AUTUMN 2018

Premier Palaszczuk Secures Majority for Second Term

MESSAGE FROM ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK MESSAGE FROM THE STATE SECRETARY

In our first term, my Government worked hard

to restore frontline services and create jobs. We made a commitment to represent all of Queensland and restore stability and fairness to our state.

We listened to Queenslanders and delivered on our promises, creating more than 143,000 jobs and achieving record investments in health and education.

At the November election last year, Queensland voters had a clear choice. A choice between more jobs under Labor or cuts and chaos under the LNP.

It was our Labor party members who ensured Queenslanders were not duped by the LNP’s lies and empty promises.

You reminded your friends, neighbours and communities of the 14,000 jobs Tim Nicholls had heartlessly cut.

You promoted my Government’s economic record, that saw exports grow to $70 billion a year and secured nation-leading jobs growth for our state.

You knocked on doors, stood on streets, staffed pop-up stalls, made calls, handed out how-to-vote cards, gave donations, gave up your weekends, tweeted, liked and passionately supported the campaign for a second term Palaszczuk Government.

Thanks to your enduring support, and your incredible efforts during the election campaign, Queensland now has a stable, majority Labor Government.

I would also like to thank members of our state’s union movement for their strong support during the election.

Our resounding election success means we now have 48 Labor Members of

Parliament, with the LNP reduced to just 39.

My Government has representatives from across our state, with MPs from the far north in Cook (the first Torres Strait Islander in the Queensland Parliament) and south to Gaven on the Gold Coast.

We will continue to work and deliver for all Queenslanders, including our regional communities.

We have achieved so much already but I know our state’s best days are still ahead of us.

Let’s build on our success.Thank you to each and

every one of you for all your support.

Annastacia PalaszczukQueensland Premier

The 22nd of January 2018 marked the first day of my

term as State Secretary, and the first day of building for a Shorten Labor government at the next Federal election.

Regional Queensland will be the key to the next Federal election. We must be the party that truly represents regional Queensland.

That’s why I have made a commitment to visit every major regional centre in my first three months in party office. I’ve also invited local campaigns to join a tele-town hall to ensure that, no matter where you live in Queensland, you can join our campaign to defeat Malcolm Turnbull.

Connecting with regional Queenslanders will be critical to getting rid of Turnbull

and electing a federal Labor government.

Last year saw a historic victory for Queensland Labor. Annastacia Palaszczuk proved that Queenslanders want a good stable Labor government, not a chaotic LNP-One Nation coalition. Earlier this year, our grassroots campaigning kicked in again to deliver a strong win for Kara Cook in the Brisbane City Council by-election.

Labor’s wins demonstrate that when branch members come together in grassroots campaigns, nothing can stop us.

I joined the Labor party when I was seventeen years old to help fight John Howard’s savage cuts to

education. But the LNP never change and we are yet again facing more cuts to health and attacks on secure work from an out of touch Turnbull government.

I would like to thank and congratulate Evan Moorhead for his leadership as State Secretary. He will be missed and he has left big shoes to fill.

It is an honour to be given the opportunity to serve the party I love. I look forward to working with you to elect Labor Governments and to campaign for an even better Queensland.

Julie-Ann Campbell State Secretary

Premier Palaszczuk with workers at Downer EDI in Maryborough, which was awarded an $8 million rail maintenance project and selected as the preferred tenderer for a further $62 million in upcoming rolling stock overhauls.

The swearing in

Premier Palaszczuk embraced by a local as her “Queensland Express” stops at the

famous Kingaroy Peanut Van.

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Congratulations to all our State Labor MPs, particularly those

who won seats from the LNP.One of the most satisfying

aspects of the 2017 state election was the fact that so many sitting Labor Members, with previously very slim margins, have consolidated their vote and many now enjoy healthy two party preferred margins, based on a solid primary vote. This is indeed worth celebrating, given the attack we experienced from the LNP, Greens and One Nation.

Congratulations to party members, Unions and their members, and volunteers for ensuring a great victory.

Of all the political parties, it is the LNP that has the most to worry about, with its primary vote at an all-time low, having polled in the twenty percentage points range in many seats, including some that it held in the previous term.

The task at hand is to consolidate our position as a reformist, responsible majority government.

The Palaszczuk Labor Government won the election on the back of a great economic record, political stability in Government and an excellent,

focussed election campaign highlighting the chaos that would occur under an LNP/One Nation coalition.

