Eastwood, Enmore Camdenville, Glebe, Haberfield, Kogarah Carlton, Leichhardt, Mid Mountains Branch, Milton-Ulladulla, Murrah Day Branch, Petersham, South West Rocks, Swansea, Wentworth FEC, Willoughby-Castlecrag

1a. Endorse the publicly released 2010 Review and demand it be implemented in full

We endorse the findings of the publicly released section of the 2010 National Review and demand that its Recommendations be implemented in full.

Passed by: Darling Harbour, Erskineville, Summer Hill

1b. Endorse in principle the 2010 Review and demand it be implemented in full

That the branch endorses in principal the findings of the 2010 National Review, and demands that its recommendations be implemented in full.

Passed by: Rozelle-Lilyfield

2. Direct elections for Admin, General Secretaries, Presidents

The structure of State Conference shall be changed so that the following positions are filled by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party and the rank and file membership of all affiliated unions, with each constituency having a 50% weighting in the final outcome:

  • President, Senior President and Junior Vice Presidents
  • General Secretary and Assistant Secretaries
  • All elected members on the Administrative Committee

Passed by: Ashfield, Ballina, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, Double Bay-Bellevue Hill, Dubbo, Eastwood, Glebe, Haberfield, Kogarah Carlton, Leichhardt, Milton Ulladulla, Murrah Day Branch, Petersham, South West Rocks, Summer Hill, Swansea, Wentworth FEC

2a. Direct elections for Admin, General Secretaries, Presidents, Legislative Council vacancies

The structure of State Conference shall be changed so that the following positions are filled by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party and the rank and file membership of all affiliated unions, with each constituency having a 50% weighting in the final outcome:

  • President, Senior President and Junior Vice Presidents
  • General Secretary and Assistant Secretaries
  • All elected members on the Administrative Committee
  • casual vacancies in the Legislative Council

Passed by: Bellinger River, Willoughby-Castlecrag

2b. Direct elections for Admin, General Secretaries, Presidents

The structure of State Conference shall be changed so that the following positions are filled by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party and the rank and file membership of all affiliated unions, with each constituency having a 50% weighting in the final outcome:

  • President, Senior President and Junior Vice Presidents
  • General Secretary and Assistant Secretaries
  • All elected members on the Administrative Committee
  • casual vacancies in the Legislative Council

The ballot of the party rank and file is to be conducted by the AEC or some other independent electoral body. It may held concurrently with the ballots for the National President and Vice-Presidents when timing permits.

The ballot of an affiliated union’s membership shall be held concurrently with the normal ballot for the union’s other elected positions, using the same independent electoral body, if timing permits. Otherwise that union’s membership shall be balloted by postal vote concurrently with the ballot of the party rank and file.

Passed by: Alexandria

2c. Direct elections for Admin, General Secretaries, Presidents by Party Members

That the structure of State Conference be changed so that the following positions are filled by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party:

  • President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President,
  • General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries,
  • and all elected members of the Administrative Committee.

Passed by: Sydney SEC

2d. Direct elections for Admin, General Secretaries, Presidents by Party Rank and File and Union Delegates

That the structure of State Conference shall be changed so that the following positions are filled by proportional representation, by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party and the affiliated unions’ conference delegates, with each constituency having a 50% weighting in the final outcome:

  • President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President,
  • General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries,
  • and all elected members of the Administrative Committee.

Passed by: Enmore Camdenville

2e. Direct elections for Senate and Legislative Council Vacancies

That all casual upper house vacancies (federal and state) be filled following a full vote of all financial rank & file party members.

Passed by: Rozelle-Lilyfield

2f. Senate and Legislative Council Selections

That the rank and file have the final decision in the placement of people on the Senate and Legislative Council ticket.

Passed by: Milton-Ulladulla

3. Union delegates to Conference to be chosen by direct election by union members

That representation at State Conference by each affiliated union shall be conditional on the union selecting its delegates to Conference by direct election by the members of the union.

