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Foreword

Labor's National Platform sums up our distinctive approach to governing and our enduring values.

This National Platform, our first in government for 15 years, demonstrates those values in action.

It shows the strong record of achievement of the Rudd Labor Government. It also shows the challenges ahead of us as a nation and the decisive leadership needed to secure Australia's future.

Our Platform is also a fighting document, designed to help Labor members and supporters communicate Labor's vision to all Australians. This Platform will provide Party members with the policy ideas and arguments to help Labor win a historic second term for the Rudd Labor Government.

Labor's National Platform was determined by the delegates elected to the 45th National Conference held in Sydney, 30 July 2009 to 3 August 2009. It was finalised by a process of democratic deliberation, underlining the extensive policy expertise we have as a Party.

I encourage members and Labor supporters to involve themselves in the policy work of the ALP and to continue contributing to the development of Labor's National Platform.

Karl Bitar

National Secretary

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Contents

2 Foreword: Karl Bitar, National Secretary 4 Chapter 1: Governing for Australia's long-term future

11 Chapter 2: Securing our future with responsible economic management

20 Chapter 3: Building a 21st century economy

44 Chapter 4: Delivering fairness for working families

53 Chapter 5: An Education Revolution for Australia's future

64 Chapter 6: Preparing Australia for the health needs of the future

78 Chapter 7: Securing an inclusive future for all Australians

100 Chapter 8: Strengthening regional and local communities

107 Chapter 9: Tackling climate change and our environmental challenges

119 Chapter 10: Strengthening Australia in a changing world

138 Chapter 11: New ways of governing for a stronger democracy

151 National Constitution of the ALP

184 Conference Resolutions

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Chapter 1: Governing for Australia's long-

term future Preamble 1 Through the good times and through the tough times, the great mission of Australian Labor governments for more than one hundred years has been to improve the lives of ordinary

Australians—giving every Australian opportunities through education and training, ensuring fairness at work and supporting Australians throughout the different stages and transitions of their lives.

2 Labor has stood by Australians in difficult and uncertain times, building a strong safety net and providing help through hardship. Labor has promoted social justice, compassion and the fair go at home and abroad.

3 Labor has been the nation-building party, consistently lifting the nation's ambitions for our future, and calling forth the best from all Australians. Labor has always looked to Australia's long-term challenges, to identify the challenges of the future and to prepare for them.

4 Today, Australia confronts profound challenges due to changes in the global economy, the increasing threat of climate change and a new range of security threats. Labor is the party to navigate these great challenges.

5 Labor will deliver the decisive action and long-term preparation needed to take Australia through the stormy waters of global recession and build a productive economy that can compete in a world that is being transformed by the rise of China and India. Labor will prepare Australia for the challenge of climate change, enabling our transition to becoming a low carbon pollution economy and planning for the long-term impacts of increased drought and water shortages. In the face of the security threats from terrorism and regional instability, Labor will strengthen Australia's defences and increase our international engagement, in order to build a more secure Australian future.

6 Labor confronts these challenges of the future with confidence in our resilience as Australians, the relevance of our enduring values, and our collective resolve to work together towards the common good.

Australian Labor's foundations

7 Australia is a nation of remarkable achievements. We are the first people in history to have voted a nation into existence—a nation created in peace, not in war. We are one of the oldest parliamentary democracies in the world. Our parliament has a proud history of leading the world in social reforms like reasonable working hours, the right of women to vote, a fair wage, an independent umpire for industrial disputes, compensation for injured workers, and provision of the age and widow's pensions. Since its early convict days, Australia has grown with waves of arrivals from all corners of the globe, each making unique contributions to our national identity. Despite its small population, Australia has played a significant role for more than a century in fighting the forces of oppression, injustice and tyranny, supporting international efforts in favour of peace, freedom and the alleviation of suffering. And in more recent decades, Australia has begun to address the great injustices done to its Indigenous people, including through the apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008.

8 The Australian Labor Party has played a major role in achieving these great social advances and building the modern Australian nation. The Labor Party grew out of a collective struggle for better living and working conditions in the late 19th century, a struggle that delivered many milestones of

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social progress such as the establishment of basic rights for working people in the early 20th

century, the living wage, the age pension, unemployment benefits and compensation for people injured at work. Inspired by enduring Labor values, in government Labor has continued implementing great reforms throughout the nation's history—from the expansion of higher education and the creation of Medicare, to the opening up of the Australian economy to the world in the late 20th century. In government, Labor embraces this great tradition of reform and national renewal—to tackle the challenges of a new era, while holding steadfast to the enduring Labor values that have served the nation so well in the past.

9 Labor is a social democratic party that believes in the unique and positive role that can be played by government in a market economy. Government can play an important role in restoring stability when financial systems are at risk, where there is market failure, and in a time of economic downturn where there is a need to support jobs and economic growth. Only governments can ensure the universal provision of quality health care, education and a social safety net; implement national security measures and plan national infrastructure needs; and implement legislation to protect the natural environment and create a legal framework for competitive markets. In these and other areas, government involvement achieves better outcomes for all Australians.

10 Labor is committed to its future partnership with the trade union movement. The Australian Labor Party was born out of the trade union movement and its struggle for a secure, decent and dignified life for working people. In partnership with the labour movement, Labor governments in the past have achieved great things for working Australians. Labor is committed to protecting and advancing the rights of working families, including their rights to join trade unions, to organise in the workplace, to bargain collectively and to exercise their right to strike. The trade union movement is one of the largest and most representative community movements in Australia, representing millions of Australians and their families. Our partnership with the trade union movement remains crucial for Australia's future. We believe a strong trade union movement is not only good for delivering more cooperative workplaces, but it can also assist in strengthening our goals of a more equitable and democratic Australia. In government, Labor is committed to a constructive partnership with the trade union movement to build a stronger and fairer Australia.

11 Labor's commitment to a fair go for everyone is at the foundation of our approach to government.

Fairness has been grafted into the Australian soul throughout the past century, in large part because of the sustained efforts of the Australian labour movement. Fairness is a guiding principle for Labor in government, whether we are dealing with Australians' rights at work, access to educational opportunities and health care, our tax and welfare systems, or many other aspects of government policy. In recent years, our nation's long-standing belief in the fair go has been under pressure from many directions. Labor believes that sustaining our commitment to fairness will best ensure that Australia meets our future challenges successfully.

12 Labor believes that one of the most important roles of government is to support Australian families.

Labor believes that the family is the fundamental group unit of society, and that its economic security is of paramount importance. For most people, family is central to personal well-being.

Families provide individuals with their most important and enduring relationships, fulfilling many of their deepest needs. Families need to be supported in their efforts to balance the pressures of work and family life. A fair and flexible industrial relations system can help working families to cope with these pressures, such as by ensuring reasonable working hours, proper remuneration for their work and the opportunity for families to spend holiday time together. Family life can also be strengthened by ensuring universal access to first rate health services, educational opportunities, modern infrastructure and community services.

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Our priorities in government

Addressing market failures 13 Labor values the great strengths of open, informed and competitive markets but believes that clear rules are necessary for markets to function fairly and efficiently. The global financial crisis has demonstrated the effects of excessive speculation, unrestrained greed and unchecked market

forces. This crisis has also called into question many of the assumptions that have underpinned the regulatory frameworks that clearly failed to prevent a crisis that risked the stability of the entire global financial system. Hundreds of millions of people across the world have suffered severely from the economic and social consequences of these excesses.

14 Labor does not believe that a fair and prosperous nation can be built by simply allowing individual self-interest to be given free rein, and we do not believe that the income distribution generated by markets should be regarded as natural or inherently just. Labor believes in the need for properly regulated markets to balance private incentive with public responsibility, reflect the social obligations of all participants in a market economy, manage risk and foster productive investment.

Economic recovery and job creation

15 Labor believes that governments should use the instruments of economic policy to actively support economic growth and foster job creation during times of economic downturn. Labor is committed to supporting jobs, businesses and the Australian community through tough conditions caused by the global recession. Labor is determined not to allow a generation of young Australians to be condemned to long-term unemployment. Labor is committed to measures that help individuals who lose their jobs to retrain, to up skill and to increase their readiness for future employment, in order to avoid the long-term social and economic costs of unemployment. Labor is also committed to strengthening the economy through nation-building public investments that can lift long-term productivity growth.

Laying foundations for long-term prosperity

16 Labor is committed to building a modern economy that competes successfully in global markets for agriculture, resources, manufacturing and services. We believe that in the long-term, building a modern, internationally competitive economy is the best way of creating quality jobs and protecting the living standards of all Australians. By building long-term prosperity we can also ensure that our nation is able to sustain high quality public services and a generous safety net for those in need.

Building long-term prosperity involves lifting growth and productivity through:

• Investing in an education revolution that lifts the quantum of investment and the quality of outcomes in our education system.

• Building advanced infrastructure such as transport and communications networks.

• Fostering innovation, research and creativity in Australian businesses.

• Ongoing reform of the Australian Federation and the financial relationship between Commonwealth and state and territory governments.

• Supporting new Australian exporters.

• Establishing modern regulatory frameworks for business.

• Tackling disadvantage and generating social inclusion.

Fairness

17 Labor believes that all people are created equal in their entitlement to dignity and respect. We cannot afford to waste the talent or potential of any Australian. For Labor, government has a critical role in ensuring:

• Respect for every person's rights at work.

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• Equal opportunity and protection from unfair discrimination.

• Sufficient basic income and assets to provide financial security and quality of life for all Australians.

• Income assistance during periods of unemployment, and support for training and re-entry to the workforce.

• Special support for those with particular needs (including Indigenous Australians, women, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, those who are homeless, people with disabilities, older Australians and people with mental illness).

• Universal social rights including the opportunity for fulfilling employment, quality education, universal health care and access to affordable housing.

• A more equitable distribution of wealth and income.

Fairness and flexibility at work

18 Labor believes in fairness at work as a fundamental Australian value. Work is one of the most important parts of our lives, which besides its contribution to economic output also contributes to personal financial security, identity and a sense of community. Fairness at work includes:

• A strong safety net of minimum conditions.

• The right to bargain collectively for decent wages and conditions.

• Access to an independent industrial umpire to ensure fair wages and conditions and help resolve disputes.

• The right to join a union and be represented by a union.

• Protection from unfair dismissal.

Security

19 Governments have a fundamental obligation to safeguard national security as well as protecting the security of individuals, communities and the environment. Past Labor governments led Australia through times of war and danger, successfully defending our security when even the survival of our democratic nation was at risk. Australia once again faces grave security threats, including from terrorism, regional instability and accelerating climate change. These threats must be confronted without resort to the manipulation of fear and political exploitation. In response to these threats Labor is committed to increased engagement in our region and ensuring that our defence forces, police and emergency services are equipped to meet the new challenges. Labor is opposed to the growth of unilateralism and the undermining of the United Nations. Labor is committed to promoting peace on an international and regional basis.

Sustainability

20 Labor believes that our commitment to social justice extends to those of future generations. As a matter of intergenerational justice, we must consider how the decisions we make today will impact on future generations. Labor's approach to the economy, the environment, international relations and our communities will reflect this responsibility. In particular, the interests of future generations must be taken into account in our response to the threat of climate change—the greatest moral challenge of our age. Labor will manage our natural heritage so future generations can experience the rich diversity we have inherited, in particular acting to halt the devastating and permanent impacts of extinction.

Opportunity

21 Labor is committed to giving all Australians the opportunity to achieve their potential and contribute to their community:

• To give every Australian the best educational opportunities, from early childhood education through school to vocational and technical education, and to university and beyond.

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• To help individuals build family life and advance their living standards and quality of life.

• To gain access to employment, education, housing, health care, welfare services, information technology, culture and recreation, and to exercise their legal rights.

• To participate constructively in the life of the nation and the communities within it.

Compassion

22 Labor believes in social justice and social inclusion. As a nation, our true greatness lies in our treatment of those among us who are most marginalised. We believe in a society that protects and supports those who face difficulties and disadvantage whether because of disability, illness, old age, misfortune or other factors that make it hard for a person to cope. Labor holds to its tradition of reaching out, embracing, protecting and supporting those in need—as well as supporting those who help people in need. Labor is committed to encouraging a spirit of community service in which as Australians we do not just look after ourselves, but always look beyond ourselves to how we can help and serve those less fortunate than ourselves, at home or abroad.

Human rights

23 Labor is committed to a just and tolerant society which fully protects the rights and freedoms of all people in Australia. Labor supports the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international treaties to which Australia is a signatory. This includes the fundamental political and civil rights of everyone to freedom of conscience, expression and association, and to due process of law. We respect basic human rights such as access to education, access to adequate health care and the right to reasonable working conditions. Labor supports the introduction into Australian domestic law of the rights that are recognised and protected in the international treaties, conventions and protocols of which Australia is a signatory. In introducing these rights, Labor will ensure that existing rights are also protected.

Responsibility

24 Labor believes that for all Australian citizens, rights must be accompanied by responsibilities. Those responsibilities must be exercised:

• By individuals, toward each other and the community which supports them.

• By social and economic groups and organisations, toward each other and the wider community.

• By governments, toward their own people, other governments and the wider international community.

• By all of us, towards our environment and future generations.

Democracy and freedom

25 Labor values the freedom of all people to hold whatever beliefs they choose while respecting those of others, and the freedom to express those beliefs without fear or favour. Labor is committed to the essential democratic principle that every person should have the right to a say, directly or indirectly, in the decisions that affect his or her life. We are committed to advancing new ways of governing that foster democratic participation including:

• Democratic participation in the choice of governments.

• The promotion of new technologies that foster community involvement in decision making and public debate.

• The opportunity for representation in the workplace.

• The opportunity for a voice in planning, the environment, the delivery of public services and other aspects of community life.

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Community

26 As a nation we are at our best when we are working together for the common good. Labor believes that governments can play an important role in building stronger relationships at each level of our society.

• Within Australia, Labor is committed to a society in which every person is able to actively and productively participate in the life of the community, and the whole community responds sensitively to individual needs.

• Labor is committed to the strong role played by community organisations in both helping individuals in need and in building a sense of community.

• Labor is committed to a community that embraces cultural diversity—a society that celebrates diversity and respects both the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.

• Labor is committed to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in life expectancy, health and education outcomes. We believe that reconciliation is crucial to our capacity to face the world as a united, peaceful and just nation.

International engagement

27 Labor believes that Australia's national interests are best protected and advanced by promoting peace and cooperation rather than confrontation and conflict. This includes a commitment to:

• International forums such as the United Nations.

• Our historic alliance with the United States.

• Cooperative international efforts to build a stronger and more stable global economy.

• Our role in ensuring peace and stability in our own region.

• Our support of international efforts to confront major global challenges such as climate change and extreme poverty.

• encourage cross cultural and cross national engagement with our neighbours and the global community.

Australia's future

28 Labor embraces Australia's future with optimism. We confront major long-term challenges to our economy, our environment and our security. But however difficult the circumstances Australia faces, we are a resilient people. We know to reach out to others who are in need in our community.

Adversity reminds us that we are all in this together, and that we can emerge stronger from the challenges that we confront.

29 We know that the truest measure of a society is the care it provides for those most in need, and the opportunity it provides for every person to realise his or her full potential. From the birth of the Australian nation, our character has been defined by our belief in the fair go for everyone—an egalitarian spirit that says all Australians are equal, no matter their background or their social standing. Since the founding of our nation, we have sought to make Australia the best place in the world for working people to raise a family. Those values and aspirations are more important now than ever before.

30 We reject the pessimistic views of some who say that to be a competitive economy we must sacrifice fairness and compassion, that to protect jobs we must ignore climate change, or that our national security requires us to sacrifice basic democratic principles. These are false choices.

Instead, we believe that the purpose for building a strong, competitive economy is to build a fairer society for all Australians. We recognise climate change not just as a threat, but as an opportunity to develop the clean energy industries of the future. So too, a principled response to security threats at home and abroad will strengthen Australia's long-term security.

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31 Australia's Labor Government is determined to get on with the job—to confront long-term

challenges that have been neglected; to support Australians through tough economic times; to invest in training a new generation of Australians for the jobs of the future; to ensure fairness in our workplaces; to invest in nation-building infrastructure that lays a platform for future growth; to make Australia competitive again, laying the foundations for long-term prosperity. Only a Labor Government can build Australia's identity as a diverse and united multicultural nation, with the foundation of our enduring values, and united with a common hope for our future.

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Chapter 2: Securing our future with

responsible economic management 1 Australians need a government that will take action to support them through tough economic times, and that will build for the nation's long-term future.

2 Only a Labor Government can steer Australia through the stormy waters of the global recession and ensure Australia emerges stronger, more resilient and better equipped to compete in the global economy of the 21st century.

3 Just as past generations of Australians trusted Labor to support them through periods of danger, war and global downturn, Labor today is the party that will support Australians' jobs, businesses and economic growth through a global crisis that is not of our own making.

4 Labor believes that in uncertain times, government must play an active role in strengthening the economy, and making responsible investments that will help lift long-term productivity and create the jobs and businesses of the future.

Dealing with the legacy of the Liberals' neglect

5 Despite enjoying the good fortune of the strongest global economic conditions in more than thirty years, the Liberal Party squandered the boom years and failed to invest in Australia's future prosperity and growth.

6 Instead of investing in people so that Australia could compete against other economies on the basis of the skills and innovation of our workforce, the Liberal Party gave employers the power to cut the wages and conditions of working Australians through the WorkChoices industrial relations laws.

7 Instead of investing in our health and hospitals system, they took money away from public hospitals and blamed state and territory governments for the growing strains in the health care system.

8 Instead of fostering innovation and the competitive export industries of the future, the Liberal Party coasted through the boom years. They failed to prepare for future prosperity beyond the mining boom and left Australia with the highest current account deficit in our history and foreign debt levels that tripled during the Liberals' 12 years in office.

9 Instead of investing in building advanced infrastructure in areas such as transport, broadband and water, they simply played the blame game and said infrastructure was not their responsibility.

10 As other nations poured billions of dollars into building the renewable energy and low carbon industries of the future, the Liberal Party stayed in denial about the serious threat of climate change.

Labor's principles: responsible economic management

in the interests of all Australians 11 Labor is committed to managing the economy in the interests of working families and all Australians. Labor believes this is best achieved by pursuing policies that maintain a sustainable rate of economic growth, support job creation, keep inflation and interest rates as low as possible,

and enhance the productive capacity of the economy, while maintaining strong public finances.

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12 Labor is committed to the objective of lifting workforce participation and achieving full employment,

meaning that anyone who wants a job can find one within a reasonable time. Job security is the key to personal and social well-being, to stable family life and strong communities. In particular Labor is committed to maximising the opportunity for Australians to be employed in secure, high-wage, high-skill jobs.

13 Labor believes that government plays an important role in the economy, both in short and long term economic management and in establishing a framework of rules that enhance stability, fairness and certainty.

14 Labor believes that public finances should be managed responsibly, and that the budget should be kept in surplus on average over the course of the economic cycle.

15 Labor believes that open markets, supported by a framework of pro-competitive rules, often provide the best incentives for innovation, enterprise, investment and hard work, and that Australia's openness to the global economy since the 1980s has made Australia a more competitive, productive and prosperous nation.

16 Labor also believes that markets sometimes fail, and that governments have a responsibility to address market failure through the use of a full range of government policy instruments including expenditure, taxation, regulation and the provision of goods and service. Labor understands that market mechanisms are not always the best way to create the most equitable and efficient distribution of power, wealth and services.

