c o n f e r e n c e e d i t i o n

Country Labor dialogue

Connecting Country Communities – november 2009

Celebrating 10 years of Country Labor

In 1999, NSW Labor made a bold move to register Country Labor
as its own unique political party. This reinvigorated us in our fight
against the Nationals, and allowed us to reclaim our historic place
in rural and regional NSW. This year, Country Labor celebrates
the 10th anniversary of this momentous achievement.
2008 Country Conference: Port Macquarie

Premier Nathan Rees gave his first address to a Party Conference at Port Macquarie.

The 2008 Country

The 2008 Country Conference was held at Port Panthers, Port Conference featured:
Macquarie on the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November.
1. First address from Premier
The Conference was a great success, with the Premier Nathan Rees giving Nathan Rees to a Party
his first address to a Party Conference, and announcing an $85 million Conference
“Building the Country” Fund. 2. A special morning tea for local
The Premier also talked about the need to rebuild our great Party, and Life Members with the Premier
rebuild the relationship between the Party and the parliamentary wing. 3. The first joint recipients of the
Bluey Rodwell Award: Dennis
After listening to some of the Conference debate, the Premier
& Dawn Farnham
attended a morning tea for local Life Members, and chatted to
delegates over lunch.
The Conference was a great weekend of constructive policy discussion,
with issues such as the future of our health system, access to tertiary
education for country students, the Federal Government’s Fair Work bill,
carbon trading, indigenous policy and pensions debated.
Country members also enjoyed the opportunity to meet with each other
and discuss the similar issues they face across NSW.

General Secretary Matt Thistlethwaite congratulated

Bluey Rodwell Award recipient, Dawn Farnham.

“Building the Country”

fund includes:
$52 million to drive
infrastructure and investment
in regional areas
$11.6 million to deliver high
speed broadband to country
communities not covered by
the Federal Government’s
National Broadband Network
$9 million for rural libraries
$2.5 million for country halls
 Country Labor launches
first-ever policy campaign

community support for the Rudd Government’s National Broadband Network.

In 2009, Country Labor launched its first ever policy campaign to gather

Country Labor launched its first ever policy campaign in 2009, All Country party units were
aimed at increasing community support for the Rudd Government’s provided with an NBN campaign
National Broadband Network (NBN). kit to help them gather support
within their local communities.
The campaign was launched at Mount Panorama in Bathurst with representatives
of the NSW Country Labor Parliamentary Group, Country Labor Councillors, The kit includes:
Chair of Country Labor, Bryce Wilson and Country Organiser, Courtney Roche. 1. a briefing kit to ensure all members
Country Labor believes that the Rudd Government’s $4.3 billion NBN is a are provided with plenty of
vital investment in the future of rural and regional Australia. It will support information on the NBN
jobs and provide benefits for healthcare, education and small business. 2. notes to assist members writing
letters to their local newspapers
After 12 years in power, the Howard Government outlined 18 different plans 3. contact details for all of the
to provide high-speed broadband to country Australia – but no action. Coalition senators
Branches and members around NSW have taken the opportunity to talk 4. a copy of the Support the NBN
about the NBN in their local communities, and have received strong support petition
– whether it be on street stalls, at Field Days or in community groups. Have you signed the
To participate in the Support the NBN Campaign, NBN petition?
contact Country Organiser Courtney Roche on 1800 506 035 Turn to the back page, or visit
or courtney@nswalp.com www.countrylabor.com.au

Janelle Saffin MP, Amanda Fazio MLC, and Country Organiser Courtney
Roche
Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly and Chair of Country Labor, talked about the Support the NBN Campaign to at the Primex Field Days
in
Bryce Wilson, spoke to locals in Jerrabomberra about the Casino. Among those they spoke to was local Therese Schier, who runs
the
benefits of the NBN. Casino Community website.
Prime Minister’s Country Taskforce

The Federal rural and regional MPs have reconvened the Prime
Minister’s Country Taskforce to enhance the voice of country
Australia within the Federal Parliament.

The Federal rural and regional
MPs from around Australia
have reconvened the Prime
Minister’s Country Taskforce to
give a greater voice to country
Australia within the Federal
parliamentary caucus.
First launched during the Hawke-
Keating Government, the Prime
Minister’s Country Taskforce
travels around Australia, listening
to stakeholders and reporting
back to the Prime Minister.
The reconvened Taskforce has
already visited the key marginal
seat of Flynn in Queensland, held
by Chris Trevor. In 2010, they have
trips planned to the NSW country
seats of Page and Eden-Monaro.
The Prime Minister’s Country
Taskforce have received strong
support from Minister for
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
Tony Burke.

Country Labor continues its good work

in NSW Parliament
The NSW Country Labor Parliamentary
Group (CLPG) has continued to show that it
is the true voice for rural and regional NSW.
In 2009, the CLPG successfully campaigned
to abolish the pensioner booking fee on
CountryLink travel.
The CLPG also continued to consult with country
communities around NSW, meeting with small
businesses, community groups, local government
representatives and branch members in the
central west, north and south coasts.
With Steve Whan’s promotion to Cabinet,
Christine Robertson has taken over as
Convenor of the CLPG. Country Labor
congratulates Steve, and wishes him all the
best in his new position.
The NSW CLPG has continued to consult with community groups
and
stakeholders around NSW. In 2009, they have travelled to the central
west, north and south coasts.
Country Labor honours its past
In 2009, branches around country NSW held dinners in honour of past members of
parliament, and other influential figures in our labour movement. To read transcripts
of the speeches delivered at these dinners, visit www.countrylabor.com.au