Passed by: Ashfield, Ballina, Bellinger River, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, Double Bay-Bellevue Hill, Dubbo, Eastwood, Enmore Camdenville, Glebe, Haberfield, Leichhardt, Milton Ulladulla, Murrah Day Branch, Petersham, South West Rocks, Summer Hill, Swansea, Wentworth FEC, Willoughby-Castlecrag

3a. Union delegates to Conference to be chosen by direct election by union members by independent electoral body

That representation at State Conference by each affiliated union shall be conditional on the union selecting its delegates to Conference by direct election by the members of the union, concurrently with the ballots for other elected positions in that union, using the same independent electoral body.

Passed by: Alexandria

3b. Union delegates to Conference to be chosen by direct election by union members and must be financial

That representation at State Conference by each affiliated union shall be conditional on the union selecting its delegates to Conference by direct election by the members of the union. Further, union delegates must be financial members of the Party. .

Passed by: Bomaderry-Nowra

4. Anti branch stacking

That all members must pay their own membership fees direct to head office. The only exception is for immediate family members under the age of eighteen. Members paying a concessional rate must provide a photocopy of their concession card with payment.

Passed by: Alexandria, Ballina, Bellinger River, Bomaderry-Nowra, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, Double Bay-Bellevue Hill, Dubbo, Eastwood, Enmore Camdenville, Erskineville, Haberfield, Leichhardt , Milton Ulladulla, Murrah Day Branch, Petersham, Rozelle-Lilyfield, South West Rocks, Summer Hill, Swansea, Sydney SEC, Wentworth FEC, Willoughby-Castlecrag

4a. Anti branch stacking

That all members must pay their own membership fees direct to head office. The only exception is for immediate family members under the age of eighteen.

Passed by: Ashfield

4b. Anti branch stacking

That all members must pay their own membership fees direct to head office. The only exception is for immediate family members under the age of eighteen. That further measures be undertaken to ensure that members pay the correct concessional rate

Passed by: Glebe

5. Pre-selections

That all pre-selections be carried out at least twelve months prior to the state election, or twelve months prior to the expected end of the federal term. Endorsed candidates will be allowed to build their profile within the community and local branches for twelve months prior to the state election, or twelve months prior to the expected end of the federal term. Candidates may only be appointed where there is no candidate pre-selected by the rank and file members.

Passed by: Bomaderry-Nowra

6a. Intervention in preselections only in genuinely exceptional circumstances.

Rank and file preselections may not be overridden or delayed except in exceptional circumstances. The following are not exceptional circumstances: unproven allegations of branch stacking; star candidates; insufficient time to hold a preselection; desire for balance in gender representation; low membership levels; nor any reasonably foreseeable event. Proven allegations of branch stacking may be grounds for delaying a preselection. The following is exceptional circumstances: no nominations being received by close of nominations.

If there is insufficient time for a preselection prior to the close of nominations, then any member may without repercussion nominate themselves for office, and all party members are required to vote for all such nominees in an order to be determined between the close of nominations and polling day but otherwise conducted as per the normal preselection process.

Passed by: Alexandria

6b. Limit the role of the Administrative Committee in the preselection process

That this meeting resolves to support amendments to the party rules that reinforce the primacy of rank-and-file preselection of candidates for public office and accordingly, to limit the role of the Administrative Committee in the preselection process

Passed by: Double Bay/Bellevue Hill Branch

7a. Timely conduct of Preselections

If one year prior to the earliest date on which a General Election can be reasonably expected, nominations for an electorate have not been called, the local Electoral Council is empowered to conduct its own preselection, following the usual rules for a preselection. One month’s prior notice must be given to all branches in the Electorate and to the Administrative Committee before an Electoral Council can vote to conduct its own preselection.

Passed by: Alexandria

7b. Timely conduct of Preselections

If one year prior to the earliest date on which a General Election can be expected, nominations for preselection for an electorate have not been called, the Electoral Council of that electorate is empowered to conduct its own preselection, following all the rules for a preselection. One month’s notice must be given to all branches in the electorate and to the Administrative Committee before an Electoral Council can vote on conducting its own preselection. The results of preselections called under this process will be equivalent to the results of those called by head office, and shall have the same legal status.