17 Labor believes strong regulatory frameworks in both the global economy and the Australian economy are important to ensure that markets operate with transparency and openness, and to prevent and expose misconduct. Strong regulatory frameworks are also necessary to ensure that markets adhere to broader goals of social responsibility in relation to the environment, the community and the rights of employees.

18 The benefits that flow from economic growth and wealth creation should be available to everyone in the community, allowing all to share in the benefits of growth through a fair tax system, quality public services, equal access to educational opportunities, and a decent social safety net. Labor is committed to:

• Building a society where no one is left to live in poverty.

• Ensuring all Australians have the opportunity to enjoy a reasonable standard of living sufficient to enable them and their families to live with dignity.

• Building a fairer Australia with a more equitable distribution of assets, income and employment.

• Giving all Australian the opportunity to be educated, trained and job ready throughout their working lives.

• Improving financial incentives for workforce participation by undertaking ongoing taxation and welfare reforms, alongside training and industry policies, and increasing the affordability and supply of quality childcare.

• Labor will adopt an integrated strategy to lift workforce participation levels. Lifting workforce participation is good for productivity and living standards and is an essential response to the ageing population. Labor's education and training, welfare, taxation and industry policies will promote increased workforce participation.

• Supporting and protecting those unable to work.

• Promoting economic growth in regional and rural Australia.

19 Labor believes in the importance of direct and indirect government measures to foster investment in long-term drivers of productivity growth including education and skills, infrastructure, innovation and making the transition to becoming a low carbon economy.

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20 Labor believes that responding to climate change and making the transition to a low carbon

pollution economy is one of the greatest long-term economic challenges for all nations, and that just as Australia is among those with the most to lose from climate change, Australia also has the potential to benefit substantially from investing in the low carbon industries of the future.

Monetary policy framework

21 Labor is committed to maximising economic growth, consistent with maintaining low and stable inflation.

22 Labor is committed to the independence of the Reserve Bank and expects it will fulfil each of its charter objectives of stability, employment and general economic welfare.

23 Labor fully supports the independent conduct of monetary policy by the Reserve Bank and its medium term inflation target of an average of 2 to 3 per cent over the course of the economic cycle.

24 Labor is committed to investing in the long-term drivers of growth and productivity, so we can maintain growth with low inflation, beyond the global crisis and into the future. By addressing supply-side pressures and increasing the productive capacity of the economy, inflation and interest rates can remain lower over the longer term.

Strengthening the economy during a global downturn

25 As an open economy Australia is inevitably affected by changes in the global economic cycle, such as the deep global economic recession which has brought rising unemployment and business failures throughout the world.

26 Labor believes governments have a responsibility in these conditions to cushion the impacts of the global recession on families and businesses, by adopting expansionary economic policy settings.

27 Both fiscal and monetary policies have important roles to play in supporting economic growth and countering the impact of the global downturn.

28 Labor is committed to using fiscal policy where necessary as an effective policy to counter an economic downturn and help to restore economic growth.

29 Labor responded to the early stages of the global recession with an Economic Security Strategy and then with a Nation Building and Jobs Plan, to support jobs and growth during the global recession, while also making important long-term investments in modernising schools, building social housing, providing for local community infrastructure and insulating homes.

30 Labor's investment in nation building infrastructure will support jobs and help Australia on the road to economic recovery, with the largest single investment in essential infrastructure in the nation's history.

31 By building and repairing our roads, rail and transport infrastructure and investing in our schools, universities and TAFEs, Labor is laying foundations for a more competitive, efficient and productive economy in the future.

32 By investing in innovation, research and development as well as providing assistance for structural adjustment and promotion of Australian industry, Labor is laying foundations for improved export growth and job creation over the medium-term, particularly in elaborately transformed manufacturing and service exports.

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Responsible economic management

33 Labor is committed to keeping government finances strong and government debt as low as possible, while also taking action to support jobs and growth during the global recession and lay foundations for future prosperity.

34 Labor is committed to sound public finances by adhering to a medium-term fiscal strategy that keeps the budget in surplus on average over the economic cycle.

35 This means operating temporary budget deficits during periods of economic downturn, and strong surpluses during periods where growth is above the long-term trend.

36 In a time of global recession, the most responsible course of action is to support the economy and allow a temporary budget deficit, reflecting both the variations in revenue and expenditure that are naturally associated with slower growth, and the effect of policy measures to support economic stability.

37 Labor will take action to return the budget to surplus as the economy recovers by restricting growth in spending and allowing tax receipts to recover naturally as the economy grows.

38 Labor is committed to a fair and sustainable tax system that provides incentive for all Australians to work and undertake productive enterprise while guaranteeing adequate revenue to provide quality public services.

39 Labor recognises the design of tax policies can have a significant impact on economic growth. Tax policy is a major tool that can assist in promoting economic growth.

40 Public confidence in Australia's tax system is dependent upon a simple and transparent tax system where everyone pays their fair share of tax.

41 Labor will assess our personal and business tax systems following the conclusion of the Australia's Future Tax System Review and will consider necessary reforms essential for improving the sustainability and fairness of the system and enhancing our global competitiveness.

42 Future tax reforms should:

• Ensure there is a sound revenue base for investment in social and economic infrastructure and quality public services.

• Remove barriers to investment and workforce participation.

• Enhance Australian businesses and industries capacity to successfully integrate into the global economy, most notably Australian companies winning places in global supply chains.

• Simplify the tax system for individuals and businesses whilst tackling avoidance activity.

• Preserve and enhance a progressive and fair tax system, where all Australians pay their fair share.

• Provide support to families.

• Seek to minimise the impact of high effective marginal tax rates, particularly on those moving from welfare to work or the second income earners in low to middle income families.

• Aim to enhance allocative efficiency by not distorting investment and consumption decisions.

• Ensure that executives and the wealthy pay a fairer share of tax and take a series of measures in response to the current inquiry into executive remuneration to curb excessive executive salaries and payouts

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A globally competitive Australia

43 Labor believes Australia's long-term prosperity depends on competing successfully in global markets. This requires Australia to produce high quality goods and services that the world wants to buy, as well as working hard to remove barriers to overseas markets.

44 The structural shifts in the global economy create both challenges and significant long-term opportunities for Australia. While the expansion of the mining industry and the period of the mining boom brought great wealth to Australia, we cannot expect the mining sector to shoulder the burden of restoring strong export growth.

45 Australia has the potential to achieve substantial future export growth in global markets including services industries such as education, tourism and professional services; advanced manufacturing; food processing and low carbon industries such as renewable energy technologies.

46 Labor will work to ensure that major policy settings like skills development and training, infrastructure planning, tax and regulation frameworks do not hold businesses back from achieving their full potential in global markets.

47 Labor is committed to a twin pillars approach to trade policy—through reform behind the border to make the Australian economy competitive again, and through trade reform to reduce barriers at the border, so we can take advantage of the export competitiveness of Australian goods and services.

Lifting Australia's international competitiveness

48 Labor will secure a solid foundation for Australia's future economic prosperity by ensuring we have the domestic policy settings to compete on the global stage.

49 Labor recognises that Australia's trade success depends on its international competitiveness and that trade policy is integrally linked to our domestic economic performance.

50 Labor is committed to boosting Australia's international competitiveness, through:

• Rebuilding the skills of our workforce—the skills relevant to Australian export industries.

• Lifting our innovation, research and development performance.

• Developing the skills of the future by investing in education and training.

• Building Australia's national infrastructure and removing structural impediments to trade.

• Improving the effectiveness of our trade and investment promotion efforts.

• Better coordinating federal and state government efforts on trade and investment promotion.

• Rebuilding Australia's export culture.

51 Labor will ensure that lifting international competitiveness will be a consistent objective of economic policy.

52 Labor is committed to working collaboratively at all levels of government to ensure we achieve this goal, including through federal-state efforts on trade policy through the establishment of the COAG Ministerial Council on International Trade, which was established in 2008.

Trade policy

53 Australia is committed to building on its long record as an advocate for an open global trading system, because reducing global trade barriers boosts our economic growth, creates more competitive industries and provides benefits to consumers.

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54 Labor is committed to ensuring that the benefits of global economic growth are shared—both within

Australia and between countries. Australia has directly benefited from our history of trade liberalisation, with those benefits enhanced by domestic measures to address the economic, social and regional effects of structural change in our economy.

55 Labor will continue to pursue trade liberalisation through bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations. Labor is committed to:

• The primacy of the multilateral trading system, and to the principles of multilateralism in trade policy. We support the rules-based system and the machinery of trade reform underpinned by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Labor is committed to the peaceful resolution of trade disputes in the WTO, through a system of transparent, fair and enforceable rules.

• Securing a successful conclusion to the Doha Round of world trade talks. Labor will continue to work for a Doha outcome that brings greater certainty to the international trading system and makes real progress for free trade, especially for developing economies.

• Providing leadership to the Cairns Group (established under a Labor Government in 1986) in reducing world agricultural subsidies and protection.

• Securing substantial reductions in industrial tariffs in other markets. Labor is committed to securing substantial new market openings overseas for Australia's fast-growing services export sector.

56 Labor is committed to comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements where they support Australia's national economic interests and support the multilateral trading system. Labor will also pursue FTAs that are consistent with our national social and economic objectives.

57 Australia's economic future lies principally with the Asia-Pacific region. Over half of our trade is with nations in the Asia-Pacific. Labor is committed to building on these relationships in Australia's neighbourhood.

58 Labor supports trade and investment liberalisation through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. APEC, established by Labor in 1989, is pivotal to increasing trade and investment in our region.

59 Labor will ensure APEC is a driver of economic integration in our region and will take an active and strategic approach to APEC's long-term role in the region's economic architecture.

60 Labor believes that APEC has a key role to play in promoting economic reform behind the border throughout the Asia-Pacific region and will promote APEC efforts in this area. Labor will also endeavour to strengthen the APEC forum's role in mobilising support for the Doha Round.

61 Labor is committed to ensuring regional and bilateral agreements reinforce and support the multilateral trading system. Labor will support regional approaches to trade reform wherever possible, consistent with those principles.

62 Australia must pursue our trading interests in other important markets, including in Europe and the United States, and seize opportunities in emerging economies around the globe.

63 Labor recognises the growing importance of China and India as markets for Australian exports, including our services exports. Labor believes we must diversify our export base to China and India and develop export policies to compete effectively.

Trade, development and wider policy goals

64 Labor is committed to trade policies that are consistent with Australian values, community views and the interests of developing countries.

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65 Labor believes a rules-based system underpinned by core labour standards provides a framework

for fairness and equity and is the most effective means to ensure governments around the world do not resort to unsustainable protectionism.

66 Labor will work towards the development of a global trading system for the 21st century that is underpinned by equity and transparency.

67 Labor is committed to sustaining a new depth of transparency into the process of entering trade agreements, by providing full community consultation prior to entering into new trade agreements.

Labor will:

• Ensure that on commencing negotiations for bilateral or regional free trade agreements, a document is tabled in both Houses of parliament setting out the Labor Government's priorities and objectives, including independent assessments of the costs and benefits of any proposals that may be negotiated. This assessment should consider the economic, employment, regional, social, cultural, regulatory and environmental impacts which are expected to arise.

• Ensure that once the negotiation proposal is complete, a package will be tabled including the proposed treaty together with any legislation required to implement the treaty domestically.

• Ensure the positions that a Labor Government takes at the WTO and developments within the WTO are regularly reported to parliament through the Joint Standing Committee on Trade.

• Ensure that all Australian submissions and relevant materials to FTAs and the WTO are made public unless there are genuine commercial-in-confidence reasons, or disclosure will damage our national interest.

• Review all existing government consultative mechanisms and reconstituting them to ensure they are representative of business, unions, environmental and community interests.

• Review the composition of governmental delegations to WTO ministerial meetings, so that they include appropriate representation from business, small business, unions and non-government organisations.

• Advance rule changes within the WTO to ensure immediate publication of dispute settlement decisions, together with a short, plain language explanation of the decision.

68 Labor supports current WTO rules that allow all nations to determine for themselves the appropriate public/private mix in their health, education, water and welfare sectors, to determine the distribution of government funding within these sectors, and to protect their cultural industries.

69 Labor will vigorously oppose any WTO rules, interpretations or proposals that would require Australia to privatise its health, education and welfare sectors, reduce government rights to determine the distribution of government funding within these sectors, or which would require us to remove protection of our cultural industries. Labor will oppose attempts to privatise water services under WTO rules. As part of Australia's forward trade objectives Labor believes that Australian, state, and local governments should retain the flexibility to implement effective policies to encourage industry development, research and development, regional development and appropriate environmental, employment and procurement standards.

70 Labor supports the maintenance of anti-dumping measures. Anti-dumping legislation ensures that overseas exporters do not hurt our industry by selling their products in Australia at a lower price than they charge in their home markets.

71 Labor notes concerns expressed about competitiveness in carbon leakage and is addressing these issues through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which provides assistance to households and industry to a low carbon economy. Australia will continue to press for appropriate verification mechanisms in international agreements on climate change. Action that Australia and other countries take to address climate change must be consistent with maintaining an open and transparent international trading system and reinforce the importance of maintaining mutually supportive trade, industry and environment policies.

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72 Labor will not allow trade agreements to limit the capacity of the Australian Government to

determine immigration policies which promote education and training, permanent rather than temporary migration, local employment and fair employment standards. Labor will ensure that future trade agreements do not prevent Australia effectively regulating temporary migration. Labor will ensure trade agreements promote the recruitment of labour locally, and protect the wages and conditions of local workers.

73 Labor recognises that trade is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to promote economic growth in developing countries. We will work to ensure that nations and their communities in our region and throughout the world benefit from open markets and share in global growth. We will promote policies to achieve this in the WTO, World Bank, IMF, ILO and other international forums.

74 Labor acknowledges the benefit of economic growth in developing countries, while also noting that many developing economies have not seen the benefits of economic growth equitably. Through the creation of jobs, equitable economic growth can free people from hunger and poverty, provide access to economic independence for individuals and support meaningful basic human rights. At the same time economic growth in developing countries brings new markets for Australian exporters, contributing to creating jobs in our country and strengthening our economy.

75 Labor believes that the development assistance Australia provides under the rubric of aid-for-trade should be targeted to support developing countries in establishing the skills, infrastructure, regulatory and investment policies that will support sustainable growth in developing countries.

76 Labor is committed to the delivery of practical trade-related capacity building programs that improve the capacity of developing nations to export, raise their international competitiveness, and engage with the global economy.

77 Labor recognises that economic growth and prosperity arising from increased international trade brings with it the responsibility to promote higher labour and environmental standards for Australia and internationally. Labor will support greater cooperation between the secretariats of the WTO and the ILO on the issue of trade and labour standards.

78 Labor supports the incorporation of core labour standards in all international trade agreements.

Labor will outlaw the importation into Australia of goods or services produced with forced or prison labour. Labor will work actively through the WTO and other international trade organisations to combat and overcome the scourges of forced, prison or child labour.

79 Labor is fully committed to the goal of sustainable development. Labor will work towards the removal of environmentally damaging subsidies, and promote mechanisms which can reconcile the interests of environmental protection and open markets.

80 Labor notes the important role and responsibility we have at the Asian Development Bank and supports the inclusion of core labour standards in ADB decision-making including a role monitoring mechanism at the ADB.

Improving corporate regulation for a stronger economy

81 Labor believes in robust corporate regulation as a foundation for investor confidence and sustainable economic growth. Further, Labor believes that robust corporate regulation is an essential means of protecting employees' entitlements.

82 Labor supports Australia's strong system of financial regulation overseen by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority and the Reserve Bank of Australia, and will continue to ensure that Australia's regulators are adequately resourced to continue their work.

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83 In response to matters highlighted by the global financial crisis, Labor will update financial

regulation to help ensure properly functioning markets.

84 Labor is committed to establishing a single, standard and uniform national regulatory structure for the regulation and supervision of all financial products and their distribution, including consumer credit.

85 Labor will include new responsible lending provisions in its national regulatory framework for financial products.

86 Labor will improve regulation around short selling, consumer dispute and compensation arrangements and will put in place simplified, easy to understand, cost effective disclosure regimes and rating agencies.

87 Under Labor, the Australian Government will be a strong voice in international efforts to address weaknesses in the regulatory and supervisory framework for the global economy to help ensure greater future stability in the global economy.

88 Transparency, accountability and disclosure are at the core of good corporate governance. Labor will ensure that obligations on companies and their officers result in comprehensive and comprehensible disclosures for shareholders and company stakeholders, and ensure appropriate accountability of company officers.

89 Labor will continue to improve corporate governance practices, the Corporations Act and related legislation to ensure that:

• Performance-based executive remuneration arrangements are genuinely linked to long-term performance and consideration of the role of the remuneration consultancy industry in the setting of executive remuneration.

• Companies fully disclose the remuneration, including options, termination payments, non- recourse loans and equity value protection schemes, of directors and senior management in a comprehensive and comprehensible manner and are accountable to shareholders.

• Companies use their general meetings to appropriately communicate with shareholders • Shareholders retain the ability to call an extraordinary general meeting of a company and shareholders and institutional investors exercise their voting rights appropriately and regularly.

• Appropriate penalties are imposed for breaches of the corporations law, in particular for insider trading and trading while insolvent.

• The election of directors of listed public companies is transparent and direct voting of proxies is encouraged.

• Shareholders are informed about the directors' relationships with the company and other directors when standing for election.

• Companies continue to appoint independent directors to the board of directors.

• The independence of audit and auditors is maintained.

• Not-for-profit organisations improve their governance arrangements and disclosure.

• Disclosure requirements for transactions between related parties are strengthened.

• ASIC and the Director of Public Prosecutions regularly review their operations to ensure thorough management of law enforcement and prosecutions.

• Corporate governance addresses responsibility to employees, the environment and the community and corporate regulate removes impediments to acting in a socially responsible manner.

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Chapter 3: Building a 21st century

economy 1 Investment in the long term drivers of productivity, innovation and competitiveness is crucial to building a 21st century economy. Australia cannot rely on the good fortune of our resource wealth to sustain our prosperity. Building future prosperity requires us to develop a highly skilled workforce

and advanced infrastructure, to support research and innovation, and to create a seamless national economy. In a large nation with a relatively small population base such as Australia, the government plays an important role in ensuring that we have the jobs, skills, infrastructure and industries that can keep Australia strong.

2 Labor has always been the party committed to nation building and investment in the productive economic assets of our community and in our people through education, skills and higher learning and social inclusion.

3 Building a 21st century economy based on these principles is the best way for Australia to respond to the economic shock waves caused by the global financial crisis, and ensure that we strengthen our economy for the long-term, providing the jobs of the future in the industries of the future.

The Liberal legacy: a failure to invest, a failure to plan for

the future 4 The Liberal Party neglected Australia's long-term prosperity by failing to invest in the long-term drivers of productivity and competitiveness in the global economy.

5 In government, the Liberals lacked any vision for building an economy that could succeed in the competitive, value-added, innovation-driven global markets of the future.

6 Instead of seizing the opportunities created by a once-in-a-lifetime mining boom, they squandered the boom years.

7 As a result, Australia was left exposed to a downturn in terms of trade, and ill-prepared for the challenges of competing in a much tougher global economic environment.

8 The Liberals' 12 years of inaction and neglect left Australia with productivity growth in long term decline, huge infrastructure bottlenecks, severe skills shortages and a research and innovation system that has fallen well behind our competitors.