Remembering Celebrating
Eddie Graham Harold Mair’s
Premier Nathan Rees honoured
Wagga Wagga’s last Labor
contribution
Member, Eddie Graham to Albury
(1897-1957). Eddie Graham
was the Member for Wagga The Albury branch chose
Wagga from 1941 until his death to celebrate Harold Mair’s
in 1957. He was the longest contribution to Albury with a
serving Agriculture Minister in dinner in his honour, and an
NSW’s history. address from Senator the
Hon John Faulkner. Harold
was the Member for Albury
from 1978-88, and is, to this
The Annual Ben Chifley Memorial “Light on day, remembered in Albury

the Hill” Address for his ability to deliver so

much for his electorate.
In 2009, the Annual Ben Chifley
Memorial “Light on the Hill”
Address was delivered by the
Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan.
In its 25th year, the “Light on
Honouring
the Hill” Address is the longest-
running annual country dinner,
Bill & Terry
and this year gathered over
300 people in honour of
Sheahan
Bathurst’s famous son,
Premier Nathan Rees travelled
Ben Chifley (1885-1951).
to Murrumbateman to honour
Burrinjuck SEC’s favourite
father and son combination,
The Louisa Lawson Memorial Address Bill and Terry Sheahan. Bill
The Gulgong branch invited Melissa Parke MP, Member for Fremantle, to Sheahan
deliver the quadrennial Louisa Lawson Memorial Address. Louisa Lawson (1895-1975), was the Member
(1848-1920), the mother of the famous author Henry Lawson, was a lifelong for Yass and then Burrinjuck
feminist, and has been called “the Mother of Suffrage in NSW”. from 1941 to 1965, serving
as the Minister for Health for
almost ten years. Terry Sheahan
was the Member
for Burrinjuck from 1973 to
1988, serving several different
ministries, including as
Attorney-General.
Helping build a more
modern Labor Party
Branch members from around country
NSW took the opportunity to participate
in the Building a Modern Labor Party
Committee of Inquiry.

Hundreds of branch members the quality and time put into many
attended consultations in Coffs of these submissions from our
Harbour, Orange, Tamworth, branch members.
Bateman’s Bay and Wagga
Thank you to everyone who
Wagga, providing feedback on
participated in the BMLP inquiry.
how to improve our Party.
To read the full Building a Modern
Many other members participated
Labor Party report, visit: www.
in on-line surveys and wrote
nswalp.com/content/upload/files/
submissions with their ideas. The
Building_a_Modern_Labor_Party/
Committee was impressed with
Final_Report.pdf

Hundreds of country branch members participated in the Building a Modern

Labor Party consultation process.

Making meetings more
interesting: innovation
in our country branches
Country branches continue to
innovate and find new ways of
making their branch, SEC and FEC
meetings more interesting and
engaging for members.
TI PS
Here are some
simple ideas of
how to make
your meeting
more interesting
that other
branches have
already used:
Invite a Minister or Member of
Parliament to come and address
your branch
Organise a campaign training
day with Party Office
Hold a morning tea honouring
one of your life members
Convene a meeting on a
specific policy issue
Arrange for a planning day with
local members for the next
twelve months
Ask one of your longer-serving
members to provide a reflection
on their time in the Party
Invite everyone to stay for lunch
or dinner after the meeting (or
beforehand)
Organise a policy forum
for members and the wider
community
Have a “bring a friend” night
where everyone brings a friend
along
Have a “mobilisation day” for
your local MP or candidate
– go doorknocking, phoning
or letterboxing together as a
branch
For more information on any of
these ideas, or to share your
own, contact Country Organiser,
Courtney Roche on 1800 503 035 or
courtney@nswalp.com
 Taking up the fight at Field Days around NSW
Country Labor has continued to take the fight up
directly to the National Party on their home turf, with
another successful program of Field Days in 2009.
Country Labor’s continuing presence at these Field Days
plays an important role in promoting Country Labor to
a broad cross-section of country communities.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make
our Field Days in 2009 such a success.

Here are the upcoming

dates for your diary:
Riverina Field Days, Griffith
Friday 7 – Saturday 8 May 2010
Primex, Casino
Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 June 2010
Ag-quip, Gunnedah
Tuesday 17 – Thursday 18 August 2010
Henty Field Days, Henty
Tuesday 21 –Thursday 23 September 2010
Murrumbateman Field Days
Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 October 2010
Orange National Field Days, Orange
Tuesday 19 – Thursday 21 October 2010
Can you help us?
Email courtney@nswalp.com if you can volunteer
to staff our Country Labor tent on these dates.

Sign the Petition

Tell
Sign thethe
Coalition to support
NBN petition
Country Australia in the Senate
TO THE HONOURABLE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED:
The petition of the undersigned shows: The Rudd Government’s decision to invest in a National Broadband Network
(NBN) will bring fast, affordable broadband services to all Australians.Your petitioners therefore request that all Members of
the Senate, particularly those from rural areas support the Government’s NBN proposal.

Name (Please print) Signature Address

Email Address

Email Address

Please return to Country Labor, PO Box 1206, Goulburn 2580. Or by fax to (02) 9264 2574.
For more petitions please contact Courtney Roche, Country Organiser on
1800 503 035 or email courtney@nswalp.com

Do you have a story for Country Labor Dialogue? Email your story and photos to courtney@nswalp.com