Thursday, 5 October 2023

Victorian Labor Party

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (09:51): Rank-and-file members are the backbone of the Victorian Labor Party. They staff election booths, knock on doors, help run campaigns and even run for elections. Our former Premier Daniel Andrews started out as a campaign volunteer – grassroots politics at its best. Martyn Abbott, whose name in this chamber is known well, is holding the fort in Sandringham, and Sarina Greco in Malvern as president has engaged in an ambitious training and upskilling exercise of members. And who could forget the president of the Hawthorn branch, Peter Kriesner. I always appreciate his invitations and make it when I can. I look forward to joining him and the Kew branch next week. Of course there is Stevie McGregor, whose young talent will take her far. And then there is Michael Borowick, a long-time friend of mine from the Caulfield branch. It was great seeing him yesterday, and his advocacy for the Jewish community makes him an asset to our party and the movement. Ken Penaluna from the Prahran branch helped stock my office with newsletters when the foyer was bare and empty when we moved in. And there then there are our friends like Ella Gvildytė from the Kooyong federal electorate assembly, someone who always has a smile, is always ready to help and is a hard worker. It is these people who make our party what it is, and I thank them for their contributions to social justice, democracy and Labor values.