Passed by: Katoomba

8. Party officials and elected office

That salaried ministerial or party officials be restricted from seeking parliamentary office for a period of two years upon resigning from the position.

Passed by: Rozelle-Lilyfield

9. Direct election of branch delegates to conference

That branch delegates be elected directly through a plebiscite of all the branch members in a particular SEC or FEC area.

Passed by: Rozelle-Lilyfield

10. Branch membership a requirement for involvement in other Party units

All members of the party must join a branch and attend the required number of meetings before they are eligible to participate in other sectors of the party such as Young Labor.

Passed by: Sylvania Taren Point

11. Contact list for secretaries be made available

That a contact list (name, branch, postal address, email, phone) of all NSW Branch secretaries be made available from, and be kept up to date on, the member section of the NSW ALP website.

Passed by: Katoomba

12. Online attendance database

That the NSW ALP branch head office develop its member database capacity so as to allow branch secretaries to input branch meeting attendance data directly into it after each branch meeting. As state and federal preselections are called, head office will then prepare a draft list of preselectors using financial data and attendance data and branch return data. Those draft lists will then be tested against the actual attendance books to produce the final preselector list.

Passed by: Katoomba

13. Direct election of party office bearers and broadening of community and party involvement

That the NSW ALP support the National Review Findings of Senator Faulkner, Bob Carr and Steven Bracks proposing the direct election of party office bearers and broadening of community and party involvement.

Passed by: Sydney SEC

14. Direct election of party office bearers and broadening of community and party involvement

That the NSW ALP support the National Review Findings of Senator Faulkner, Bob Carr and Steven Bracks proposing the direct election of party office bearers and broadening of community and party involvement.

Passed by: Sydney SEC

15. Distribution of 2010 Review

That the 2010 Review be distributed to all ALP members who desire a copy.

Passed by: Sydney SEC

16. Demand a timetable

Demands a timetable for the implementation [of motions 1, 2, 2f, 3 and 4].

Passed by: Milton Ulladulla

17. Information on preselections

This Branch has concerns regarding Recommendation #26;
“a weighting component of 20% from registered Labor supporters in the community be considered for the preselection of Candidates”
The Branch requests more details of this proposal and how it would be implemented.

Passed by: Sylvania Taren Point

The full list of motions to conference is available here.

Posted in Branch and EC Motions | 1 Comment

2010 Review – an analysis

Posted on 1 May, 2011 by Ben Aveling

My analysis of each recommendation is below – order is as per 2010 review except where it makes sense to group related motions.  Regards, Ben

Recommendations 1 and 15

1    Submit these recommendations to federal conference

15    Submit these recommendations to state conferences

Recommendation 1 is basically a request that the report be referred to National Conference. Recommendation 15 is a similar request, directed at the States.

  • Recommendation 1: That these recommendations be forwarded directly to the National Conference of the ALP, as resolutions, rule changes, and amendments to the National Principles of Organisation (NPOs) for debate and determination by delegates.
  • Recommendation 15: That federal, state and territory ministers be required to report back to respective Party conferences on the implementation of platform and policy commitments. Report to the ALP National Secretariat

Recommendations 11 and 12

11    Direct election of some national conference delegates

12    Direct election of some national conference delegates via postal ballot

Recommendation 11 is the first important recommendation – direct election of an (unspecified) component of National Conference. Expect fights here about if this should happen at all, and if so, to what extent. Recommendation 12 is effectively a subclause of Recommendation 11.

  • Recommendation 11: That the structure of the ALP National Conference be changed to enable the increased participation of rank and file members through the direct election of a component of the National Conference.
  • Recommendation 12: That any rank and file ballot for conference delegates occur at the same time as the ballots for the National President and Vice- Presidents, and that it also occur by postal ballot.