• The failure to invest in advanced infrastructure left Australia with a backlog of tens of billions of dollars of major infrastructure projects and an economy less competitive than many trading partners.

• The Liberals refused to accept the responsibility of the Australian Government to provide national leadership in nation-building infrastructure development.

• Instead of investing in infrastructure for long-term economic and social gains, the Liberals used infrastructure spending for short-term political purposes, opportunistically funding infrastructure projects in Coalition-held seats.

• The Liberals' failure to invest in education and training resulted in Australia's investment in education falling behind while other nations moved ahead.

• The Liberal Party failed to invest in research and innovation, leaving it solely to market forces allowing Commonwealth spending on research as a share of GDP to decline.

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• After a long period of double-digit annual growth in manufactured exports under the Hawke and

Keating Governments, the Liberals oversaw a long period of decline as the share of manufacturing exports shrank and manufacturing jobs went offshore.

9 After failing to invest in the skills and know-how of the workforce or in innovation and advanced infrastructure for more than a decade, the Liberals' only solution to make Australia competitive was to give employers the power to cut the wages and conditions of Australian workers and take away their job security through the WorkChoices industrial relations laws.

Labor's principles

10 Labor is committed to building a modern economy that generates the high-skilled, high-paying jobs of the future—an innovative economy that builds on its strengths and successfully competes in global markets.

11 Labor believes that government has a responsibility to make long-term investments in the drivers of productivity and competitiveness—in particular, the skills of the Australian workforce, advanced infrastructure, research and development and in the low carbon industries of the future.

12 Labor believes the national government has a responsibility to provide leadership in the planning and delivery of national infrastructure, including transport, water and communications networks.

Building world-class infrastructure directly creates jobs during its construction phase, provides employment in ongoing management of infrastructure assets and services, and creates jobs in the broader economy by unblocking bottlenecks in the supply of goods and services.

13 Labor will support and foster innovation and creativity across the whole Australian economy.

Investing in innovation and skills is critical to generating the jobs and businesses of the future.

Labor will use strategic public and private investment in innovation to grow new industries and transform existing ones. Labor's goal is to lift Australian business expenditure on research and development.

14 Labor believes governments have a responsibility to intervene in the economy to address market failure and the worst extremes of capitalism. Governments also have a responsibility to help achieve improved economic, environmental and social outcomes that markets left to themselves will not deliver. Labor will intervene where appropriate to advance broader economic, social and regional objectives.

15 Labor will pursue an activist industry policy to build jobs in all sectors of the economy, including new green industries. Labor recognises the special competitive challenges facing manufacturing and related service industries. A vibrant manufacturing sector is an essential feature of the economy. Governments have an important role in building the competitiveness of industries and firms and increasing their capacity to penetrate markets, gain access to finance, increase employment, innovate, and diversify.

16 Labor supports the continued development of Australia's natural resources through a competitive minerals, resources and energy industry, which can create export oriented jobs.

17 Labor believes that agriculture and fisheries industries will continue to contribute a large share of export revenue and economic activity in regional and rural Australian communities, and that these industries must be supported as they adapt to drought, the impact of climate change and changes in global markets.

18 Labor believes the economy of the 21st century is one where small and medium enterprises will play a key role in driving innovation, job creation and export growth, and Labor strongly supports a vibrant small business sector.

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19 Labor believes that government has a key role to play in infrastructure financing and provision, and

also in providing the forward planning of projects for well-managed private sector investment, and providing a framework through which superannuation funds can make long-term infrastructure investment.

20 Labor supports working in partnership with the private sector in the provision of infrastructure and services where this represents good value to the Australian community.

21 Labor's industrial relations policies will protect workers during tough economic times, while also boosting productivity through a system of workplace relations that promotes harmonious and productive workplaces through bargaining at the enterprise level.

Building 21st century infrastructure

22 Labor believes that infrastructure investment plays a key role in nation building and brings enormous long-term economic and social benefits.

23 In government, Labor has established a long-term policy framework to allow for rational, long-term planning of Australian infrastructure needs. This framework includes identifying, prioritising and redressing inadequacies in Australia's nationally significant infrastructure, as well as undertaking appropriate regulatory reform to ensure efficient use of infrastructure and to remove obstacles to infrastructure planning, financing and delivery.

24 Labor believes that investment in infrastructure can play an important role in generating jobs and economic activity during the global recession, while also providing a foundation for economic recovery.

25 Labor in government will continue to provide the leadership and coordination required to ensure adequate investment is made in Australia's infrastructure, and that infrastructure priorities are delivered.

26 Labor's national infrastructure policies will be shaped by:

• The work of Infrastructure Australia, established under Labor in 2008, which will drive the development of a long term coordinated national approach to infrastructure planning and investment.

• Financing through the Building Australia Fund which will provide an ongoing investment fund for the development of nationally significant infrastructure.

• A new national evidence-based approach to identifying and prioritising nationally significant transport, water, energy and communications infrastructure.

• The development of a pipeline of projects through the National Infrastructure Priority List and National Audit of significant infrastructure.

• The targeting of key areas requiring regulatory and governance reform to improve the utilisation of existing infrastructure.

• The delivery of a National Broadband Network.

27 Labor supports Infrastructure Australia having an ongoing responsibility for maintaining a strategic blueprint for Australia's infrastructure needs and facilitating its implementation, in partnership with all spheres of government, the private sector, the union movement and the community.

28 Infrastructure Australia will continue to develop updated national Infrastructure Priority Lists to assist the public and private sectors to plan future infrastructure investments. Prioritisation will also assist the implementation of regulatory reforms to ensure policy settings are structured to remove barriers to the planning, financing and delivery of infrastructure.

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29 Infrastructure Australia will also provide guidance on the most appropriate procurement method for

infrastructure projects. The most appropriate financing instrument for a project will be determined on a case by case basis ensuring value for money is preserved. This process will include but not be limited to:

• A rigorous and publicly transparent public sector comparator which accurately reflects risks, • allowance for all the costs of different procurement methods; • ensuring that employee pay and conditions are not the differentiating factor between options; • high levels of transparency and accountability.

30 Labor will take an integrated, cross-modal approach to infrastructure, treating our infrastructure as a network rather than a collection of individual projects. This will require aligning, planning, regulation, financing and delivery of infrastructure.

31 Labor will continue to facilitate the development of nationally significant infrastructure utilising the most appropriate financing instruments. It will continue to be necessary for some infrastructure to be jointly procured by government and the private sector.

32 Labor believes that government has a key role to play in infrastructure financing and provision, and also in providing the forward planning of projects for well-managed private sector investment, and providing a framework through which superannuation funds can make long-term infrastructure investment.

33 Labor will work in partnership with the private sector in the provision of infrastructure and services where this represents good value to the Australian community.

34 Labor recognises that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have a legitimate role to play in financing infrastructure. Labor believes that PPP policy and guidelines should be nationally consistent and provide for best practice infrastructure provision, and best practice employment standards.

35 Labor recognises that PPPs will not be the most suitable funding mechanism for many infrastructure projects and that risk should be considered on a case by case basis.

36 Labor believes PPPs should only be used where they represent value for money, and that risk should be allocated to the party best able to manage it.

A national broadband network

37 Labor recognises that high-speed broadband access is crucial for Australia's prosperity and for commercial, education and social links to the world. The availability of high-speed broadband internet access throughout Australia will help enable significant productivity gains, the growth of new businesses and the development of new markets.

38 Labor will build a new, National Broadband Network to transform the Australian economy and create the jobs and businesses of the 21st century.

39 The National Broadband Network will be built in partnership with private sector and will be the single largest nation building infrastructure project in Australia's history.

40 Through the National Broadband Network, Labor in Government will deliver 90 per cent Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) coverage at speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second to consumers. Other areas will be covered through state-of-the-art wireless and satellite technologies, providing speeds of 12 Megabits per second or more.

41 The establishment of the high-speed broadband network will:

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• Provide increased access to health and education services for Australian families,

• Accelerate the digital transformation of the Australian economy by reducing the cost of reaching customers, • Foster the development of the digital content industry, • Reduce barrier to small business formation and growth, • Create new jobs and new pathways for government service delivery.

42 Labor's National Broadband Network will also be the largest reform in telecommunications in two decades, delivering a separation between the infrastructure provider and retail service providers, meaning better and fairer infrastructure access for service providers, greater retail competition, and better services for families and businesses.

43 Labor will support the National Broadband Network with continuing investment in information and communication technology research and development, including through National ICT Australia and the Future Industries component of the Super Science Initiative.

44 The creation of the NBN also provides an opportunity to increase employment opportunities in the communications sector and beyond and to deepen Australia's ICT skills base. Conference recognises, however, that the transition to a new industry structure may create uncertainty for some of those currently employed in the industry. Labor therefore will:

• Ensure that the NBN project and associated regulatory reforms promote jobs and increased employment opportunities, and lead to better conditions and secure entitlements in the telecommunications and ICT industries.

• Require NBN Co to act as a model employer in regard to wages, conditions and training.

• Encourage NBN Co to ensure that its contracting companies adopt employment practices that support secure, full-time and skilled jobs.

• Provide support for training initiatives to ensure Australia has the skills required to build, operate and maintain Next Generation Networks such as the NBN.

• Ensure that such issues are addressed by the Government in the implementation of the NBN policy and that industry has an opportunity to have input into that process.

Developing Australia's cities

45 Labor recognises that Australia relies heavily on the productivity of its cities for national prosperity. The majority of Australia's population and businesses are located in urban areas and our cities are hubs of economic activity that link Australia to the global economy.

46 Labor recognises that rapid growth and development has imposed challenges such as patterns of growth, water supply, urban congestion, climate change and adaptation.

47 Labor believes that there is a distinct role for the national government in leading and coordinating urban development and that the failure to invest in Australia's cities has hindered economic development and undermined social cohesion.

48 Labor believes that safe, clean and efficient public transport in our major cities is critical to addressing the economic, environmental and social problem of urban congestion.

49 Labor will deliver new urban development policies through a Major Cities Unit (MCU), which will bring together a coordinated and integrated approach to urban policy development that can improve the sustainability, liveability and productivity of the major cities in Australia.

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50 Labor will work with and across all spheres of government, the private sector and the community to

improve governance structures and develop integrated long term strategies to better manage land use planning, housing affordability, settlement patterns, climate change, and urban congestion.

Road, rail and aviation infrastructure

51 Labor recognises that all forms of transport have a role to play in moving people and freight, especially within our major cities. It is essential that an efficient road and rail network, supported by a robust public transport system, co-exist in a way that make our cities more sustainable and liveable.

52 Labor understands that rail freight is becoming an increasingly significant factor in Australia's economic and environmental performance. Well planned rail freight can stimulate new business activities, and increase the productivity and competitiveness of our export industries. Rail freight is also critical in minimising the transport sector's greenhouse gas emissions.

53 Labor recognises that better planning and investment in road and rail infrastructure is required to serve freight supply chains and the movement of people, particularly in major cities.

54 Labor believes greater uniformity in national regulatory structures will improve the efficiency and competitiveness of road and rail infrastructure.

55 Labor will provide funding for critical road, rail and freight infrastructure including track upgrades and construction, the early commencement of national road projects, and additional funding for the Black Spot program.

56 Labor will streamline and improve the regulation, operation and development of land transport policy.

57 Labor will continue to pursue nationally agreed road safety reforms through a National Road Safety Council.

58 Labor will develop a truly national transport policy so that freight and services logistics systems are integrated across modes and can operate efficiently and competitively, with only necessary and nationally consistent regulation.

59 Labor will continue to work towards a single national system for each of rail safety regulation and investigation, maritime safety regulation and heavy vehicle regulation.

60 Labor will work with the states and territories, the providers of public transport, to achieve greater use of all forms of public transport, thereby contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and congestion in our major cities.

61 Labor recognises that aviation plays a large part in connecting Australia to the world and linking our towns and cities, as well as servicing the needs of remote and isolated communities. For this reason, Labor is committed to developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the aviation industry.

62 Labor recognises that safety and security are critical for the travelling public, and that investment in well planned airports and a strong domestic market and general aviation sector are crucial for the long-term future of aviation in Australia.

63 Labor supports ownership provisions for Australia's airlines that keep the governance of these airlines in Australia.

64 Labor will develop an integrated Sydney Transport Plan that provides for Sydney's future airport needs. Labor supports a second airport for Sydney to serve the future needs of the region. Labor

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will maintain the cap and curfew at Kingsford Smith Airport and implement the long-term operating

plan maximising take-offs over water.

Shipping and maritime infrastructure

65 Labor recognises that shipping is a key sector in the transport industry and the national economy, and in manufacturing and resource supply chains, with strategic, security, defence, economic and environmental benefits. Labor remains committed to supporting its potential to grow and generate new jobs and economic activity. Labor also recognises the importance of an Australian shipping industry to the development of a maritime skills base required of an exporting and importing nation dependent on shipping and an efficient ports sector.

66 A strong national shipping industry is an essential feature of a globalised island economy.

Accordingly Labor recognises the important role of Government in supporting shipping competitiveness and also supporting the competitiveness of Australia's international shipping opportunity, so Australian shipping can grow market share, gain access to finance, increase employment, innovate and diversify.

67 A strong domestic shipping industry can assist in the alleviation of land transport bottlenecks, infrastructure constraints and environmental impacts, as well as improving national security and providing economic benefits derived from the creation of local employment and the growth of maritime services.

68 Labor believes that Australia needs a consistent national approach to port infrastructure. Our international gateways and supporting supply chains need governance reforms, improved strategic planning, adequate investments in landside infrastructure and terminals, and better coordination in port precinct and land transport planning. Labor will address the key bottlenecks at Australia's major export terminals, which have been identified by Infrastructure Australia.

69 Labor will undertake ongoing harmonisation of shipping policy and regulation. Labor will work towards building a viable and efficient domestic shipping industry, ensuring decent wages and conditions for working Australians, responsible use of single and continuous voyage permits, safety and security in our ports and shipping lanes, a strong regional ports network and a skilled workforce. In particular Labor will have regard to the following principles in building the shipping industry:

• Building the Australian shipping flag in both domestic and international shipping; • Establishing global best practice mechanisms encouraging long-term investment in the Australian shipping industry, address the maritime skills shortage, protect our vast coastline and marine environment and to improve our defence capability;

• Ensuring that relevant domestic laws apply to all aspects of coastal shipping operating in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ] ; • Ensuring that maritime security laws fairly balance national and domestic security requirements with the civil and industrial rights of workers; • Facilitating a high degree of cooperation between the Australian Defence Forces and the

Australian merchant fleet; and • Ratifying and implementing appropriate International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions, codes and recommendations.

Innovation and industry policy

70 In an increasingly competitive world, Labor believes that one of the keys to creating the jobs of the future is innovation. The way to make Australia more competitive is by harnessing the nation's creativity and boosting its productivity.

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71 Labor has a long-term commitment to innovation policy and demonstrated its value in the 1980s

and 1990s with its highly successful sectoral plans for automotive manufacturing, steel making, ship building, pharmaceuticals and other industries, and with revolutionary initiatives including the R&D Tax Concession, the Cooperative Research Centres Program, and Rural Research and Development Corporations. These measures delivered strong growth in skills, R&D, productivity and exports.

72 Labor will implement the strategy it has developed in government, as outlined in Powering Ideas:

An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century (2009). Implementation began with Labor increasing the Commonwealth research and innovation budget for 2009-10 by 25 per cent.

73 Labor believes that by investing in Australia's innovation capacity, we can revitalise existing industries and create new ones: in elaborately transformed manufacturing, services, mining and agriculture. In diversifying the Australian economy we will be developing the value-added, knowledge-based manufacturing and service industries that can compete in global markets.

74 Innovation has become increasingly important to building competitive advantage, especially as low-cost countries like China and India move up the value chain, as access to global supply chains becomes critical to our economic survival, and as collaboration emerges as the main engine of invention and discovery.

75 Labor believes that in order to maximise the competitiveness of Australian industries in global markets, the Commonwealth should work in partnership with state and territory governments, industry, businesses, unions, and research centres to lift productivity, improve workforce skills, foster innovation, enhance competitiveness and improve access to overseas markets. Labor has established Enterprise Connect, Industry Innovation Councils, and new research collaboration programs to further these aims.

76 Labor will implement new measures to maintain the momentum, including the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute and, from 2010-11, an R&D Tax Credit, which provides more generous and more predictable support for business innovation.

77 Labor's goals over the next decade include increasing the proportion of Australian businesses engaged in innovation by 25 per cent, and achieving a continuing increase in the number of firms investing in R&D.

Manufacturing

78 Labor will renew and expand Australia's manufacturing sector, which provides high-quality jobs, produces high-value exports, drives innovation across the economy and underpins a strong base of workforce skills. A vibrant manufacturing sector is an essential feature of a resilient and diversified economy. Demand from manufacturing sustains activity in other sectors, including services—many of which grow out of a strong manufacturing base.

79 Labor will pursue a strategy to boost exports and particularly to expand Australia's share of the international market for high-value-added manufactured goods and services. This will create high- skill, high-wage employment, increase national savings, reduce foreign debt and diversify Australia's economy. Austrade will continue to restructure with a focus on emerging markets and priority sectors including clean energy, services and the automotive sector.

80 Labor will accelerate the renewal of Australia's textiles, clothing and footwear industries by targeting assistance to increase support for innovation, ethical production, job retention and growth. This is critical given the importance of these industries, which employ around 50,000 Australians in the formal sector and many thousand more in the informal sector as home-based workers, maintain manufacturing capacity, and underpin regional economies around the country.

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• Labor is working to make the TCF sector stronger and more sustainable by supporting the

development of new products and processes, especially at the high-tech, high-value end of the market. New measures introduced by Labor in government include:

▪ The TCF Strategic Capability Program.

▪ The Clothing and Household Textile Building Innovative Capability Program.

▪ The TCF Industries Innovation Council.

▪ A National TCF Innovation Network within Enterprise Connect.

• Future strategy for TCF industries will be driven by the TCF Industries Innovation Council.

Through the Innovation Council Labor will take coordinated action to support a TCF job retention and creation policy designed to:

▪ Improve skills ▪ Build innovative capability ▪ Maintain strategic capacity ▪ Maximise local content in government tenders at all levels for TCF goods by integrating

enterprise development support through Enterprise Connect, the Industry Capability Network and the work of a TCF Supplier Advocate. This will be extended to accessing other local and global markets to create new opportunities for the industry.

• The TCF Industries Innovation Council will also provide advice on the future directions for the industry and the program support needed to meet long-term objectives.

• The conditions of support to TCF companies will be designed to ensure sustainable employment outcomes, maintain capacity and build skills.

• Labor will further reform and extend the TCF Structural Adjustment Program to ensure an appropriate level of funds and that the program better assists workers who lose jobs in the industry. Including:

▪ A non-means tested training allowance ▪ Training in English language and literacy ▪ Customised support for training and job-seeking ▪ Funding for community-based organisations to advocate on behalf of redundant workers.

• Labor is also committed to ensuring an appropriate safety net for homeworkers. All government contractors in the textile, clothing and footwear industry must be accredited or be seeking accreditation with the Homeworkers' Code of Practice.

81 Labor is working hard to renew Australia's existing manufacturing capacity, attract new investment and succeed in global markets for new technologies, including climate change solutions. To achieve this Labor will provide direction to our policies through:

• Industry Innovation Councils that bring together industry, union, research and education representatives and take a broad and strategic view of innovation.