The challenge over the next three years is to consolidate our position by: • continuing to ensure that government policy/legislation is in tune with fundamental Labor principles – eg. jobs, jobs, jobs!• continuing to pursue policies which Queenslanders want and which diminish the attractiveness of protest parties such as One Nation – eg. Queensland’s procurement strategy, “Buy Queensland”• continuing to pursue policies that enhance our record as a pro-environment Government, whilst at the same time ensuring that Queensland’s economy continues to grow.

I’m confident that under the leadership of Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad, Labor will continue to have the measure of the LNP, who are so wracked by division that they have little hope of creating a united state opposition.

Third parties often trade on one or two key policies, without any concern about the broader

responsibilities of government. Our task is to offer a Government which is able to satisfy the broad priorities and needs of Queenslanders, in particular jobs, the environment, education and health, whilst at the same time providing economic growth within a framework of fiscal responsibility.

This is a difficult task but, so far, the Palaszczuk Government has succeeded.

A majority of Queenslanders, I believe, appreciate the fact that to focus on one or two priorities to the detriment of all others, is not what governments should do. Hopefully those who might be attracted to third parties can be convinced of the same!

Finally, it’s worthwhile reflecting on the fact that we need to lift our game, as a Party, on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, where we hold only one seat (Gaven) out of a possible nineteen.

The Party organisation needs to better support the work of our loyal members in these areas, particularly in the most marginal seats which we’re capable of winning. Labor cannot substantially increase its majority without improving its representation on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Great State Result! Now for the Next Three Years

JOHN BATTAMS – PARTY PRESIDENT

Minister Mark Bailey, Premier Palaszczuk and candidate for Burdekin, Mike Brunker, visit a North Queensland solar farm during the state election campaign.

A MESSAGE FROM BILL SHORTEN

2017 was a great year for Labor in Queensland.

The Sunshine State once again put their trust in Annastacia and her team; a Labor team that is creating jobs, investing in schools and health and improving the lives of Queenslanders from the regions and the cities to the suburbs.

Queensland Labor ran a strong, positive, ideas-driven campaign that is a credit to every Labor person who knocked on a door, worked on a polling booth or made a phone call. I also want to congratulate and thank the trade union movement for their passionate campaigning in support of Labor in Queensland.

I look forward to continuing to work with Annastacia and her team to ensure Queenslanders get a better deal from Canberra.

This year my Labor team and I will continue to stand-up for the issues that matter to middle and working-class Queenslanders: helping with the cost of living, properly funding our schools and hospitals, protecting penalty rates, choosing a tax cut for Australian workers over a tax cut for big multinationals and tackling climate change so we can protect the Reef.

Unlike the LNP, we know that Queensland doesn’t end at the Brisbane city limits. That’s why Labor is committed to investing $1

billion across north and far-north Queensland to support our world-class tourism industries, using local knowledge to ensure we’re doing everything we can to support jobs and communities in the north.

Thank you for your dedication, your enthusiasm and your hard work in 2017. I look forward to working with all of you to make 2018 a great success for our movement, our cause and the people of Queensland.

Bill Shorten greets Annastacia Palaszczuk on the state campaign trail

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On January 22nd this year Evan Moorhead left the ALP Party Office, where he’d been State

Secretary since 2014. Evan guided Labor to victory in two state elections and oversaw a massive rebuilding effort of the party membership base. Prior to coming into Party Office Evan was the member for Waterford for two terms.

Farewell to Evan Moorhead

JON PERSLEY

Bread and butter: the key ingredients to Labor’s success As the only progressive political

force capable of effecting change, Labor has forever borne great responsibility.

Whether it’s reforms to environmental, social or economic policy, there’s no questioning our rich history and proud legacy.

Of course, determining which policy reform is most worthy of undertaking is never an easy task. So much to do in an increasingly hostile and fragile political environment.

A concerning trend at the moment is the emergence of noisy

fringe groups on the far left. Fringe groups who acrimoniously

recognise that Labor is the only legitimate vehicle for progressive change and therefore seek to bully and pressure Labor for action on their particular cause, on their particular terms.

Overlaying all of this are the many regional and rural areas in Queensland struggling to reconcile the future of their local economy and livelihoods.

The key to Labor’s electoral fortunes, particularly in regional Queensland, is tackling issues of

economic justice that are affecting so many.

None more so than the scourge of corrupt labour hire practices being used by big multinational companies to rip off workers and destroy communities and families.