Recommendations 13 and 14

13    Stronger national president

14    Direct election of state presidents

Recommendation 13 gives some teeth to the position of National President – currently directly elected but nobbled by being a rotating position with no vote. It is a sensible recommendation, not earth-shattering, but it would be an small transfer of power from the factions to the rank and file and therefore will be bitterly opposed.

  • Recommendation 13: That the National Constitution be amended so that the National President, elected by the membership of the Party, serve a full three year term. That a separate ballot of the membership be held to elect a Senior Vice President and Junior Vice President also to serve a full three year term. That all three members elected be granted full voting rights on the National Executive.
  • Recommendation 14: That the National Principles of Organisation of the Party be amended to provide for the direct election of the Party President and Vice Presidents at state and territory level, based on the model proposed in this Review for the national level.

Recommendation 16    End free tickets to conference

Recommendation 16 would change the numbers at State Conference, somewhat, at least in some states. In NSW the effect would be to slightly strengthen the Electoral Councils by removing what is effectively free seats at the next conference for the ‘winners’ of the current conference. This is not a massive readjustment, but it will be bitterly opposed by those who are currently “winners”.

  • Recommendation 16: That the National Principles of Organisation ensure that state and territory conferences be solely based on the principle of 50 per cent representation for members and 50 per cent representation for affiliates. That the practice of including additional delegates from administrative committees, policy committees, Young Labor, and the parliamentary parties in the members’ component cease. That any affiliation of non-industrial party affiliates in the future (e.g. LEAN or Rainbow Labor) not be included in the affiliates component, which should be quarantined to trade union representation only.

Recommendation 24    NAT determinations binding

Recommendation 24 seems likely to shift the balance of power between different party bodies. As the membership of all these bodies is determined using much the same mechanism, it’s not clear if this would lead to any difference in outcomes or not.

  • Recommendation 24: That the decisions of the National Appeals Tribunal (NAT) be binding determinations on the Party. That the membership of the NAT be expanded and that matters be heard by more than one member.

Recommendation 25    Interventions in preselections

Recommendation 25 – intervention in preselections – is potentially the most important recommendation – expect attempts to water it down or sideline it totally.

  • Recommendation 25: That intervention in Party preselections by the National Executive and state administrative committees only occur as a last resort, rather than a first resort, and then only in exceptional circumstances.

Recommendation  26    Primaries

Recommendation 26 – primaries – is another potentially important recommendation – it could be positive or negative. On the one hand, anything has to be better than what we do now. On the other hand, it’s hard to see who will support this. The rank and file don’t want primaries, they want rank and file preselections. The factions don’t want primaries, they’re quite happy with the current practice of interventions. A sensible outcome would be to mandate primaries in seats where active membership is below a threshold, but don’t expect the factions to permit that to happen.

  • Recommendation 26: That the Party nationally implement a tiered system of Party primaries for the selection of candidates. That this commence in open and non-held lower house seats and be considered for held seats in the future. That a system with three weighted components be established comprising a 60 per cent component drawn from local Party members, 20 per cent from members participating from affiliated trade unions, and 20 per cent from registered Labor supporters in the community. That safeguards to prevent any corruption of this system be put in place such as: the principle of one vote, one value be enshrined to ensure that double or triple-voting not occur; there be minimum participation requirements in the union and community components of a primary to ensure that low participation did not distort results; that all participants be enrolled to vote for a minimum of three months and have a verifiable address within the electorate.

Recommendation 2 through 10, 17 through 23, and 27 through 31:

 2    Survey the membership

3    Targets for membership growth

4    Budget for party building

5    Community organising model

6    National Director of Organising

7    Campaigning, organising and training academy

8    Amnesty

9    Grants for party building

10    MP responsiveness to correspondence

17    End dual voting

18    Conference delegates must be union members  

19    Engage with trade union members

20    Restructured policy committees

21    Engage with community groups

22    Co-opt expert members to policy committees

23    Central policy branches

27    Outreach organisation

28    Community Dialogue program

29    Non-union affiliated organisations

30    Expanded role for Labor Connect

31    Labor Advisory Committees to include Campaigns and Growth Forum

Recommendations 2 through 10, 17 through 23, and 27 through 31 basically say that the party needs to actively court its own membership and supporters, and suggests ways in which this can be done. They should all be uncontroversial because, correct me if I’m wrong here, they don’t change anything important.