• Tripartite industry working groups.

• Further developing Enterprise Connect as the gateway to the innovation system and provide a comprehensive range of services to firms, including enterprise improvement, supply-chain development, networking and cluster support, and research and technology assistance.

• Effectively integrating Enterprise Connect and its services with Austrade, the Industry Capability Network and other national and state government business support initiatives, and with the industry development activities of industry associations and unions.

• Investing in the future of the automotive sector through A New Car Plan for a Greener Future to make the Australian car industry economically and environmentally sustainable by 2020, in particular through the new Green Car Innovation Fund.

• Accelerating the renewal of Australia's textiles, clothing and footwear industries by re-targeting assistance to increase support for innovation. This is critical given the importance of these industries, which employ around 45,000 Australians, maintain manufacturing capacity, and underpin regional economies around the country.

• Working to make the TCF sector stronger and more sustainable by supporting the development of new products and processes, especially at the high-tech, high-value end of the market. New measures introduced by Labor in government include:

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▪ The TCF Strategic Capability Program.

▪ The Clothing and Household Textile Building Innovative Capability Program.

▪ The TCF Industries Innovation Council.

▪ A National TCF Innovation Network within Enterprise Connect.

• Driving future industry development through Australia's new industry innovation councils for key sectors, including those for the automotive industry, TCF industries, built environment, information technology and future manufacturing.

• Accelerating the greening of Australian industry by supporting the development, commercialisation and application of new technologies and practices.

• Supporting the development of climate change solutions through the Clean Business Australia programs, helping to lift the energy and water efficiency of manufacturing processes and commercial buildings.

• Developing sectoral innovation strategies based on national innovation priorities, with a focus on green industries.

• Creating a policy framework for biotechnology, nanotechnology, information and communication technology and other enabling technologies that ensures appropriate regulation while maximising their contribution to job creation, productivity and competitiveness. This aim will be served by implementing a new National Enabling Technologies Strategy to support community engagement and best-practice regulation for biotechnology and nanotechnology. The Future Industries component of the Super Science Initiative will support further research infrastructure, including the supercomputing capacity needed to deliver cutting-edge research in the 21st century.

• Strengthening the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized firms and increase their collaboration with research and education institutions through regional, national and international networking and clustering programs.

• Integrating innovation support and skill acquisition within a renewed focus on workplace development.

• Supporting international investment in strategic technological capabilities and work with foreign- owned enterprises to integrate their local operations and suppliers into global supply chains.

• Promoting innovation in government - both in the delivery of government services and through procurement policies that support innovation in supplier firms.

• Harmonising Australia's patent laws with those of our trading partners.

• Encouraging the development of a sustainable Australian venture capital market.

82 Under Labor, assistance to industries and firms will be structured to achieve clear employment, training, research, innovation, investment, local content and export objectives. Labor will work with business, workers, unions and regions to support industries and firms that are committed to these objectives and to improving their international competitiveness.

Australian industry participation

83 Labor is committed to lifting Australia's competitiveness, so that more people buy Australian goods and services, both at home and abroad. Labor believes that maximising Australian industry participation in domestic and international projects is critical to supporting and creating Australian jobs.

84 Labor in government will give Australian industry the best possible chance to access and compete successfully in local and overseas markets. This will involve action to stimulate innovation, build the capacity of individual firms, strengthen supply chains, and facilitate Australian participation in public and private sector projects. It will involve action to extend the skills and harness the creativity of Australian workers.

85 Labor will take into account a range of considerations when determining what constitutes good value for money, not just purchase price. Government agencies will not be forced to choose the cheapest supplier when that choice would cost taxpayers more in the long run because the

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products or services on offer are inferior in quality or have high ongoing costs. Agencies will also

not be forced to choose the cheapest supplier when this would have detrimental social or environmental effects. Agencies will be required to consider all direct and indirect benefits and costs over the whole life of each product and service, along with the performance history of each prospective supplier.

86 Labor will aggressively pursue the strategy it has developed in government to lift the share of work won by Australian industry. That strategy has four main elements:

• identifying opportunities in Australia and around the world • identifying local industry capabilities • matching opportunities with capabilities • and increasing skills, innovation capacity and productivity to make local firms more competitive.

87 Labor's aim is to capitalise on the steps it has already taken to boost Australian industry participation, including:

• increasing support for the Industry Capability Network through the Supplier Access to Major Projects program • appointing Supplier Advocates to champion Australian industry in the government marketplace and improve competitiveness • and requiring all firms bidding for major Commonwealth contracts and work on major

Commonwealth-funded infrastructure projects to submit Australian Industry Participation Plans.

88 In particular, Labor will:

• vigorously enforce Australian industry participation requirements • work with the States and Territories to develop a more coordinated national approach • increase support for services that match opportunities with capabilities • integrate support for innovation, export activity and business development • identify and concentrate on those industries and activities that promise the best opportunities -

examples might include urban transport, water management, alternative energy, information and communication technology, and health services • strengthen the focus on international markets and projects, where the biggest opportunities will always lie • continue to develop its Australian industry participation strategy in consultation with industry to

make it as effective as possible.

• establish Fair Work Principles to ensure that procurement decisions are consistent with the Fair Work Act • introduce a requirement that suppliers and their contractors comply with the Fair Work Principles.

Science and research

89 Labor recognises the importance of research and development to business, job creation, the economy and to social and environmental progress.

90 Labor recognises that the contribution of public researchers in universities and research organisations such as the CSIRO is critical to Australia's innovation effort. They do the bulk of our basic research and the overwhelming majority of our research in the humanities, arts and social sciences. The market generally does not give private firms incentives to perform this kind of research, so publicly-funded researchers must fill the gap.

91 Labor has identified several goals for the public research sector. In particular, Labor will:

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• Progressively increase the number of research groups performing at world-class levels, as

measured by international performance benchmarks.

• Use mission-based funding compacts and other funding mechanisms to promote collaboration by encouraging universities to organise themselves into research hubs and spokes, and to pursue opportunities to undertake industry-driven research more vigorously.

• Progressively address the gap in funding for indirect research costs.

• Help smaller and regional universities develop their research capacity by teaming up with other institutions.

• Increase the capacity of public research organisations, especially to tackle complex problems, participate in domestic and international collaborations, and undertake multidisciplinary research.

• Continue to invest in research infrastructure to support collaboration and give Australian researchers access to the latest technology, guided by the Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure (2008) and the advice of the new National Research Infrastructure Committee.

• Increase collaboration between public researchers and private industry.

• Build international networks and collaborations allowing Australian research institutions to maximise the return on their investment.

• Significantly increase the number of students completing higher degrees by research over the next decade.

• Create viable career paths for Australian researchers.

92 Labor in government is already acting to achieve these goals. It has increased funding for the indirect costs of research, stipends for research students and indexation for research block grants—all measures designed to make public sector research more sustainable. Starting in 2009-10, Labor will invest more than $1.6 billion in research infrastructure through the Super Science Initiative, the Clean Energy Initiative and other programs—with further rounds of the Education Investment Fund to come. Labor has also started work on a research workforce strategy to address expected shortfalls in the supply of research-qualified people.

93 Labor will continue to support a growing science and research sector by:

• Entrenching a culture of excellence in Australian research by using Excellence in Research for Australia to guide research investment decisions.

• Increasing international research collaboration and Australian engagement in bilateral and multilateral research partnerships and networks - particularly in areas of significance to Australia's economic and social development.

• Building on Australia's existing internationally recognised strengths by expanding research in fields such as astronomy, history, geography and medical science—including through the Space and Astronomy component of the Super Science Initiative, and the Bionic Eye Program.

• Promoting tropical research in recognition of northern Australia's increasing importance to the nation's development, and the vulnerability of tropical regions in Australia and worldwide to the effects of climate change.

• Promoting marine research to realise the untapped potential of Australia's ocean territory which is among the largest of any nation in the world - including through the Marine and Climate component of the Super Science Initiative.

• Increasing Australia's involvement in the international Square Kilometre Array radio-telescope project and building support for Australia's bid to host the telescope through active diplomacy and scientific cooperation.

Primary industries

94 Australia's primary industries have played a key role in national economic development throughout our history. They underpinned the establishment of regional and rural communities throughout the

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nation, have generated a large share of Australia's wealth and have helped shape Australian

culture and our national identity.

95 Labor believes that in the century ahead of us, primary industries will continue to play a major role in creating wealth, income and jobs in rural and regional Australia, and generating export income for the nation.

96 Labor will support the productivity and development of Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry businesses by:

• Ensuring Australia plays a strong role in efforts to address global food security challenges.

• Helping our primary industries prepare for climate change and future droughts and extreme weather events.

• Fixing our biosecurity system to help prevent the introduction of exotic weeds, pests and disease.

• Strengthening the role of farmers in the delivery of environmental services.

• Boosting productivity through investment in research and development, skills and training.

• Boosting productivity through innovation and uptake of new technologies.

• Maintaining existing markets and developing new trade opportunities.

• Developing policies to support new forms of rural investment.

• Improving safety in the workplace and on the farm.

• Supporting the development of fisheries and aquaculture.

• Supporting the sustainable use of forest resources.

97 Labor supports a partnership between government and industry for investment in rural research and development.

98 Labor will ensure more effective multi-sector facilitation and prioritisation of investment in research and development through a coordinating Rural Research and Development Council to ensure that programs address:

• Productivity.

• Climate change.

• Energy and/or water efficiency.

• Regional employment.

• Family issues and cost of living.

• Industry consultation and uptake of technology.

• Effectiveness and timeliness of commercialisation of research outcomes.

99 Labor will work with industry to develop programs to upgrade workforce skills and expand the opportunities for the primary industry sector workforce, with a particular focus on women, young people, people from non-English speaking backgrounds in the sector and Indigenous Australians, especially in rural, regional and remote communities.

100 Given the importance of the reputation of Australian produce for its quality, hygiene standards and safety, Labor believes that government has an important role to play in supporting innovation, export market development, skills development and productivity through the food industry's production, manufacturing, marketing and distribution chain.

101 Labor will seek to maximise access to domestic and international markets for Australian agriculture, fisheries and forest products, in particular through multilateral negotiations and treaties, while also supporting domestic and international marketing of Australian primary industries.

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Australian agriculture

102 Labor recognises the need for the Australian and international community to address global food security given the threats to the life and health of millions of people resulting from increases in food prices.

103 Labor believes the global food security challenge must be addressed by boosting research and development, helping to remove barriers to global trade and driving productivity along the food production chain.

104 Labor believes Australia has an important role to play in facilitating long-term solutions through the production of more food whilst building agricultural capacity in developing countries.

105 Labor acknowledges the growing importance of farmers in the development and production of alternative fuels, including biofuels produced on farms. Labor supports the need for research and development into new technologies and processes which support the development of second- generation biofuels technology.

106 Labor believes the use and approval of genetically modified crops should be regulated before they can be grown commercially in Australia, in order to protect the health and safety of both people and the environment.

107 Labor will develop a National Emerging Technologies Strategy to increase research and improve the regulation of biotechnology, nanotechnology and other new technologies.

108 Labor understands the value in looking at the science and research on GM crops on a case-by- case basis. Labor recognises that GM crops can contribute to meeting global challenges of climate change and food security.

109 Labor believes:

• A licence for a GM crop must not be issued unless it can be demonstrated that any risks can be managed to protect the health and safety of people and the environment.

• Foods produced using gene technology must be assessed as safe for human consumption before they can be sold.

• Labelling should enable people to make informed choices about what they eat.

• Rules requiring food containing DNA and/or protein resulting from genetic modification must be labelled 'genetically modified' should be retained.

110 Labor believes that a rigorous and effective biosecurity system is vital to the Australian economy, our unique environment and sense of community wellbeing.

111 Labor supports a biosecurity system that allows us to trade goods and move people between borders, while also protecting the integrity of our environment, the health of all Australians, our favourable pest and disease status, and the productivity and ongoing viability of our primary producers.

112 Labor is committed to acting in response to the Beale Review, to ensure Australia's biosecurity system is better able to respond to increasing and more complex threats associated with globalisation, agri-terrorism and climate change.

Australia's fisheries industry

113 Labor recognises the important role of Australia's recreational and commercial fisheries in providing economic opportunities and supporting the social wellbeing of rural, regional and metropolitan communities.

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114 Labor supports the responsible use of Australia's fisheries resources for wild harvest commercial

fishing and aquaculture activities and recreational, sport and charter fishing activities.

115 Labor believes aquaculture will play an increasingly important role in meeting the challenges of global food security, regional economic development, indigenous employment opportunities and in relieving pressure on wild fish stocks.

116 Labor supports the need for investment in research and development that aims to improve commercial fisheries' productivity, assists the wild harvest and aquaculture sectors to respond to a changing climate and ensures sustainable use and appropriate protection for marine, estuarine and freshwater fisheries resources.

117 Labor recognises that climate change threatens the productivity of fishing and aquaculture businesses and that Australians working in these industries will need support as they respond to the challenges of climate change.

118 Labor supports collaboration with near neighbours on measures that encourage responsible fishing practices, actively prevent illegal fishing activities in Australian waters and impose tough sanctions on illegal foreign fishers.

Australia's forest and forest products industry

119 Labor recognises the importance of the forest and the forest products industry to the Australian economy and to employment, and the need for forests to continue to be based on ecologically sustainable development principles. Future development of the forest and forest products industry must take place on an ecologically and economically sustainable basis, by ensuring the full implementation of the Regional Forest Agreements process.

120 The forest and forest products industry provides a source of employment for regional communities and contributes to economic growth and employment through increasing downstream processing of resources taken from public and private forests, including pulp and paper milling, veneer milling and plywood manufacturing.

121 Labor has established a Pulp and Paper Industry Strategy Group, which is charged with reviewing current industry arrangements, including investment incentives, identifying new markets and generally assisting the industry to reach its potential.

122 Labor will develop a comprehensive forest plantation strategy, while reviewing the impact of log exports to ensure the long term future of the forest industries and Australian forest communities that depend on the continuing viability of our forest industry.

Minerals, resources and energy

123 Labor values the enormous contribution to the national economy made by Australia's minerals, resources and energy industries. They generate the largest share of export revenue, support regional economic development, provide employment directly and indirectly for hundreds of thousands of Australians and improve the living standards of the entire community.

124 To maximise the minerals, resources and energy industries' social, environmental and economic contribution to Australia, Labor will continue to:

• Encourage, in conjunction with the states, an intensified national minerals, oil and gas exploration effort, and the development of new exploration science and technology.

• Facilitate the continued development of a national gas distribution network.

• Develop strategies with industry and states and territories to maximise Australian labour participation, including training and skill development, in all phases (exploration, construction,

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extraction, processing and transportation) of minerals, resources and energy projects, including

in the offshore hydrocarbons sector.

• Promote the sound development of Australia's coal, oil and gas resources, with particular regard to domestic requirements, the development of Australia's coal, oil and gas exports, and the need for a stable and profitable coal and oil and gas industry.

• Encourage the development of low emission fossil fuel technologies.

• Encourage downstream processing of minerals, resources and energy products, and, through public and private avenues, the infrastructure necessary to achieve this.

• Facilitate the commercialisation and export of minerals-related services and technology.

• Create a more efficient national energy market that can enhance Australia's natural advantages in downstream minerals processing for domestic and export markets.

• Bolster research, development and technology efforts to ensure the international competitiveness of the minerals, resources and energy industries, including technology and services derived from those industries.

• Harness the scientific, technological, research and development and engineering ingenuity of our minerals and resources industries in a nationally coordinated way.

• Make a national effort to maximise our energy security, capacity and efficiency and provide the lowest practicable energy prices for Australian industry and consumers.

125 Labor will maximise local content in the manufacture, construction and maintenance of facilities and equipment for production and processing in Australia's minerals, resources and energy industries, including by promoting specific facilities and infrastructure which can build and service major offshore and onshore hydrocarbon projects. Labor recognises that the development of Australia's natural resources requires that the benefits are shared equitably between producers and the Australian community. In government, Labor will foster a full return to the community from the development of common resources and maximise the benefits of both foreign investment and Australian ownership and control of our natural resources. Labor supports the use of the tax regime to help achieve this objective.

126 Labor will continue to ensure that mineral development on Indigenous land proceeds consistently with Labor's land rights and native title policy, maximises Indigenous employment, business, education and training opportunities, and maximises Indigenous community development and self determination opportunities.

Building energy capacity

127 Among Australia's greatest economic strengths is the extent and diversity of its natural energy resources, energy infrastructure and energy technology. Australia is both an important producer of established sources of energy, including coal, gas, oil and condensate, and a world-class developer of renewable and sustainable energy technologies.

128 Australia's energy supply and use must be sustainable, economically efficient and internationally competitive. Such national energy capability is essential for Australia's sustained economic growth.

Labor recognises that the long-term challenge of global environmental issues must be built in from the start in planning the future of the Australian energy industry.

129 Increasingly, more efficient and clean energy supplies and use will enhance Australia's capacity for the downstream processing of minerals and other natural resources and more competitive manufacturing generally, thus providing employment benefits.

130 The continued development and application of new technology to improve the economic and environmental efficiency of energy production and consumption is vital to Australia's long-term international competitiveness.

131 To improve our national energy capacity, Labor will continue to:

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• Facilitate a process of cooperation and development involving state governments, industry

representatives, including peak industry associations and the trade union movement to ensure that Australia builds the necessary electricity industry transmission, distribution and generation facilities to meet Australia's electricity demands and ensure supply for the future for all Australians.

• Encourage investment in an intensive national oil and gas exploration effort.

• Encourage continued development and investment in energy infrastructure and technologies, particularly gas and renewable energy sources.

• Facilitate free and fair competition between energy sources.

• Facilitate free and fair interstate trade in gas.

• Facilitate a national electricity market.

• Encourage cogeneration.

• Encourage the use of gas in conjunction with coal for power generation.

• Encourage research and commercial development of new and renewable energy sources and technology.

• Take into account the relative environmental impact of differing energy sources.

132 Labor will continue to encourage greater efficiency in the production, transmission and use of existing energy sources, in particular by:

• Maintaining a concerted and ongoing effort to encourage the greater use of clean and renewable energy sources in Australia's domestic, transportation and industrial energy consumption through demand management strategies and government procurement policies.

• Encouraging greater energy efficiency and consumer purchase of energy efficient products through consumer education programs, innovative financing mechanisms, product standards and energy efficiency labelling schemes.

• Encouraging energy audits for the industrial, commercial, transportation and residential sectors to inform users of their relative energy efficiency and how this can be improved.

133 Labor recognises that major opportunities are emerging in new and renewable energy technologies within the global energy market. Accordingly Labor will continue to:

• Support research and development in innovative energy technologies that are cleaner and more efficient.

• Ensure 20 per cent of Australia's electricity supply will be sourced from renewables by 2020 through a legislated target.

• Encourage Australian development, manufacture and commercialisation of renewable energy technologies for both domestic and export markets.

• Encourage local and foreign investment to increase Australia's renewable energy technology manufacturing capability.

134 Labor's national energy industry policy will continue to integrate the need for improving energy efficiency, abating greenhouse emissions and encouraging the development and commercialisation of new Australian energy industries, including renewable and sustainable energy technology.

135 Labor will continue to ensure that consumers are protected in the new national energy environment, through access to competitively priced energy, proper regulation of the national energy market and viable dispute resolution mechanisms.