A scourge that not only has meant insecure work, but has locked out a generation from buying their own first home as they can’t get a loan, and as a result, has depressed local housing markets and helped deter any new local investment or economic activity.

Action on issues of economic justice like this provide the bread and butter Labor agenda that is essential to easing the economic anxieties being felt by many Queenslanders (Not least the 371,000 Queenslander’s who voted for One Nation at the last State Election).

Labor cannot afford to be distracted by the noisy fringe groups on the far left and right. We must pursue a revitalised economic agenda and get back to basics: making sure working people and their families get a fair go in Australia’s rapidly evolving economy.

The work of an MP is never done…Evan in his mud army uniform cleaning up after the 2011 floods

Jon Persley served as Assistant State Secretary from 2014 – 2018, recently departing to serve in the office of Federal Labor Leader, Bill Shorten.

Evan Moorhead in his role as State Secretary at the 2016

State Conference

Evan the MP for Waterford with Premier Anna Bligh

Queensland Labor State Conference 2018

Come along and witness the debate that shapes the direction of your party. ALL Queensland Labor members are welcome to attend as observers.

Conference agenda and fringe program to be announced closer to the date.

WHEN: Friday, August 31 (conference dinner), Saturday September 1 & Sunday September 2

WHERE: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cnr Merivale & Glenelg Streets, South Bank

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The state election saw eight new Labor MPs elected to parliament. Last edition we featured successful candidates Cynthia Lui (Cook), Michael Healey (Cairns) and Corrine McMillan (Mansfield), so this time around we’ll introduce you to their fellow parliamentary newcomers.

Meet Your New MPs

Read about your local MP at queenslandlabor.org

Your Senators on Duty

Meaghan Scanlon

GavenBart Mellish

AspleyJess Pugh

Mt Ommaney

Charis Mullen

JordanMelissa McMahon

MacalisterKim Richards

Redlands

Barry O’Rourke

Rockhampton

Senator Anthony Chisholm: “Bill Shorten’s Town Hall Meeting in Bundaberg was a great opportunity to listen to the concerns of the people of Queensland. I’m looking forward to many more of those opportunities this year.”

Senator Murray Watt in Rockhampton with Brendan O’Connor MP, talking about Labor’s plan to support apprentices.

Senator Claire Moore: “Great working with women of all cultures....important issues and laughter.”

Senator Chris Ketter: “My work as a Senator is fascinating and diverse – from listening to and advocating on behalf of Queenslanders across the State; to my role as Chair of the Senate Economics References Committee, recently handing down a report highlighting that asbestos is still a matter of life and death for Australians (pictured at a press conference on asbestos with the ACTU).” 98

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Minister Shannon Fentiman was a huge hit with this puppy at the

2017 “Day for Daniel”

Minister Lynham gathers his troops during the state campaign

Laura Fraser Hardy and Ali King (candidate for Maiwar) at the Labor Women’s conference. Note the massive stacks of state election core flutes in the background.

Sarah Carroll, Julie McGlone (candidate for Maroochydore) and Attorney General Yvette D’Ath at the Labor Women’s conference

Sheridan Power and Kim Richards (now the member for Redlands) at the 2017 Labor Women’s Network conference

The Brisbane troops gathered late last year to celebrate Sharon Neame’s 20 years in Party Office. Sharon came across to Peel St after working in the office of Premier Wayne Goss. Sharon has since worked alongside six State Secretaries and we reckon she has enough ALP secrets to fill a whole series of books!

Janine Aitken with two of our amazing volunteers from Canberra, Briony Roelandts and Grace Flanagan.

Jason Hunt’s Caloundra campaign office

Supporters rally behind candidate for Chatsworth Paul Keene’s campaign to fix the Carindale Park & Ride

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AROUND THE GROUNDS

Morningside By-Election On January 20 2018 a Brisbane City Council by-election was held in Morningside ward, due to the retirement of sitting Labor Councillor Shayne Sutton. Labor’s candidate Kara Cook won, with a primary vote of 50.04%.

Candidate Kara Cook pictured with retiring Councillor Shayne Sutton, State MP for Bulimba Di Farmer and Federal Member for Griffith Terri Butler

Every man and his dog from the MUA turned out at Cannon Hill train station to spread the word for Kara Cook

Young Labor volunteers turned out in force for Kara Cook

Break time on the Morningside campaign trail

Here’s a group of our amazing Labor volunteers preparing for a massive day of “get out to vote” action.