  • Recommendation 2: That, as a first step towards re-engaging with Party members, the National Secretariat conduct the first national survey of Party members to seek their views, expectations and attitudes to the Party. Suggestions about improving Party organisation should also be sought. That the results of the survey be published in summary form to members.
  • Recommendation 3: That the National Executive discuss and determine a membership growth target for increasing membership over the next five years, with progress targets set for each year. That membership numbers achieved be reported on an annual basis to the membership.
  • Recommendation 4: That the National Secretariat and state branches dedicate an adequate and meaningful budget allocation to new party-building activities. That state and territory branches of the Party report to the National Executive on their budget allocations and activities annually.
  • Recommendation 5: That the Party explicitly adopt a community-organising model which aims to empower and equip members to work in their local communities on campaigns, to build stronger community connections and to recruit members.
  • Recommendation 6: That the Party appoint a National Director of Organising as a standalone position to grow membership and to assist the building of better branches. That the National Organising Director report growth activities to the National Executive.
  • Recommendation 7: That the Party establish a cost-effective national campaigning organising and training academy to boost the skills, awareness and knowledge of members to allow them to better participate in party-building and recruitment activities. Report to the ALP National Secretariat
  • Recommendation 8: That the Party grant an amnesty to former members who have left the Party over the past five years, but who are willing to rejoin. That the amnesty include the restoration of full membership rights; but that this amnesty not be extended to any former member who has brought discredit on the Party or its representatives.
  • Recommendation 9: That a system of small, annual grants be established at national level to assist with party-building activities. That local branches be encouraged to apply for grants and the scheme be overseen by a panel of senior Labor Party members, removed from the day-to-day affairs of the Party.
  • Recommendation 10: That branch correspondence to parliamentary representatives and state and territory branches should be responded to promptly to ensure branch members are aware their contribution has been considered. That Party units be permitted to have correspondence not responded to within three months brought to the attention of National Executive members by automatic inclusion in the agenda papers of National Executive.
  • Recommendation 17: That ‘batt’ or dual voting — a system which offends the principle of one vote one value — not be permitted under Party Rules in any circumstances.
  • Recommendation 18: That only financial members of an affiliated trade union be eligible to represent that union at Party conferences.
  • Recommendation 19: To encourage the participation of more affiliated trade union members in the Party, that affiliated trade unions be requested to ask members to opt in to Party involvement (e.g. primaries, representing the union at Party conferences) on joining or renewing union membership.
  • Recommendation 20: That the National Policy Committee be reformed to create a series of national party policy committees that reflect the Caucus committees of the FPLP.
  •  Recommendation 21: That the national policy committees incorporate into their consultative arrangements a series of workshops and roundtables with key community organisations, academics and researchers working in areas of policy innovation.
  • Recommendation 22: The Review notes that the power to co-opt members to the National Policy Committee has not been utilised. That in future all national policy committees be strongly encouraged to co-opt expert members who are not factional appointees.
  • Recommendation 23: That NSW Labor’s successful model of a Central Policy Branch be extended to other state and territory capitals and to major regional centres such as Newcastle, Wollongong, Launceston, Townsville, Fremantle, and Bendigo or Ballarat. That a National Policy Branch be established online, which would assist state based Central Policy Branches by providing national lectures, presentations and seminars online for Party members. Report to the ALP National Secretariat
  • Recommendation 27: That the Party at a national level create a outreach organisation, which provides the following for progressive Australians:  an online presence where they can engage with progressive ideas and policies; a place to organise progressive campaigns; an opportunity to engage with the Australian Labor Party. That this organisation be governed by a board of independent, senior party people and young activists drawn from the Party, union movement and progressive third party organisations. Report to the ALP National Secretariat
  • Recommendation 28: That the Party at a national level institute a Labor Community Dialogue program as has occurred at state levels of the Party, to facilitate access and discussion between the Party, community organisations and community leaders, and that this be supported by an active series of online engagement opportunities that would connect progressive community organisations with the Party at both a membership and parliamentary level.
  • Recommendation 29: That the Party’s National Principles of Organisation be amended to allow the affiliation of like-minded organisations, in addition to industrial unions. Furthermore, that campaign groups such as the Labor Environment Action Network and Rainbow Labor be granted ex-officio delegate rights at state and territory conferences and policy committees, once they are able to demonstrate and verify membership of a sufficient size.
  • Recommendation 30: That Labor Connect be expanded as a membership organising and campaigning tool.
  • Recommendation 31: That ALAC and state-based Labor Advisory Committees be expanded to include a new Campaigns and Growth Forum based on the ACTU model. That this forum be established at national level of the Party to connect affiliated trade unions, the Party and the FPLP into a more meaningful dialogue on shared challenges.
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Annerley Branch

