Wednesday, 21 June 2023

Victorian Labor Party

Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (09:50): On the weekend the Victorian Labor Party held its state conference. The conference allows 600 democratically elected delegates from unions and members to all put forward ideas that included worker wages and conditions, innovation, jobs and manufacturing and further action on climate change. The Premier and the Prime Minister both made a point of highlighting that our party represents the community, especially when it comes to women – that it is not an accident; it is a policy choice for us. The point was made that it is not only right in terms of equality but it is good because it makes us better. Because of this, lots of conference motions were related to women’s rights, women’s health and reform in industries which have a majority female workforce.

We also heard from Labor members with disability and Labor members from multicultural backgrounds. I want to highlight the work of our colleague in this place member for Northern Metropolitan Region Sheena Watt, a proud Yorta Yorta woman. Ms Watt was one of the first people to address the conference and put forward a motion further supporting the Voice to Parliament. The floor erupted in support and the motion was backed by both the Premier and the Prime Minister. Only a couple of weekends ago I joined hundreds of people to walk side by side with the Aboriginal community in Hastings, with the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, in support of reconciliation and the Voice. On both weekends I felt strongly that the Labor movement is representative of community attitudes, is inclusive, lifts people up, supports self-determination and is working to make our state and our country better. I am proud to be part of such a movement.