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Developing low-emission technologies for Australia's

future 136 Labor will accelerate the use of low-emissions technologies in Australia through a coordinated, national approach to research and development of new technologies. This will include:

• International efforts led by Australia's Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, based in Canberra and established under Labor in 2009.

• Continuing support for the National Low Emissions Coal Council which brings together representatives from government, industry, and Australia's research community.

• Continuing support for the Carbon Storage Taskforce, which is examining the existing Carbon Capture and Storage projects across Australia to evaluate effectiveness and provide further support.

• Creating an Australian Solar Institute to support solar thermal and solar photovoltaic research and development and help solar power become cost competitive with other energy sources.

• Developing geo-thermal and second generation biofuels technologies through new demonstration and development opportunities.

Uranium

137 Labor recognises that the production of uranium and its use in the nuclear fuel cycle present unique and unprecedented hazards and risks, including:

• Threats to human health and the local environment in the mining and milling of uranium, which demand the enforcement of very strict safety procedures.

• The generation of products which are usable as the raw materials for nuclear weapons manufacture, which demands the enforcement of effective controls against diversion.

• The generation of highly toxic radioactive waste by-products that demand permanently safe disposal methods not currently available.

138 Labor accordingly will only allow the mining and export of uranium under the most stringent conditions, as described below.

139 In relation to mining and milling, Labor will:

• Ensure the safety of workers in the uranium industry is given priority, and establish a compulsory register for workers in the uranium industry that includes regular health checks and ongoing monitoring. Such a register would be held by an independent agency and be subject to privacy provisions.

• Ensure that Australian uranium mining, milling and rehabilitation is based on world best practice standards, on extensive continuing research on environmental impacts and on the health and safety of employees and affected communities, particularly Indigenous communities.

• Ensure, through public accountability mechanisms, that the Australian public is informed about the quality of the environmental performance of uranium mines.

• Foster a constructive relationship between mining companies and Indigenous communities affected by uranium mining.

• Prohibit the mining of uranium within national parks under IUCN protected area category 1A, category 1B, and category 2, and listed world heritage areas.

140 In relation to exports, Labor will allow the export of uranium only to those countries which observe the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), are committed to non-proliferation policies, have ratified international and bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements and maintain strict safeguards and security controls over their nuclear power industries. In addition, Labor will work towards:

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• Strengthening export control regimes and the rights and authority of the International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA).

• Appropriate international responses to violations of existing safeguard commitments.

• Limiting the processing of weapon usable material (separation of plutonium and high enriched uranium in civilian programs).

• Tightening controls over the export of nuclear material and technology.

• Universalising of the IAEA additional protocol making it mandatory for all states and members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to make adherence to the additional protocol a condition of supply to all their transfers.

• Criminalising actions of individuals and companies that assist in nuclear proliferation.

• The development of an international guarantee of nuclear fuel supply to states forgoing sensitive nuclear technologies.

• Revising the NPT to prevent countries from withdrawing from the NPT and passing a new resolution in the UN Security Council addressing the penalties for withdrawal from the NPT.

• Encouraging all nuclear states to join the NPT.

• Reserving the right to withhold supplies of uranium permanently, indefinitely or for a specified period from any country which ceases to observe the non-proliferation safeguards and security conditions which are applied to Australian uranium exports to that country, or which adopts nuclear practices or policies inimical to further advance in the cause of nuclear non-proliferation.

• Supporting the maintenance and enhancement of international and Australian safeguards to ensure that uranium mined in Australia, and nuclear products derived from it, is used only for civil purposes by approved instrumentalities in approved countries which are signatories to the NPT and with whom Australia has safeguard arrangements.

• Seeking adequate international resourcing of the IAEA to ensure its effectiveness in undertaking its charter.

141 Labor will progress these commitments through diplomatic means including the re-establishment of the Canberra Commission to re-invigorate Australia's tradition of middle power, multilateral diplomacy. In doing so, Labor believes that as a non nuclear armed nation and a good international citizen, Australia can make a significant contribution to promoting disarmament, the reduction of nuclear stockpiles, and the responsible use of nuclear technology.

142 In addition, Labor will:

• Vigorously oppose the ocean dumping of radioactive waste.

• Prohibit the establishment in Australia of nuclear power plants and all other stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.

• Fully meet all our obligations as a party to the NPT.

• Remain strongly opposed to the importation and storage of nuclear waste that is sourced from overseas in Australia.

Small business

143 Labor strongly supports the choice of Australians to pursue a career as independent contractors and small business operators. Australia's independent contractors and small businesses are vital contributors to national prosperity and job creation.

144 Labor believes cooperative relationships between small business operators and employees can create the conditions for higher profitability, higher productivity, higher wages and better working conditions.

145 Labor recognises the difficulties faced by small businesses in recruiting and retaining suitable staff and, through its policies to ease skill shortages and wider labour shortages, will assist small businesses in overcoming these difficulties.

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146 Labor supports competition in the business sector. Where market failure creates anti-competitive

conditions Labor will legislate to promote competition. In particular, Labor will legislate effective protections against monopolistic pricing, collusive behaviour, abuse of market power, predatory pricing and unconscionable conduct.

147 Labor recognises that collective bargaining can benefit the public by allowing small businesses and independent contractors to address imbalances in bargaining power with larger businesses.

Labor believes small businesses and independent contractors should have choice as to who represents them in collective bargaining. Labor will remove the restriction on trade unions representing independent contractors through the collective bargaining provisions of trade practices law.

148 Labor acknowledges that small businesses are less well equipped than larger businesses to bear the compliance burden of government regulation.

149 Labor will continue to advance its agenda of building a seamless national economy and removing excessive red tape and overlapping regulation, in particular through the national reform agenda of the Council of Australian Governments.

150 In recognition of the risks and heavier compliance burden borne by small business, Labor supports simplifying the tax system for small business and, where fiscally prudent, reducing the tax burden on small business.

151 Labor recognises the imperative of small businesses and independent contractors having access to low-cost, timely and informal dispute resolution procedures in respect of their employment and commercial disputes and will ensure that such avenues are available. Dispute resolution procedures will be able to deal with claims of unfair contracts.

152 Labor acknowledges that small business owners and managers need ready access to low-cost advice when seeking to start new businesses or expand existing operations and will facilitate the provision of such advice.

153 Labor recognises the value of high-speed broadband in boosting the viability of small businesses and independent contractors and will ensure the provision of high-speed broadband through the National Broadband Network.

154 Labor recognises the important and growing role of women in establishing small businesses, including home-based micro-businesses. Labor will ensure that its small business advisory services are tailored to the needs of women.

155 Labor recognises, as a general principle, that genuine independent contractors are governed by commercial law, while employees are governed by employment law.

156 Labor recognises that for large numbers of vulnerable independent contractors their protections were watered down by the Howard Government’s enactment of the Independent Contractors Act.

Labor will move to strengthen protections available to independent contractors by conducting a review of the effectiveness of the Independent Contractors Act.

157 Labor opposes sham contractor arrangements, where employees are re-classified as contractors by employers to avoid obligations such as superannuation guarantee payments, workers' compensation coverage and the payment of annual leave and sick leave entitlements. Labor will ensure that, as far as practicable, ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the nature of the contractual relationship is minimised.

158 Labor supports the principles behind the alienation of personal services income tax rules and will apply these principles with consistency and transparency.

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159 Labor recognises that TCF workers and owner-drivers are among the most vulnerable groups of

workers and accordingly commits itself to the maintenance and enhancement of existing protections for these workers.

The future for service industries

160 Labor recognises that our services industries provide a very large proportion of Australia's employment and a very large proportion of national income. Parts of the service sector also play a critical role in providing flexible employment and social inclusion opportunities for the disadvantaged in society. Since many services are also direct inputs into other business activities, effective and efficient services is are fundamental to maintaining and enhancing business competitiveness. Labor recognises that a strong and efficient service economy is crucial to Australia's long-term economic prosperity and ability to take part in the global services economy.

161 Labor recognises the need to foster a productive, innovative, creative and competitive services sector to generate future job creation, export growth and prosperity.

162 The prosperity of the years ahead will increasingly come from businesses that provide the many services that are essential to consumers in a modern industrial society—such as financial, retail and personal services, transport, communications, information technology, data management, legal, medical, scientific, engineering, construction, education, tourism, hospitality and leisure services due to their increasing capacity to:

• Improve our ability to compete on the international stage by making export initiatives in other sectors more competitive.

• Penetrate services export markets in their own right.

• Compete with imported services on cost and quality.

163 The services economy is increasingly global which provides opportunities and challenges for Australia. There is a great opportunity to grow Australia's services exports; however, Australian consumers are increasingly receiving services from off-shore locations with no knowledge that this is occurring. Where services are provided from off-shore locations this should be disclosed to allow consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. Labor will implement a service economy strategy that will:

• As a priority, remove impediments to improving productivity and competitiveness.

• Enhance the capacity of the service economy.

• Where feasible, introduce country-of-origin disclosure legislation for services.

Finance Sector

164 Labor recognises the fundamental importance of a comprehensive, professional, efficient and competitive finance sector in delivering essential services such as banking, insurance and superannuation to the Australian community. The industry also underpins many business activities through the provision of credit and other financial services that form the foundations for economic prosperity and growth. A vibrant finance sector provides significant employment and career opportunities for many Australians.

165 The existence of a well regulated and broad based local banking and finance sector has been of paramount importance to Australia's capacity to manage the consequences of the global financial crisis. Labor will continue to take steps to ensure that Australian financial institutions are:

• Regulated appropriately and professionally; • Governed in a transparent and accountable manner; • Staffed by appropriately trained and resourced professionals; and

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• Required to compete ethically and in the interests of all Australians.

166 It is in the national interest to ensure that Australia's finance industry has comprehensive local capability to meet the needs of both the domestic and global economies.

167 The strength of our regulatory regime together with effective competition policy and consumer protections will ensure that our finance sector has the best chance to make its full contribution to national wellbeing as well as providing a platform for growth in the export of financial services to our region and the world. Labor supports Australia becoming a Financial Services Hub in the region and will continue to undertake the necessary reforms to achieve this. To ensure that Australia develops as an attractive destination for international investment and financial services it will be critical to foster a professional, efficient, ethical and innovative marketplace for financial products.

Labor recognises that this requires industry planning and investment in employment, technology and skill development across the sector.

Tourism

168 Tourism is an industry of great long-term importance to the national economy and many parts of regional Australia.

169 Labor believes that we can best fulfil the potential of Australia's tourism industry through strategic coordination with all tiers of government and the tourism sector, to address matters relating to promotion and marketing, regulation and compliance costs, international competitiveness, employment skills and training, productivity, investment, development, infrastructure and natural resource management.

170 Labor recognises the contribution and diversity of the tourism industry, ranging from small businesses to international corporations, which each work to meet the needs of domestic and overseas tourists.

171 Accordingly, Labor will continue to support the growth and development of a responsive tourism industry that:

• Supports the creation of jobs and new businesses throughout Australia.

• Attracts and grows new businesses and investment throughout Australia.

• Engages government, industry and unions to create and develop quality jobs in the tourism sector including through appropriate training and safe work strategies to encourage long term skilled and stable employment with career options, including appropriate recognition in wages of training and productivity outcomes.

• Ensures the Export Market Development Grants scheme continues to allow promotion of tourism to all markets, including emerging market economies, such as China, India and the Middle East.

• Recognises the importance of high standards through a national accreditation system for operators that aims to eliminate rogue tourism exporters.

• Develops tourism strategies and policies which recognise the central role of small businesses in the industry.

• Develops the labour force and improves the standards and options available for training, migration as required and education in tourism and related areas.

172 This will include:

• The development of a nationally recognised formal training package based on agreed industry standards.

• The recognition of prior learning, with industry wide certification.

• A full review of the duration and quality of apprenticeships and traineeships provided by the government and private sector.

• Taxation arrangements that are conducive to the industry's growth.

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• A central role for environmental sustainability in tourism planning.

• Recognition of the significant and growing potential of agri-food, nature based-tourism and heritage tourism, as well as the potential for these parts of the tourism industries to contribute to making the tourism industry more ecologically sustainable and responsive to our cultural heritage.

• Developing tourism projects to enhance employment and business opportunities for Indigenous Australians in conjunction with appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative bodies, and foster tourism that builds a wider understanding of the culture of Indigenous Australians.

• Appropriately resourcing the marketing and promotion of Australia for visitation, tourism trade, investment and employment through Tourism Australia.

• Working collaboratively with the states to ensure Australia is adequately promoted for domestic tourism visitation, trade, employment and investment.

• Developing adequate tourist forecasting and research services, recognising the significance of accurate robust data to inform long term government and industry and investment and union support.

• Support the development of regional destinations by implementing programs that encourage authentic product and experience development for new and existing SME's.

• Encourage partnerships and networks that aim to promote tourism industry development via research, extension and development programs.

Skilled migration

173 Australia operates in a global economy with an increasingly globalised labour market. This means that we must continue to work hard to prevent the brain drain of talented Australian employees offshore, and attract and retain skilled workers who can contribute to national economic development.

174 Labor will adopt a long-term approach when setting annual immigration levels.

175 Labor is committed to a range of polices to lift workforce participation and the qualification level of the workforce in response to an ageing population and the demand for higher levels of skill and mobility. Labor recognises that falling workforce participation could pose a serious capacity constraint on our economic growth, and is committed to using Australia's skilled migration program as an important part of the policy response to this challenge.

176 Labor's immigration planning framework will take into account net overseas migration, demographic trends, and other factors while remaining responsive to current and longer-term economic needs.

177 Labor's skilled migration policies:

• Will be informed by ongoing consultation with industry, unions, the education sector and state and territory governments.

• Should be underpinned by the identification of emerging skill shortages across different sectors and complement domestic training policies to fill those shortages.

• Will ensure that, as far as possible, skilled vacancies are filled locally.

178 Labor will administer a skilled migration program that:

• Complements domestic training policies in targeting skills shortages that cannot be filled locally.

• Balances the temporary and permanent skilled visa programs, recognising the increasing numbers of permanent visas granted onshore.

• Is 'demand driven', with greater emphasis on migrants sponsored by employers into jobs where there are demonstrated skills shortages.

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• Recognises the different skill needs that exist across and within states and territories.

• Allows Australia to compete internationally for skilled labour.

• Has the necessary tests and checks to ensure the integrity of the system.

• Protects temporary overseas skilled workers from exploitation.

179 Labor prefers permanent skilled migration to temporary skilled migration because permanent migrants:

• Provide a stable, effective and targeted source of skilled workers.

• Have a greater stake in Australia's future and in integrating into all aspects of Australian community life.

• Are less susceptible to exploitation.

180 The permanent skilled migration program should:

• Encourage employer sponsored migration, which is driven by the demand for specific skills.

• Ensure that non-sponsored skilled migration is targeted on skills in critical need in the economy.

• Provide state and territory governments with the capacity to address the skill shortages in their jurisdiction.

• Encourage international students to enrol in courses that lead to employer sponsored migration outcomes.

• Have the necessary checks to ensure that migrants have the competencies and qualifications claimed.

• Recognise the importance of English language skills in finding skilled employment.

181 The temporary skilled migration program should:

• Only be used to fill short-term skill shortages which cannot be meet locally.

• Ensure overseas workers are provided the same wages and conditions as Australian workers to prevent the undermining of those entitlements.

• Ensure employers accessing overseas workers continue to invest in the training of local workers.

• Include a targeted monitoring program that recognises the risks of exploitation across different employers, occupations and sectors and imposes effective sanctions on those who breach the law.

• Provide quick processing of visas to employers who have a record of compliance.

• Provide the relevant external agencies with the information to effectively regulate overseas workers, including work safety and industrial relations agencies.

• Ensure that overseas workers have the relevant qualifications for the trade or profession.

• Ensure that local labour market needs are met through Registered Employment Authorities, which will include representatives from industry and unions. The Registered Employment Authorities will ensure the scheme is more transparent and will provide advice in higher risk cases on whether applications are consistent with the objectives of the program, will provide a benefit to Australia and reflect local labour market needs. To ensure the program is only used consistent with its objectives, the occupations where skills shortages exist and the regional extent of those shortages will be identified on a regular basis taking into account advice from the Registered Employment Authorities.

• Ensure that the children of temporary migrants have access to education.

182 Labor recognises that increasing numbers of permanent visas are granted to temporary visa holders already either working or studying in Australia. These permanent migrants have made the choice to stay and live in Australia and in many cases are already in employment. Wherever possible, Labor will align the permanent and temporary migration programs to facilitate the conversion of temporary visa holders on to permanent visas and citizenship. Employers will be encouraged to sponsor temporary visa holders for permanent residency where the visa holders are working under successful arrangements and have skills which correspond with skills needed in the economy and Australia's migration priorities.

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Chapter 4: Delivering fairness for working

families 1 Labor believes that fairness at work is a core value in a modern, prosperous society. It is a key determinant of living standards, financial security and the ability of Australians to make plans for their future.

2 The way that work is structured also affects the broader wellbeing of individuals and families, in particular how they balance responsibilities at work and with their families, such as raising children or caring for relatives.

3 Labor believes in a fair go for all, equality of opportunity, equal pay for equal work, a strong safety net of minimum conditions and measures that foster financial security including universal superannuation, protection from unfair dismissal and entitlement to redundancy.

4 Labor is committed to modern industrial relations system, that reflects the values of fairness and flexibility and that supports working families.

The Liberal legacy: taking away the rights of working

families 5 The Liberal Party is the party of WorkChoices. Once they were given control of the Senate for the first time in thirty years, the Liberals moved immediately to rewrite the nation's industrial relations laws to achieve their long-held goals of radical industrial relations changes.

6 The behaviour of the Liberals shows that they knew WorkChoices would hurt working families and were out of touch with core Australian belief in the fair go. The Liberals never told Australians about their plans for WorkChoices before the 2004 election. They then spent more than $100 million of taxpayers' money on dishonest advertising of WorkChoices to cover up its real impact.

7 The Liberals allowed the safety net of the award system to be dismantled by giving employers the power to give workers take-it-or-leave-it Australian Workplace Agreements that took away award provisions with no compensation for employees. Under the Liberals, Australian Workplace Agreements stripped away basic protections from working Australians—like the right to penalty rates, overtime, holiday pay.

8 The Liberals took away all protections against unfair dismissal for employees in workplaces with fewer than one hundred staff. This made employees more vulnerable to threats and intimidation and work, and allowed employers to sack employees for any reason they wished, or no reason at all.

9 The Liberals undermined protections for injured workers and failed to work cooperatively with state and territory governments to achieve consistent workers' compensation and occupational health and safety laws.

10 The Liberals failed to stand up for working women. Women lost basic pay and conditions under Australian Workplace Agreements. Women were given no help in balancing commitments between work and family, they lost safeguards against unsociable work hours and changes to rosters without notice, and were denied access to affordable childcare because of the Liberals' failure to invest in childcare provision.

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11 For the Liberal Party, radical industrial relations policies are a matter of faith. No matter what the

economic problem, their solution is the same—to cut the wages and conditions of working people.

In an economic upturn the Liberal party argues WorkChoices is vital, in downturns the Liberal party argues that WorkChoices is vital—any fact, any circumstances, any change is an excuse for them to go back to WorkChoices.

12 The one clear certainty is that if the Liberal party wins the next election, they will find a reason to bring back WorkChoices.