Posted on 30 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

Annerley Branch has formally welcomed the recommendations of the ALP National Review, resolving to support the reforms and calling on national conference delegates to do the same.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the April general meeting of the Branch voiced strong endorsement of the ‘general direction of the 31 recomendations’, which were released publicly in February. Despite the support, the Branch did, however, articulate concerns over the suggested ‘open primary’ system for internal pre-selections. In the resolution, members raised valid concerns that there was a possibility that open primary proposal could be subject to abuse.

The resolution also encourages national conference delegates to consider any recommendations which will ensure a ‘democratic, inclusive and participatory model of organisation’. It is anticipated that the reforms will be debated at the December National Conference.

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Motions – Bomaderry-Nowra

Posted on 30 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

Motions for Inclusion In State Conference 2011

The following motions were carried by all branch members:

1. Endorse the 2010 Review and demand it be implemented in full

We endorse the findings of the 2010 National Review and demand that its Recommendations be implemented in full.

2. Direct elections for Admin, General Secretaries, Presidents

The structure of State Conference shall be changed so that the following positions are filled by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party and the rank and file membership of all affiliated unions, with each constituency having a 50% weighting in the final outcome:

  • President, Senior President and Junior  Vice Presidents
  • General Secretary and Assistant Secretaries
  • All elected members on the Administrative Committee

3. Union delegates to Conference to be chosen by direct election by union members

That representation at State Conference by each affiliated union shall be conditional on the union selecting its delegates to Conference by direct election by the members of the union. Further, union delegates must be financial members of the Party.

4. Anti Branch Stacking

That all members must pay their own membership fees direct to head office. The only exception is for immediate family members under the age of eighteen. Members paying a concessional rate must provide a photocopy of their concession card with payment.

5. Pre-selections

That all pre-selections be carried out at least twelve months prior to the state election, or twelve months prior to the expected end of the federal term. Endorsed candidates will be allowed to build their profile within the community and local branches for twelve months prior to the state election, or twelve months prior to the expected end of the federal term. Candidates may only be appointed where there is no candidate pre-selected by the rank and file members.

Samantha Bell
President

Stefanie King
Secretary

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Motions – Sydney SEC

Posted on 30 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

The Sydney SEC carried the following motions to be included on the State Conference agenda.

  • That the 2010 Review be distributed to all ALP members who desire a copy.
  • That the NSW ALP support the National Review Findings of Senator Faulkner, Bob Carr and Steven Bracks proposing the direct election of party office bearers and broadening of community and party involvement.
  • That the structure of State Conference be changed so that the following positions are filled by postal ballot of the rank and file membership of the party: President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries, and all elected members of the Administrative Committee.
  • That all members must pay their own membership fees personally. The only exception is for immediate family members under the age of eighteen. Members paying a concessional rate must provide a photocopy of their concession card with payment.

The third motion is different to the “model” motion put forward to many branches. In addition, the “model” motion about union members directly electing union delegates to state conference lapsed at the SEC as no member moved it following informal discussion.

Regards

Sacha Blumen
Secretary, Sydney SEC

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Motions – Rozelle-Lilyfield

Posted on 29 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

Motion (party officials and elected office): That salaried ministerial or party officials be restricted from seeking parliamentary office for a period of two years upon resigning from the position.

Motion (upper house vacancies): That all casual upper house vacancies (federal and state) be filled following a full vote of all financial rank & file party members.

Motion (direct election of branch delegates to conference): That branch delegates be elected directly through a plebiscite of all the branch members in a particular SEC or FEC area.

Motion (endorsing National Review): that the branch endorses in principal the findings of the 2010 National Review, and demands that its recommendations be implemented in full.

Motion (election of union delegates to conference): The Rozelle-Lilyfield branch acknowledges the initiative of the Saturday 2 April 2011 rank and file meeting. However, the branch does not endorse direct election by union members for union delegates to conference.  Rather, the branch calls for union council/conference elections of union delegations to NSW state conference, with these union delegations to be financial members of both the union and the ALP.

Motion (anti-branch stacking): That it be compulsory that all members pay their own membership fees direct to head office. The only exception is for immediate family members under the age of 18. Members paying a concessional rate must provide a photocopy of their concession card with payment.

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Motions – Sylvania Taren Point

Posted on 28 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

Sylvania Taren Point Branch, in spirit, supports the 2010 Nation Review.

However, we did have some concerns regarding this section of Recommendation 26:

“a weighting component of 20% from registered Labor supporters in the community [be considered for the selection of candidates]”.

The Branch would like more details of this proposal, and how it would be implemented.

At our Branch Meeting held 15 April 2011, we also passed the following motion:-

To encourage growth of branch membership and secure the future of the party we need to change the rules and re-organise how our branches function:

  1. All members of the party must join a branch and attend the required number of meetings before they are eligible to participate in other sectors of the party such as Young Labor.
  2. Due to the comittments society seems to impose on people we suggest that:

(a.) Branch Meetings be held bi-monthly (i.e. every two months in lieu of monthly) and the format of the meetings be reviewed.

(b.) Branches in geographical areas (e.g. Sutherland Shire, St. George etc) have quarterly joint meetings at which there would be either a guest speaker from community organisations or otherwise politically interesting groups followed by discussion/debate about issues raised,or a training session to elevate our understanding of issues and methods of getting the community to understand and debate said issues.

(c.) Six monthly gatherings of members in said geographical areas (or even more than one area together) to socialise, discuss party issuesand possibly double as a fund-raiser.

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Motions – Glebe

Posted on 28 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

At the April meeting of The Glebe Branch, the proposed motions of Our ALP were considered, with the following being passed:

MOTION 1
Passed without changes

MOTION 2
Passed without changes

MOTION 3
Passed without changes

MOTION 4
Passed with the following change:

Final sentence (`Members paying a concessional rate must provide a photocopy of their concession card with payment.’) replaced with `That further measures be undertaken to ensure that members pay the correct concessional rate’).

Yours sincerely,
Camille Scaysbrook
Secretary
The Glebe Branch, ALP

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Motions – Haberfield

Posted on 26 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

This branch endorses the motions passed by the recent meeting at Tom Mann Theatre:

  1. We endorse the 2010 Review and demand it be implemented in full.
  2. We call for direct election for Admin, General Secretaries and Presidents.
  3. We call for Union Delegates to Conference to be chosen by direct election by union members.
  4. To prevent branch stacking we call for membership fees to be paid direct to Head Office.

Sincerely,
Stuart Robinson
Secretary, Haberfield Branch ALP

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Motions – Erskineville

Posted on 26 April, 2011 by Ben Aveling

Erskineville Branch considered the four motions at its April meeting.

Members voted to support motions 1 and 4, with a slight amendment to make reference to the “public recommendations” of the Review in Motion 1.

Motions 2 and 3 were not passed, as a majority of members held concerns that they would not materially address the underlying problem of disproportionate influence of union leaderships in Party decision-making.

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