Labor's principles: a fair go for everyone starts with

fairness at work 13 Labor believes that fairness in the workplace is fundamental to a fair society and that one of Australia's greatest achievements is the progress over successive generations in improving the working conditions and entitlements of working Australians.

14 Labor is committed to building a modern, fair and flexible workplace relations system. Labor believes that a flexible workplace relations system based on a skilled workforce, secure employment and increased productivity is a key element of a modern, prosperous Australian economy and is essential for building and sustaining prosperity for all Australians.

15 Labor believes workplace relations should be based on harmonious and productive relationships between employers and employees. Workplace relations laws should be balanced and should promote fairness, flexibility, productivity, job security, employment growth and good wages and working conditions.

16 Labor believes that the best outcomes for both employees and employers come about through cooperation at the enterprise level. Industrial relations laws should encourage productive workplace relations by fostering collective bargaining at the level of individual enterprises and recognising the right of employees to collective bargaining.

17 Labor believes all employees are entitled to a strong safety net of minimum standards, consisting of ten legislated National Employment Standards and a modern award system.

18 Labor supports initiatives to improve the balance between work and family life, including flexibility for employees to combine work and family responsibilities, take personal leave for caring responsibilities and the right not to have to work excessive and unsociable work hours.

19 Labor believes that employees have fundamental democratic rights to representation in the workplace, that employees have a right to freedom of association and that employees' rights to be represented by a union must be respected.

20 Labor supports international labour standards and their effective implementation in Australia and supports the International Labour Organisation in its objective of promoting decent work for all and raising labour and social standards.

21 Labor believes that unions and union delegates have an important role to play in building harmonious and productive workplaces, facilitating workplace change, resolving disputes as they arise, improving occupational health and safety, and improving access to ongoing training opportunities.

22 Labor believes it is essential that balance in the workplace is achieved through an independent umpire who can help resolve disputes and ensure the fair application of workplace laws.

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23 Labor is committed to building retirement income security for all Australians, building on the

universal superannuation system established by previous Labor Governments in cooperation with the union movement and business organisations.

24 Labor believes the level of work related injuries and illness remains unacceptably high and is committed to creating safer workplaces and ensuring that injured workers are entitled to compensation and assistance.

25 Labor believes that Australia’s trade unions, as the legitimate representative of the workforce, should be fully consulted and involved across a range of industrial, economic and social issues.

Accordingly, Labor in government will aim to include unions along with business, community and other appropriate interests in constituted Boards, Committees and consultative bodies that provide advice to the government.

Creating fair workplaces

26 Labor's commitment to fairness in the workplace is reflected in its commitment to a decent safety net for all working people, the right to collective bargaining, the right to equal pay for work of equal or comparable value, protection from discrimination in employment, protection from unfair dismissal, entitlement to redundancy pay and access to an independent umpire to assist in resolving disputes. These measures are each important to ensuring that the Australian belief in the fair go is reflected in our working lives.

27 Labor will build on the foundations it established through the abolition of WorkChoices and the building of a new, fair and flexible industrial relations system that has stopped the making of Australian Workplace Agreements, introduced a new no-disadvantage test that protects employees from losing basic entitlements without compensation, and built a decent safety net.

28 At the foundation of Australia's new workplace relations system is the right for employees to join together and bargain in good faith for decent pay and conditions, generally at the enterprise level, or by agreement with more than one employer. Labor believes this is the best means to ensure fair and productive workplace relations, providing flexibility for both employers and employees.

Recognising that one size does not fit all, Labor has also provided the flexibility for employers who have an especially close connection to apply to bargain together

29 Labor also understands that for most workers, their individual bargaining power is limited and that their best chance for achieving fair and decent outcomes is to combine with their fellow workers and act collectively to advance their interests. Labor is committed to a workplace relations system that supports and respects the role of trade unions in our nation's workplaces. Labor supports measures to ensure delegates are able to organise and effectively represent employees including paid training leave.

30 Labor believes in the fundamental right of employees to collective bargaining. Where a majority of employees want to bargain employers must respect this. Once a bargaining process has commenced, all parties must engage in bargaining in good faith. While responsibility for resolving disagreements should exist at the workplace level, the independent umpire will be able to enforce orders to bargain in good faith. Labor believes all employees and employers, in every workplace, are entitled to the same basic rights and responsibilities.

31 Labor supports the system of awards that has provided relevant minimum standards for generations of Australian workers. Labor is committed to a modern award system that is simpler and more relevant to the workplaces of the 21st century, while also addressing the needs of workers in different industries and occupations. Labor has initiated the process of modernising the award system so that awards are simpler and no workers will be worse off.

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32 Labor is committed to helping young parents with raising children and assisting in managing work

and family responsibilities, through the provision of paid parental leave, rights to unpaid parental leave of up to two years, the right to request working on a part-time basis or other flexible work arrangements and the right to work reasonable but not excessive hours.

33 Labor also recognises that although some parents would prefer to stay at home and care for their children on a full-time basis when their children are pre-school age, many cannot afford this option.

Labor will work to ensure that parents can exercise this choice. Labor recognises that employees with caring responsibilities for other dependants require assistance in managing their work and caring roles. Labor will examine the desirability of extending flexible work entitlements to all carers.

34 Recognising the fact that low paid workers in key industries often do not have access to bargaining, Labor is committed to a low-paid bargaining stream in which workers who are substantially reliant on the safety net and have not previously had access to bargaining are able to participate in bargaining through a special authorisation from the independent umpire.

35 Labor is committed to the establishment of Fair Work Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure that workplace laws are understood and implemented. Labor believes these bodies should provide practical, quick and low-cost assistance to help employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities.

36 In implementing the new workplace relations system, Labor will:

• Work with state governments to achieve referrals of power or other forms of harmonisation to achieve a truly national workplace relations system for the private sector.

• Undertake education activities to ensure employers and employees understand and comply with their rights and obligations under the new system, including programmes directed at young workers and people living in regional and rural areas.

• Support the provision of education and training to employers, employees and unions aimed at achieving cooperative and harmonious workplace relations, improved workplace productivity and effective resolution of disputes at the workplace level.

• Work with unions and employers to ensure that employees have access to adequate information on their workplace rights, relevant industrial agreements, occupational health and safety and other employment information.

• Work with unions and employers to ensure employers respect all workers' right to join a union without hindrance or discrimination, and assist with workers joining through utilisation of modern payment methods such as direct debit.

• Work with State and Territory governments to achieve a national minimum standard for long service leave to form part of the National Employment Standards and facilitate schemes that provide portability of entitlements between employers where those entitlements would otherwise be lost to the employee.

• Work with State and Territory governments to ensure consistent treatment of public holidays, including the issue of the treatment of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day where they fall on weekends.

• Seek to address the gender pay gap, which remains unacceptably high. In particular when Fair Work Australia is conducting periodic reviews of modern awards it will take into account the principle of pay equity.

• Encourage secure work, reasonable hours of work and work arrangements that assist employees to meet their family responsibilities.

• Encourage and support employers and unions to develop working time arrangements that are consistent with employees' preferences and needs, reduce excessive working hours, maximise employment creation and help employees meet their family responsibilities.

• Labor will provide wage levels for apprentices and trainees that fairly balance the need for a living wage with the need to encourage employers to train the next generation of skilled employees.

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• Consult and work with unions, employers and community organisations to remove obstacles to

the employment of people with disabilities.

• Protect vulnerable seafarers in the coasting trade and promote fair labour standards in the Australian shipping industry.

• Support the work of the International Labour Organisation, particularly within our region, to improve international labour standards and champion respect for internationally recognised workplace rights.

• Abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission from 1 February 2010 and ensure that the new Fair Work inspectorate provides a balanced and effective compliance regime, which will provide procedural and substantive fairness to all parties in the construction industry.

37 Labor recognises that industrial tribunals have traditionally provided a low cost forum to resolve day to day workplace grievances. Labor’s new regime of dispute settlement provides for assistance from Fair Work Australia, informal small claims procedures in the courts and enforceable undertakings to the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure that effective, low cost, informal and prompt resolution of disputes continues as a feature of our workplace laws. In consultation with employers and unions the operation of these new procedures will be monitored.

38 Labor will in consultation with business, unions and other stakeholders monitor the implementation of its workplace relations laws in practice to:

• Address any unintended consequences; • Measure their effectiveness in promoting cooperative and productive workplaces and fairness and representation at work; and • Monitor the operation of the laws to ensure the use of individual flexibility arrangements are

mutually beneficial.

Outworkers

39 Labor recognises the disadvantaged position of outworkers in the TCF sector. Outworkers require specific regulatory protection in order to control the exploitative conditions under which they are employed.

40 Labor is committed to working in partnership with States and Territories to harmonise existing State laws and regulations dealing with outworkers within 12 months to ensure outworkers are employed under secure, safe and fair systems of work by ensuring:

• Outworkers will have nationally consistent rights to legal redress and protection that are of no lesser standard than that currently applying in State outworker legislation; • An end to the artificial distinction between so called ‘employee’ outworkers and ‘contract’ outworkers by deeming all outworkers to be employees; and • That the special Right of Entry provisions regarding Outwork in the TCF industry apply to

sweatshop workers.

41 In order to participate and take a lead role in global efforts to end the exploitation of home-based workers, Labor will accede to the ILO-C177 Home Work Convention, 1996, Convention Concerning Home Work.

A national agenda for workplace safety and workers'

compensation 42 Labor is committed to building on the significant progress that has been made towards establishing national occupational health and safety laws.

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43 Labor will advance its workplace safety agenda through Safe Work Australia, the national body

overseeing the development of model occupational health and safety laws.

44 Labor will work cooperatively with the states and territories to harmonise occupational health and safety frameworks, including the Commonwealth's own activities, to reflect best health and safety practice within Australia consistent with the best international standards.

45 Labor believes that the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act should be amended to provide income protection to employees who are injured during breaks in work or while travelling to and from work.

46 Labor will work with farm organisations, unions and across governments to develop tripartite codes of practice for workplace safety on farms, fishing vessels and in forests. Where codes fail to improve safety on farms, government will introduce appropriate regulation. Labor also supports research into farm safety and support measures to raise the profile of farm safety.

47 Labor notes there is evidence of a clear link between certain commercial practices in the road transport industry and poor safety outcomes. Low rates of pay and practices such as fining drivers for missing delivery slots contribute to excessive driving hours, overloading and speeding. The resulting vehicle accidents bring trauma and cost to the entire community.

48 The Government commissioned Wright/Quinlan Report made a clear case for reform. Labor welcomes the government’s decision to prioritise action to protect owner drivers and employees in the road transport industry by working with the industry to implement reforms that will establish and maintain safe rates, conditions and payment systems for employees and owner drivers. The system will be able to respond to changes in industry conditions and will provide an effective means of resolving disputes. The system will cover all parties in the transport supply chain and be accompanied by a strong and effective education and enforcement regime.

Protecting the entitlements of all employees

49 Labor believes that times of economic uncertainty underscore the need for adequate social safety nets and for the protection of employees' entitlements.

50 Labor believes that all employees should be protected from unfair dismissal, not only to prevent workers being sacked for no good reason, but also because giving supervisors and employers the right to hire or fire at whim tilts the balance of power in the workplace against employees and can contribute to a culture of intimidation and bullying.

51 Labor believes that employees have a basic right to redundancy pay, as reflected in the National Employment Standards and subject to variation in awards or enterprise agreements. Redundancy pay can cushion individuals and families from the immediate financial impact of the loss of work and are especially important during a period of economic downturn.

52 The global financial crisis also underscores the importance of the protection of employee entitlements in circumstances of company collapse.

53 To protect employees from the impact of the global downturn and from the risk of company failure, Labor will:

• Develop a fair, effective and enforceable entitlements scheme that provides the most effective mechanism to protect all employee entitlements including an improved ranking of employee entitlements relative to other creditors, ensuring that employers and directors meet their responsibilities, and that any burden placed on taxpayers is reasonable.

• There is an obligation on employers to make proper provisions for employee entitlements.

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• Take special steps to protect those most vulnerable to the global financial crisis - school

leavers, apprentices and trainees, the newly unemployed (especially older people), the long term unemployed and those in vulnerable regions.

• Provide new training opportunities to Australians who are vulnerable to unemployment.

• Encourage and support employers, unions and employees to work together to find creative and flexible ways of supporting jobs and keeping employees in work during the global economic recession.

• Establish a broad public inquiry into income security and job protection involving structured representation from union's, employer's, the welfare sector and Government.

54 Labor laws will ensure that a transfer of business, corporate restructure, or insourcing or outsourcing arrangements are not be able to be used as a means of avoiding the obligations in an enterprise agreement or award.

55 Labor will facilitate schemes that provide portability of leave entitlements between employers where those entitlements would otherwise be lost to the employee.

A national paid parental leave scheme for Australian

working families 56 Labor believes a national paid parental scheme will help to boost productivity, allowing parents to maintain their skills, maintain a connection to their profession and workplaces, and transition from work life to family life more easily.

57 Labor supports a national paid parental leave scheme not less than the current minimum ILO maternity leave standard. Implementing a paid parental leave scheme will bring Australia into line with the rest of the developed world and secure a new benefit that will help new mothers, working families, and the national economy.

Building superannuation assets for working families

58 Labor believes that employees should be able to access low cost, profit for member (not-for-profit) superannuation funds through their workplace, industrial awards and other instruments. Awards should contain profit-for-member funds as the default fund.

59 Labor will ensure that all statutory and industrial superannuation obligations and statutory and voluntary superannuation entitlements are protected for Australian employees.

60 Labor recognises that the increasing number and proportion of older Australians requires action by government to create a comprehensive retirement incomes policy, ensuring a guaranteed decent minimum retirement income for all Australians.

61 Labor will build on the historic achievement made with the trade union movement, employers and superannuation providers, to establish a comprehensive retirement incomes system, based on:

• Government-guaranteed age pensions with appropriate means testing.

• Compulsory superannuation coverage for all employees that will be increased over time to ensure adequate retirement savings.

• Incentives to encourage voluntary superannuation contributions.

62 Labor will continue to strengthen and develop this system to provide Australians with a higher retirement income.

63 To achieve this Labor will set clear goals for levels of retirement income, in particular levels of compulsory superannuation. Labor will establish objective benchmarks against which the

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adequacy of a person’s retirement income can be assessed that can inform policy about the

required level of compulsory superannuation and taxpayer support for retirement savings. The central principle for the design and operation of the superannuation system is for all parties to operate in the long-term best interests of the member.

64 Labor will provide a retirement income system which:

• Is universal; • Guarantees all Australians a decent minimum retirement income; • Better protects retirement investments; • Is simple and cost effective to administer; • Is fair and equitable in its operation and outcomes; and • Enables employees to transition to retirement including retaining the existing preservation rules

and timetable relating to access to superannuation savings.

65 Labor supports a universal retirement incomes system which ensures that no Australian is left without an adequate retirement income and which involves greater integration and coordination of the pensions and superannuation systems, to reduce complexity and enhance stability.

66 Labor understands that balancing competing and complex issues such as an ageing population, a legacy of skill shortages, constraints on public expenditures, population constraints in the face of environmental challenges requires sensitive and inclusive policy making.

67 Labor’s accepts that increasing the retirement age which older Australians can access the age pension will not solve the policy challenges outlined above.

68 Labor will pursue policies to enhance flexible mature age working arrangements including where appropriate to allow older Australians to remain in the workforce, where they wish to do so.

69 Labor accepts that working Australians who have spent a lifetime working in manual occupations need special consideration and support.

70 Labor also rejects propositions being advanced by some that the age at which Australians can access their compulsory superannuation entitlements should be extended beyond the current age requirements.

71 Labor supports a guaranteed minimum retirement income based on an income support payment which is (1) at least 27.7 per cent of Male Total Average weekly earnings (2) indexed twice a year to the greater of prices, pensioner costs of living or average wages, and (3) supplemented by superannuation contributions, including co-contributions for low income people or people with limited labour force participation.

72 Labor supports a retirement incomes system with better security and protection which:

• Provides protection and compensation in the event of theft or fraud.

• Ensures fees and charges are transparent and are monitored and capped where appropriate, and does not include commissions on compulsory contributions • Maximises returns through a competitive environment balanced by the safe, stable, and longterm approach to be delivered by superannuation investment providers.

• Provides an appropriate balance of regulatory oversight and activity to protect fund members through a representative, balanced trustee structure and independent dispute process.

73 Labor supports a fair, simple, safe and equitable retirement income system which:

• Is streamlined to improve efficiency and minimise all costs, including , the auto rolling together of 'lost' accounts and simplified disclosure arrangements;

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• Allows superannuation funds to include death, disability insurance and income protection

insurance; • Provides access to lump sum benefits; • Has appropriate default mechanisms and allows individuals to make informed choices about

their options through ongoing education campaigns; • Provides taxation treatment of retirement income investments that is fair, progressive, equitable and administratively efficient; • Prevents gender discrimination; • Provides equitable treatment to same-sex couples including for superannuation; • Ensures equity and fairness in the division of benefits in the event of the ending of a relationship;

and

• Is regularly reviewed to ensure that older Australians share in the growth and prosperity of the country.

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Chapter 5: An Education Revolution for

Australia's future 1 In the 21st century Australia's prosperity will depend on how much and how well we invest in human as much as physical capital. Labor's goal is therefore to make Australia one of the most highly educated and skilled nations on earth.

2 Labor has always been the party of educational opportunity. We view education as the great enabler that helps individuals achieve their full potential, that gives our industries the knowledge and skills they need to innovate and become more productive, and that promotes social mobility and social harmony. In the age of global warming, scientific education and research will be necessary to help prevent dangerous climate change.

3 Successive Labor governments have established and invested in education at all levels: early childhood, the primary and secondary years, vocational education and training (VET) and university education. Labor is continuing this tradition through our Education Revolution to lift the quality and equity of education at every level. It will prepare a new generation of Australians for the jobs and the world of tomorrow.

The Liberal legacy: neglecting investment in our people

4 The Liberal Party failed a generation of Australian families by not providing the next generation of Australians with the first rate education necessary for Australians to be able to achieve their full potential.

5 The Liberal Party squandered the opportunity of the boom years by neglecting education and training, leaving Australia to fall behind many of its competitors who have been increasing their investment in education and training.

6 The Liberal Party neglected the crucial investment in early childhood education that can give all young Australians, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the best opportunities for learning and development. This failure left Australia with one of the lowest levels of investment in early childhood learning among all industrialised nations.

7 Instead of investing in lifting the quality of all schools no matter which stream or system to which they belonged, the Liberal Party played politics with schools. They set school system against school system, parents against teachers, and vocational education and training against universities. Schools were dragged into ideologically-driven conflicts instead of being supported in the challenging work of preparing a new generation of Australians with the skills they will need for the jobs of the future.

8 The Liberals neglected vocational education and training in the midst of a severe national skills crisis, turning away hundreds of thousands of applicants from TAFE colleges because of years of failing to provide adequate funding.

9 Cutbacks in funding for universities created severe financial strains for many universities, forcing them to become reliant on overseas students and masters' programs, and resulting in overcrowded facilities and crumbling infrastructure. At the same time, the Liberal imposed huge increases in university fees, making Australia one of the most expensive nations in the world for tertiary education and leaving many students with enormous debts while others could not afford to undertake university study

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10 The failure to invest in our nation's human capital held the Australian economy back during the

period of the long global economic boom, and has imposed greater strains on the economy during the global downturn because of the urgent need for re-investment in our national education and training systems.

Labor's principles: equity and access to a quality

education 11 Labor believes that: • All Australians, regardless of their social background, have the right to a high quality education to enable them to reach their full potential.

• Good education in the early years is crucial for the development of critical foundational learning skills necessary for later educational success. Early childhood education should therefore be universally available, affordable and of the highest quality.

• Every Australian in every community should be able to access a free, secular, high quality government schooling and government policies should recognise this. Adequate public funding significantly contributes to the quality of public education and training.

• Greater equity in educational outcomes is important for strengthening social inclusion and promoting opportunity. The achievement of this requires a socially representative public school of the highest quality in every community which offers every child an excellent education.

• The right to education demands an environment free from bullying and harassment, including racist, sexist or homophobic bullying and harassment.

• Our publicly funded schools are among our most important community institutions, and should be places where young Australians learn about their civic rights and are immersed in practising values and ethical literacy of active citizenship for the maintenance and renewal of our democracy.

• The right of families to choose non-government schooling should be supported by public funding that reflects need and is consistent with the creation of a diverse and inclusive society.

• Government has a clear responsibility to ensure that all students have access to high quality teaching and learning opportunities. Labor will give priority to this imperative in collaboration with state and territory governments, education authorities and the teaching profession, to ensure that support for teachers to develop and improve is enhanced.

• VET is crucial for the creation of a socially mobile, high-wage, high-skill workforce, making the rejuvenation of VET a national priority.

• Australia's universities and other higher education institutions play a vitally important role in providing opportunities, teaching knowledge and skills and conducting research for the benefit of society, industry and the environment; and must be funded for the task.

• Academic freedom must be guaranteed and protected at all times against all forms of commercial and political pressure.

• Opportunities should be available through our educational institutions including VET and universities, for career enhancing learning and life-long learning in older age.

• Education and training is fundamental to reducing Indigenous disadvantage and providing opportunities for Indigenous people. Labor is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities and families to develop and implement education and training access, attendance and outcomes in order to close this gap.

Early childhood education and care

12 Labor's Education Revolution regards early childhood education and care for our young children as national priorities. This includes the expansion of high quality, integrated, accessible and affordable early learning and care programs.

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13 Labor recognises that experiences in early childhood heavily influence the opportunities and life

chances of young Australians. Learning and development therefore must be at the centre of our system of early childhood education and care (ECEC). Creating this 21st century early childhood education and care system is the responsibility of all levels of government. Our goal is to provide universal preschool education for all children by 2013.

14 Labor will work to create nationally consistent early education standards in cooperation with early childhood educators, ECEC providers and unions, looking specifically at the role of play-based learning, pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills, and the integration of care and learning in all early childhood settings.

15 Labor is committed to:

• Providing high quality early education and care options which are flexible, accessible, affordable and convenient for parents.

• Ensuring government funding is tied to workforce and quality care outcomes.

• Supporting employment and education participation through the provision of early education and care and out of school hour care options which are flexible, accessible and affordable.

16 Labor believes that cost must not be a barrier to early childhood education and care, and will work with all state and territory governments to make early childhood education and care services more affordable for families

17 Labor has supported working families by lifting the Childcare Tax Rebate to 50 per cent of out-of- pocket costs and made it available to all parents with children in childcare on a quarterly basis.

18 Labor will better target assistance to overcome income and location disadvantage in accessing of early childhood education and care.

19 Labor believes that quality care for children can only be provided by a highly skilled, professional and well-paid workforce. To this end, Labor is:

• Cutting tuition fees for students taking Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses in Children's Services at TAFE colleges around Australia.

• Creating additional university places in Early Childhood Education courses.

• Providing additional financial support to early childhood educators working in hard-to-staff areas, with assistance to reduce HECS-HELP debts incurred through their studies.

20 Labor supports:

• Improving wages and conditions for existing workers and to assist in the recruitment of new qualified workers.

• Addressing occupational health and safety concerns including immunisation and first aid courses for children's services workers and additional cleaning staff.

• Better matching supply and demand of childcare places.

21 Furthermore, Labor will:

• Coordinate a national program of recognition of prior learning for experienced childcare professionals to attain formal qualifications.

• Support dedicated programming time in centres.

• Work to improving staff-to-child ratios in childcare centres, to improve quality of care by enabling childcare professionals to develop secure attachments with children.

• Work with state and territory governments to phase in a Certificate III in Children's Services as a mandatory minimum qualification for childcare professionals.

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High standards for all in every school

22 Equity in education demands that standards must be raised in every school. Labor's Education Revolution will raise standards in Australian schools by improving teacher quality, creating a national curriculum, improving school-to-work transitions and investing in new digital technologies, school buildings and other modern facilities.

23 Australia must increase the proportion of young people completing 12 years of school. To encourage higher levels of national achievement, Labor has set a number of important targets to be met through the COAG process. By 2020 Labor will:

• Raise year-12 equivalent retention rates to 90 per cent.

• Halve the proportion of adult Australians without Year 12 or an equivalent qualification.

• At least halve the gap in Year 12 attainment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

24 Labor understands and values the benefits that flow from parental involvement in education, especially in disadvantaged communities. Labor will work towards a more systematic approach to supporting parent engagement in our schools.

25 Labor believes that every Australian school student should have access to the teaching and learning resources needed to achieve the full range of learning outcomes contained in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians. Access to these resources should not depend on the financial capacities of individual school communities; it must be universal.

26 Labor recognises that a strong education system committed to the highest possible academic standards for every child is essential for the creation of a fair and prosperous society.

27 Labor recognises the excellent work currently performed by the nation's teachers and lecturers, in often difficult circumstances.

28 Labor supports a mandatory Indigenous Studies component as part of all teachers' pre-service training and will work with teacher educators and with the teaching profession to ensure that all teachers have a good understanding of Indigenous education issues and the knowledge to work effectively with Indigenous communities and families.

29 Labor understands the important role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education workers and teachers play in achieving successful education outcomes for students. Labor will work with state and territory governments to develop effective recruitment and professional development strategies to increase the number of Indigenous educators within the system.

30 Labor believes that schooling must be shaped by Australian society and culture, and keep pace with the times, to strive for educational and intellectual excellence, to contribute to the development of shared values that sustain democratic life and to foster innovation, awareness, creativity and optimism towards a shared future.

31 Labor will work cooperatively with the states and territories to raise and better target school funding, to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes, to improve teacher quality, and to provide necessary support for low socio-economic schools and students most in need.

32 Greater equity in educational outcomes is important for strengthening social inclusion and promoting opportunity. Labor believes every local community should have access to quality government schooling which offers every child an excellent education.

33 Labor will continue to give priority to equity in schooling, to ensure that every student can achieve their full potential and focus the right support on those who are not currently participating or achieving what they could, including those whose participation is harmed by bullying and

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harassment. This will be achieved through a comprehensive approach to the planning, funding and

reform of schools, where targeted initiatives complement the base of adequate and appropriate resources needed in all schools.

34 Poverty remains the greatest indicator of disadvantage and the single most important barrier to educational success. Labor recognises that schools that serve communities with many low income families need specialised support for teachers, student counselling and community engagement, and additional resources to provide that support. Labor will provide targeted resources to schools with concentrations of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their educational participation and achievement.

35 To lift standards and quality, Labor will improve transparency and accountability at all levels. In return for higher levels of investment, Labor will expect increased effort from educational authorities, schools and students.

36 Labor will adopt new funding arrangements for all schools that reflect the following principles:

• Commonwealth, state and territory funding policies will be aligned to provide a coherent national approach to the resourcing of schools.

• A new era of transparency and stronger use of evidence to inform the allocation of resources and lift educational outcomes across all schools and all sectors.

• Public funding should be subject to all schools in all sectors meeting exacting quality standards for curriculum and teaching, ensuring maximum value in the use of public resources and meeting consistent accountability and reporting requirements.

• Parents, teachers and members of the community should have access to nationally comparable information that details a school's results, its workforce, its financial resources and the student population it serves. Transparent reporting of student and school achievement must be designed to aid improvement rather than contribute to division within and among schools. It must also occur in a way that does not identify individual students.

• The same transparency and accountability requirements will apply to both government and non- government schools.

• Government's have a prime obligation to adequately and properly fund government schools in order to provide high quality public schooling that is accessible to all children and young people.

37 Labor believes that Australia should have a consistent, world class national curriculum suited to the needs of all students in the contemporary world. Labor will develop this through the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, which brings together for the first time the functions of curriculum development, assessment and reporting at a national level. This includes the collaborative development of the National Curriculum, initially in the core areas of English, Maths, the sciences and history. Labor acknowledges that the content of what is learnt in Australia's education systems should be inclusive of Indigenous cultures and perspectives and will ensure this is part of the National Curriculum.

38 Labor is committed to providing better access to trades training in our secondary schools. Labor believes a trades education is a great way for young Australians to pursue an important career path and to contribute to national prosperity. Labor's Trades Training Centre Program will ensure that over the next decade more Australian students can access a VET education in new or upgraded trade and vocational education and training facilities.

39 Labor recognises the potential for information and communications technology (ICT) to accelerate learning and improve educational outcomes. To ensure Australian schools are using ICTs to improve learning and that access is universal, Labor will continue to invest in new digital technology for all Australian school children.

40 To this end, Labor's Digital Education Revolution will continue to:

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• Provide new information and communication technology for all secondary school students in

years 9-12.

• Improve broadband connectivity to schools via the National Broadband Network.

• Develop more training options for teachers to update their ICT skills.

• Create new online curriculum tools and resources to support Australia's new National Curriculum.

41 Labor recognises that building the Education Revolution means building the school facilities of the future. Labor believes that the physical condition of our schools must reflect the importance of education to society. Rundown school facilities cannot project the necessary level of dignity involved in the pursuit of knowledge and skills.

42 Labor will invest in Australia's biggest ever school building modernisation program by providing funding for new school infrastructure projects in every school to upgrade and build new facilities, such as libraries, multipurpose halls and science and language classrooms. This will bring our schools into the 21st century, and prepare them to deal with the challenges of the future.

Providing a strong transition from school to work or

training 43 Labor believes that the transition from school to work is a crucial time in every person's life. Those students who do not make a successful transition from school to work face the prospect of diminished opportunities and the heightened risk of long episodes of unemployment throughout

their adult life.

44 Labor is committed to education policy reforms to improve the school-to-work transition for young Australians. Labor recognises that governments must do all they can to encourage young people to stay at school, to develop a range of learning pathways within and alongside schools, and to support students in the world beyond school if they choose to leave.

45 Labor will:

• Aim to lift the proportion of young Australians achieving Year 12 or its equivalent (including TAFE, adult and community education, apprenticeships and traineeships) to 90 per cent.

• Provide financial and other support, incentives, jobs programs and related training, for those young people outside the formal education and training system.

• Promote collaboration between business, unions and educational providers to enhance the participation of young people in post-school learning or work pathways.

• Provide better access to career pathways and qualifications so that all young people can remain connected to further learning or work after leaving school.

• Seek to eliminate inappropriate duplication between Commonwealth, state, territory and local government roles and services in the education system.

• Promote opportunities for career progression and job enrichment to further social inclusion.

The vocational education and training system of the

future 46 Labor recognises that education and training will have an important role to play in generating a recovery from the global economic recession. Labor believes our long-term economic prospects will be brighter if we emerge from the crisis more highly educated and skilled than before, so that

Australia can create high skill, high wage jobs of the future. A strong education and training sector is vital to ensuring Australia can transition into the low carbon pollution economy of the future.

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47 Labor is proud of the strong role played by the labour movement in building the VET sector, from its

beginnings in the working men's colleges and mechanics institutes of the 19th century, to the great expansion of the 1980s and 1990s. The results can be seen today in the unmatched prosperity and independence enjoyed by millions of Australians with trade and para-professional qualifications.

48 Labor believes Australia's VET sector and universities, while remaining separate institutions, must provide educational pathways for all Australians, to reflect the demand for knowledge and skills in every industry and the expansion of new knowledge-intensive service industries (including such industries as early learning and aged care) which have narrowed the traditional divide between knowledge-based and vocationally-based education.

49 Labor believes Australia's VET system will require sustained levels of investment and modernisation to play its full role in this future and to help individual Australians develop the skills they need to obtain secure, sustainable and satisfying employment.

50 Labor recognises that the current tough economic times require even stronger emphasis on skills for future workforce development. Labor will:

• Ensure that all young people are equipped with the qualifications necessary for a successful transition to a secure working future. The proportion of young people without year 12 qualification or equivalent and the proportion who are not engaged in full time work or full time education and training will be reduced.

• Ensure that the proportion of the existing workforce without post school qualifications is reduced and the level of the qualifications held is increased. Labor regards this as an essential step in increasing participation rates in the labour market, improving the productive performance of our industries, increasing innovation, reducing unemployment and underemployment, and enabling workers and firms to better adapt to workplace change.

• Lift the level of literacy and numeracy in the population as a whole, including among existing workers so as to remove this critical barrier to participation in further education and training and more productive work.

• Ensure that workers in carbon intensive industries can access the training and qualifications they need to support low carbon pollution practices in existing carbon intensive industries and in new low pollution activities.

51 Labor will build a VET system based upon the following principles:

• A national system, with high quality nationally-accredited qualifications which connects to further pathways in work, learning and the community.

• The embodiment of quality in all aspects of delivery and assessment.

• The VET sector's transparent governance, funding and performance.

• Competency-based qualifications that are developed by Industry Skills Councils in cooperation with industry stakeholders and Skills Australia.

• Accessibility that allows new workers, existing workers, youth and industry participants to easily have their needs met.

• The VET system's diversity, with the core role of TAFE supported by a range of private providers.

• The system's capacity to contribute to innovation and productivity.

• Ensuring quality through professional teaching qualifications and standards for VET teachers

52 To strengthen these foundations, Labor will:

• Ensure the Australian economy has the qualified skills base it needs to grow, innovate and prosper by expanding opportunities for VET, through apprenticeships or institutional-based learning.

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• Equip Australians with relevant, valued and long-term qualifications and maintain the integrity of

Australian trade qualifications by ensuring that there is an effective and thorough system in place to recognise skills obtained both domestically and overseas.

• Maximise training opportunities for existing workers to continually update and raise their post- school qualifications and skill levels, in order to prevent workers being forced into low-skilled and precarious employment.

• Meet the needs of people from educationally and vocationally disadvantaged backgrounds so that they can gain qualifications and employable skills, including those who would benefit from 'second chance' opportunities for education and training.

• Support TAFE in its dual roles of training provider and as a key access point for community education and ensure that it is not undermined by competition based on low cost and quality.

• Require the training system to be more responsive to the needs of individuals and their employers particularly through flexible delivery methods, better integration of work and learning and more effective recognition of prior learning.

• Encourage the inclusion in qualifications of transferable skills and knowledge which will equip workers for innovation and which will enable workers to adapt to new technology and workplace change.

• Ensure that training is particularly targeted at high quality and higher level training and at lifting the participation of those who have been hardest to engage in further education and training.

• Increase the linkage between public training investment and the actual take up and use of skills and qualifications in more innovative and productive workplaces and in more secure employment. This will involve the greater engagement of employers, the workforce and their unions in identifying skills needed in the workplace and industry, linking on the job learning to national qualifications, encouraging greater employer investment and opportunities for a more productive workplace.

• Recognise that workplace representatives have a key role in promoting training opportunities to existing workers and facilitating greater demand for training.

• Ensure that workers who are in firms and industries which are facing restructuring have access, at the earliest possible time, to broad based training to achieve national qualifications which can improve their chances of secure employment and career paths.

• Extend learning opportunities through affordable, flexible adult and community education and ensure the continued modernisation of infrastructure and better access to these learning opportunities.

• Ensure that training strategies are linked to industry development policy.

• Introduce governance arrangements to support an effective, cooperative national training system with a leading role for government, employers and unions.

• Ensure that all providers of vocational education and training are subject to an efficient, comprehensive and national system of quality assurance including independent and regular auditing.

• Require all providers of vocational education and training to have effective internal mechanisms to deal with student concerns and complaints.

• Ensure that green skills and sustainable practices are included in training packages and relevant VET qualifications.

Boosting apprenticeships and traineeships

53 Labor recognises that the apprenticeship system is the backbone of our skilled trades and technical workforce, providing a valuable and rewarding career for millions of Australians.

54 The apprenticeship system of the 21st century will need to adapt to the changing structure of the workforce by improving the form, structure and duration of apprenticeships and traineeships.

55 An effective apprenticeship system involves a partnership between government, business, unions, TAFE and other training providers. Australian businesses need to provide more apprenticeship

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opportunities. Australian governments at all levels, have an obligation to provide apprentice training

opportunities where possible.

56 Labor will:

• Establish and implement minimum national standards and individual training plans for the protection of apprentices and trainees.

• Focus on quality apprenticeship and traineeship programs and on higher skill levels, ensuring that public funding is directly linked to the level of training effort, to the completion of quality outcomes and to the development of future skill needs.

• Make sure all apprenticeship and traineeship programs deliver full qualifications consistent with the national qualifications framework.

• Ensure that trades qualifications continue to promote a combination of work and on-the-job training, so that the career paths for workers are enhanced.

• Ensure that there is sufficient funding made available for on and off-the-job training for apprentices, especially in rural and regional Australia.

• Develop and enhance the role of group training companies.

Adult and Community Education

57 Adult and community education is an integral component of lifelong learning in Australia. Labor is committed to extending learning opportunities through adult and community education that is affordable, flexible and community-based, and that can adapt to the diverse learning needs of all adults.

58 Labor acknowledges the significant contribution to the education of new arrivals to Australia by adult migration education services.

Greater equity, higher quality teaching and world-class

research at our national universities 59 Labor believes that a strong higher education sector is an essential part of the Education Revolution. Labor believes that Australia must learn from the fact that many other developed and developing nations are working towards specific targets to increase the proportion of their working

age population with higher-education qualifications and seeking to gain a greater economic benefit from their university research and development efforts.

60 Labor believes a strong, affordable and accessible university system committed to academic independence and excellence is vital to Australia's continued transition to a truly knowledge-based economy.

61 Labor will ensure Australian universities are open to all, based on merit and equality. Labor recognises the important role of higher education in shaping a fairer, more socially-inclusive society and is committed to fostering greater participation in tertiary education by Australians from lower income backgrounds and from regional, remote and Indigenous backgrounds.

62 Labor recognises that higher education is vital to enable Australia to achieve other key objectives, including environmental sustainability, greater understanding of other cultures, improved engagement with our region and building a stronger framework of our democracy. All disciplines must be nurtured and supported, and a culture of excellence fostered in all our universities. As part of our efforts to move Australia to a low carbon pollution economy, assist our universities in providing qualifications in high skilled green collar jobs, including planning and design, project management, business management, finance and accounting, and marketing and communications.

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63 Labor supports the role that higher education plays in improving the quality of our lives by fostering

the arts and through the pursuit of self-knowledge. Labor believes that the pursuit of knowledge is an important end in itself, and will support the autonomy of public universities.

64 In implementing the Education Revolution, Labor will:

• Steadily increase levels of national investment in higher education as part of a funding framework that at least maintains the value of public funding for teaching and research in public universities.

• Aim to achieve a national target of 40 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds gaining a tertiary qualification by 2025.

• Aim to raise the proportion of university undergraduate enrolments made up of low socio- economic background students from the present 16 per cent to 20 per cent by 2020.

• Ensure access to a university education is open to all, available on the basis of merit and equity rather than wealth and privilege, through the introduction of innovative programs designed to boost participation from under-represented groups, by ensuring student income support is adequate and properly targeted, and by opposing full fees for Australian undergraduate students in our public universities.

• Focus on the quality of educational outcomes, rather than interfering in the internal management of universities with excessive controls on inputs and processes.

• Legislate to provide strong and effective protection for academic freedom.

• Take measures to increase the size of and quality of the academic workforce necessary to meet future needs.

• As part of its Closing the Gap initiative, set a target of Indigenous participation and retention in higher education.

• Improve the participation and success of students with disabilities, through a national accreditation and quality assurance system, involving the Commonwealth, the states and territories, for universities and all other higher education providers, consistent with nationally agreed protocols.

• Enhance the role of regional universities in the development and support of regional communities.

• Support better regulation of migration agencies, safe and affordable public transport, and require universities to provide effective and comprehensive support for international students • Require high educational standards and corporate integrity and viability from providers of international education and establish independent scrutiny of and quality assurance for the

international education sector.

Removing the barriers to student participation

65 Financial costs can act as a barrier to participation in education. The Bradley Review found that Australian undergraduates are currently paying among the highest levels of tuition fees in the world.

Labor will review public and private contributions as part of a broader examination of the most appropriate discipline and base funding structure for the higher education sector. Labor will continue to support initiatives that reduce educational costs in areas of national priority.

66 Labor supports student involvement in the management of their university communities. To facilitate greater involvement and better educational outcomes, Labor will:

• Ensure that student amenities and services like childcare, health services, counselling, advocacy, and sporting facilities are maintained and accessible at universities.

• Ensure formal student involvement in decision-making structures.

• Require all universities to have an independent, democratic, transparent, securely funded and student-run representative body.

• Safeguard the right for students to voluntarily organise themselves including the ability to elect independent representatives.

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• Protect overseas students studying in Australia by requiring high standards and corporate

integrity from education providers.

• Ensure government assisted income support is available to students who do not have the means to study at university.

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Chapter 6: Preparing Australia for the

health needs of the future 1 Australia's future depends on our ability to tackle the long-term health challenges we face. 2 Health is important to all Australians, at both a personal and a national level. Personally, health affects everything we do—how we work, the time we spend with our children, what we can do in

our free time. Nationally, health has a significant economic impact. Good health boosts productivity; it improves workplace participation; a healthier country delivers a stronger economy. At the same time, widespread poor health chews up valuable economic resources.

3 The delivery of health services must be better managed by federal and state governments. There must be greater and more effective investment. There must be detailed examination of better ways to deliver health care—with better results to show for it. Overlaps and duplication between Commonwealth and state provision of health services must be reduced.

4 Labor will pursue reformed health systems that deliver better services for all Australians, while also providing the long-term reform we need to tackle entrenched problems in health and the social disadvantage it causes.

5 Families must be able to get the care they need, when they need it. For that reason, Labor is deeply committed to the universal provision of quality health care for all Australians.

6 Just as past Labor governments took the far-sighted step of building Medicare, Labor believes that significant reforms are needed to place health care on a sustainable basis, long into the future. This will require extensive changes to meet a range of new health care demands arising from increased rates of chronic disease and the demands of an ageing population.

7 It will also require a far greater focus on prevention and wellbeing. Keeping people well and out of hospital will deliver benefits not only to individuals but to the entire health system, taking pressure off our strained hospitals and allowing governments to use existing resources more effectively.

8 Being active for life through sport and physical activity is a key part of keeping our nation healthy and a central component of Labor's focus on prevention and wellbeing.

9 Because of the vast disparities in health in our community, and because chronic diseases disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, focusing on prevention and delivering universal health care, will play important roles in ending inequity, and closing the appalling seventeen year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The Liberal legacy: abandoning health

10 For twelve years in government, the Liberal Party failed to take proper responsibility for the nation's health, cutting funding and neglecting our public hospitals, while always shifting blame on to State governments for inadequacies in the health system. The Liberal Party has never accepted the centrality of universal public health insurance to the provision of high quality health care to all Australians. In government, the Liberal Party neglected investment in Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and increasingly created two classes of health care for Australians, where high quality care was only available to those who could afford it.

11 The Liberal Party failed to prepare for the emerging health challenges of the future, such as the rise of chronic diseases, an ageing population and the need to invest in preventative health care.

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12 The Liberal Party failed to invest in reform of our hospitals and health care system, to address

inefficiencies and duplication between different levels of the system and build a 21st century health care system capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

13 The Liberal Party's neglect of the health system left Australia exposed to acute shortages of health workers and inadequate health care infrastructure. In government, the Liberals left Australia with a shortage of 6,000 nurses, a queue of 650,000 people on public dental waiting lists and 2,300 older Australians being left in hospital beds every night because of the shortage of aged care places.

Labor's principles

14 Labor believes that: • Australia's public health system should enable all Australians to reach their full potential by providing certainty of care if or when it is needed. Universal healthcare is a public good, and helps to foster broader goals of equity and fairness.

• A good public health system is the foundation of security, opportunity and equality for any society, allowing families and individuals to cope with unanticipated health issues.

• Central to the continuing strength of our health system is a commitment to universal care through Medicare. Labor built Medicare and only Labor has supported Medicare, it is central to our vision of a fairer Australia.

• Health policy and funding should be determined cooperatively instead of being blocked by an unproductive blame game between the Commonwealth and the states and territories.

• Tackling the mounting challenges in the health system, including those caused by increased rates of chronic disease and the demands of an ageing population can only be achieved with a greater focus on primary care and prevention.

• Families should be able to access high quality health care, and any necessary medicines, wherever they live.

• A strong and sustainable health system depends on both public and private health sectors, which complement each other and provide individuals with choices and guarantees of social inclusion.

• Sport is a central component of the preventative health agenda and can play a significant role in achieving outcomes across a range of policy areas.

• Equity in access to health care for our Indigenous Australians is a guiding principle of Labor's approach.

A hospital system that works

15 Labor recognises the central role played by hospitals in health care in Australia, and supports the roles of both public and private hospitals, while believing firmly in the need for a high quality public hospital system accessible to all Australians.

16 Labor is committed to significant reform of the hospital system, anticipating increasing demand in coming years due to higher rates of chronic disease and an ageing population.

17 Labor will end the blame game between the Commonwealth and the states and territories that has characterised health policy in Australia for too long. Different governments must work together, never forgetting that their first duty is to the patient.

18 Labor is committed to addressing the overlap and duplication between the provision of services, and administration in the hospital system, because of the potential to improve services and fund health more efficiently through such reforms.

19 Labor in government will continue to work closely with the states and territories to deliver much- needed reforms to our hospitals, and to improve services in areas including elective surgery,

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emergency services, and transparency and accountability, measures that have been agreed

successfully through the Council of Australian Governments reform processes.

20 Labor will build on the COAG health reforms that are delivering a greater investment in hospitals while tying funding to emergency departments, workforce training, and improving Indigenous health.

21 In line with these achievements, Labor will:

• Work to reduce areas of overlap and duplication between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, with the aim of eliminating inefficiencies and clarifying responsibilities.

• Foster co-operation between all levels of government to improve health services.

• Build on existing investments in hospitals to ensure states and territories are equipped to deliver the health infrastructure that is needed.

• Expand and reform the health workforce to ensure families can get the health care they need, when and where they need it.

• Invest in prevention and primary care, to take pressure off hospitals by keeping people well.

• Deliver specific services to improve the health of Indigenous Australians.

• Focus on improving continuity and coordination of care, especially for Australians with complex and ongoing care needs.

22 Labor will continue to work with the states and territories to tackle the strains on hospital emergency departments, building on the historic COAG agreement to help take pressure off emergency departments, and increase funding for preventative health to keep people healthy.

23 Labor will continue to:

• Support multidisciplinary GP Super Clinics to improve families' access to services that will help them avoid hospital.

• Work on tackling health problems that deliver large numbers of people to emergency care, such as binge-drinking and avoidable GP-type presentations.

• Invest in emergency departments to improve services and the use of technology.

• Train high quality staff to work in emergency services.

24 Labor will continue to work to reduce elective surgery waiting lists, building on the reductions already made, which delivered over 25,000 extra surgeries.

25 Labor is committed to improving transparency and accountability in our hospitals, both public and private. Labor believes that significant reform can be achieved by establishing clear lines of accountability and transparent performance measures. Labor is also committed to using performance incentives to encourage innovation and results.

26 Labor will work with the states and territories to implement the 2008 COAG agreement to implement much more stringent, nationally consistent performance reporting across hospitals, and to work towards delivering an activity-based hospital funding model.

27 Labor will continue to work to:

• Ensure hospital data is reported in a nationally consistent manner.

• Expand hospital reporting to private hospitals.

• Ensure that data collection is expanded across all areas of health, beyond hospitals.

• Utilise performance incentives across a range of areas of health policy to encourage innovation and deliver a focus on outcomes.

• Ensure that people have the information they need to make informed choices about their health care.

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Chapter 6: Preparing Australia for the health needs of the future Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 66

Medicare

28 Labor believes that Medicare is an integral part of Australia's high quality health system. Since 1984, Medicare has ensured that all Australians have access to high quality, affordable health care.

29 Labor believes that Medicare should be retained, defended and strengthened. Labor is opposed to allowing individuals to opt out of Medicare and is opposed to the direct or indirect means testing of Medicare and bulk billing. Medicare should remain the universal, fully funded system for all Australians.

30 Labor is committed to strengthening Medicare to meet future challenges by:

• Ensuring all Australians have fair access to Medicare and to bulk billed GP and specialist services.

• Making the promotion of wellness and the prevention of disease a focus of Medicare.

• Achieving better continuity of care for patients and better integration between Medicare services, acute care and aged care.

• Developing a more flexible Medicare to enable access to genuine multi-disciplinary care delivered by the health care teams of the future.

• Ensuring better access to Medicare after hours and for those in residential aged care.

• Cutting red tape that hinders doctors and takes valuable time away from treating patients.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

31 Labor is committed to ensuring that all Australians have affordable access to essential medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). In particular, Labor will:

• Ensure thorough and timely evaluation of new medicines before their approval for use in Australia.

• Ensure that medicines on the PBS remain affordable.

• Ensure that all medicines available in Australia are safe.

• Work to reduce the harm caused by the misuse of pharmaceuticals, through inadvertent misuse of prescription drugs or fraudulent abuse of the PBS.

• Support the continuing growth of the Australian pharmaceutical industry and recognise its potential to generate jobs and exports for Australia.

A world class health system: supporting public and

private health 32 Labor believes the public and private sectors are both crucial for giving Australia a world-class health system. While governments have sole responsibility for managing the public health sector, they must also support and strengthen private health care.

33 To this end, Labor will:

• Make all efforts to support both public and private health sectors.

• Ensure that public and private health services complement each other.

• Ensure that all necessary services are provided in the public health system.

• Work to improve both systems by encouraging competition, innovation and new uses of both public and private health providers.

• Retain Medibank Private in public ownership.

• Apply high standards to the provision of both public and private health services.

• Regulate the private health industry to ensure that value-for-money products are available to all policy holders.

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• Work to eliminate surprise gap payments for private health insurance holders.

• Work to increase the affordability of private health insurance for all Australians.

• Ensure that patient choice and clinical decision making remain at the heart of health care.

• Ensure that every Australian has access to high quality mental health care and dental care, through the public and private sectors.

Tackling chronic disease

34 Labor recognises that levels of chronic disease are a strong indicator of socio-economic status in Australia, disproportionately disadvantaging poorer communities. This makes tackling chronic disease part of Labor's core mission.

35 In its efforts to tackle chronic disease, Labor will address this disparity by:

• Specifically targeting the causes of chronic disease in economically disadvantaged communities.

• Targeting prevention programs at these communities.

• Working with local communities to develop effective local solutions to combat rising levels of chronic disease.

• Ensuring that health services are able to be accessed by all Australians, wherever they live.

Promoting wellness, preventing disease: healthy

Australians, healthy kids 36 Labor believes that primary care and prevention must play much greater roles in the Australian health system to address the rise of preventable chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, which are placing a growing burden on our health

system.

37 Labor believes that we cannot allow to go unchallenged a situation in which our children may have a lower life expectancy than adults currently enjoy. Labor believes in national leadership to improve the health of Australians and particularly Australian children. This is a vital social priority as well as an urgent economic priority. Australia cannot afford to compound the challenges of an ageing society by having an increasing number of working age adults outside the labour force and in need of medical care because of preventable chronic and complex conditions.

38 Labor recognises that health maintenance, promotion and illness prevention will have vital roles to play in combating the rise of preventable chronic diseases, and that the responsibility for this rests primarily with governments. Progress will, however, also require substantial changes in personal behaviour, which can only be achieved and sustained with the active participation of all levels of government, the non-government sector, health professionals, local communities, and individuals.

39 To enhance preventative health efforts, Labor will:

• Make it simpler for doctors to carry out longer consultations, through the simplification of the Medicare schedule.

• Strengthen the link between patients and their GPs, pharmacists and other health professionals to improve the management of chronic illness, including mental health and dental health.

• Seek to intervene early in the lives of children, to encourage healthy habits for life.

• Take strong action to tackle rates of tobacco use.

• Take clear steps to cut down on binge-drinking, especially the epidemic of youth binge-drinking that is rampant across the country.

• Take strong action to tackle illict drug use.

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• Encourage health professionals to provide advice to people about improving their lifestyles, in

order to reduce significant health problems and hospital admissions.

• Examine what interventions can be taken across the broader community to encourage healthy lifestyles, such as better urban design.

• Work with all levels of government, local communities, health professionals and individuals to find new ways to encourage Australians to live longer, healthier lives.

• Undertake new health education programs, including programs targeted at Indigenous Australians and Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds.

• Recognise that mental health and well-being can only be achieved by activities across a spectrum and will develop programs in health promotion, illness prevention and relapse prevention, as well as treatment, recovery and disability services.

Access to frontline care in the community

40 Labor is committed to providing families with the health care they need, when and where they need it. For this reason, Labor will continue to invest in delivering GP Super Clinics, with multidisciplinary care and convenient access to a range of health professionals.

41 Labor will address the shortfall in health professionals through its increases in GP training places, as well as funding for health workforce training across various professions.

42 At the same time, Labor believes it is necessary to re-examine the artificial barriers that exist between health professionals. Labor believes it should be possible for care to be provided by the right health professional in the right situation, and that this may involve changes to the existing responsibilities of various professionals. Any changes in this area will require close attention to maintaining high levels of safety and quality.

43 To improve the access of families to the frontline care they need, Labor will:

• Deliver Australia's first National Primary Care Strategy, to deliver much-needed reforms in the provision of frontline care.

• Build more GP Super Clinics.

• Promote the development of multidisciplinary care by primary health care teams.

• Continue to invest in training extra health professionals, particularly in rural, regional and outer metropolitan areas of need.

• Examine changes to the responsibilities of health professionals, to remove artificial barriers to the most effective delivery of health care.

• Reduce financial barriers which prevent people from accessing primary health care services provided by general practitioners.

• Invest in primary health care infrastructure.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

44 To improve reproductive health for men and women, Labor will: • Provide universal access to fertility advice and control programs and advice on the safe use of contraceptives.

• Support the rights of women to determine their own reproductive lives, particularly the right to choose appropriate fertility control and abortion and ensure that these choices are on the basis of sound social and medical advice.

• Fund research into the prevention of infertility and fertility control and ensure that access to assisted reproductive technology programs is not determined by economic circumstances or any other form of discrimination.

• Enforce a ban on the cloning of human beings.

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Chapter 6: Preparing Australia for the health needs of the future Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 69

A good early start in life—child and maternal health

45 To build on Labor's investments in child and maternal health, including investment in universal perinatal screening, nurse home visiting programs, Healthy Kids Checks for kids starting school, and programs to improve Indigenous child and maternal health, Labor will:

• Improve the promotion and provision of perinatal services, including depression screening, prevention and treatment.

• Improve the information available to mothers about the options available for childbirth regardless of income or geographical location.

• Increase the ability to access independent midwives and midwife-led models of care.

• Ensure continuity of care is available after a baby is born.

• Continue to implement special programs for Indigenous mothers and babies, to reduce mortality rates and improve health.

• Support and encourage breastfeeding.

• Work to increase the proportion of children born at a healthy birth weight.

• Invest in programs to encourage children to adopt healthy habits for life.

• Make high quality dental services available across the community.

46 Labor is committed to improving the health outcomes of Australian women, and implementing policies to encourage the health system to be more responsive to the needs of women;

• Labor will develop and implement a national women's health policy—the first in almost 20 years.

• Labor will also continue to implement policies to address perinatal depression, to improve prevention, early detection and support services for expectant and new mothers.

• Labor will reform maternity services to improve services and choices available to women, with access to Medicare and the PBS for midwives, more workforce support, and support services.

• Labor will replace BreastScreen Australia's outdated equipment with state of the art digital mammography equipment.

• Labor will support and boost cancer research, treatment and support services, and will establish up to 10 regional cancer centres.

Men's Health

47 • Labor is committed to improving the health outcomes of Australian men, recognising that men are generally poor at visiting their GPs and seeking care when it is needed; • Labor will continue to develop and implement a National Men's Health Policy - the first such policy in Australia's history; • Labor will continue to develop and implement policies aimed at improving male mental health

and addressing the issue of male suicide; • Labor will continue to address the gap in life expectancy between males and females; • Labor will continue to implement policies and programs designed to address issues of prostate

and bowel cancer.

Indigenous health

48 At the November 2008 COAG meeting, Australian Governments agreed to a historic $1.5 billion national partnership on to close the gap on Indigenous health by improving preventative measures, addressing the social determinants of health such as housing, employment and education, and by reducing the incidence of chronic disease and improving Indigenous peoples' access to mainstream health care.

49 Through this and other initiatives, Labor will:

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Chapter 6: Preparing Australia for the health needs of the future Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 70

• Take a comprehensive approach to improving the living standards of Indigenous Australians.

• Foster community control in Indigenous health.

• Increase the number of Indigenous health workers being trained.

• Encourage awareness of Indigenous health needs among all health professionals.

• Significantly increase investment in Indigenous health.

Young people

50 Labor also recognises that young people have specific health needs. Labor will: • Place a particular focus on young people's health needs, including physical and mental health issues, age appropriate service, access to impartial medical advice, privacy of medical records, drug and alcohol education and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

• Adopt an integrated health-based approach to youth suicide that works with existing community structures, including strategies to address depression, neglect, abuse, drug and alcohol problems, access to firearms, discrimination and other contributing factors.

51 Labor recognises the importance of renewing efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, STIs and blood borne viruses, in partnership with the NGO sector.

52 Labor recognises that special effort is required to address the complex and diverse health needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people.

Drug strategy

53 Labor's response to the tragedy of drug abuse and related crime will be comprehensive, encompassing demand and supply reduction strategies, prevention of onset of use and early intervention as well law enforcement and harm minimisation policies. Labor is committed to an evidence-based strategy for dealing with illicit drugs that aims to improve safety in the community by reducing the level of drug-related crime; to reduce the spread of illness; to keep people alive; and to find new ways to reduce the use of illicit drugs in our community.

Mental health

54 Labor recognises that mental illness affect one-in-five Australians, with many Australians experiencing more than one disorder. Labor also recognises that mental illness is often associated with high levels of disability, adding to care pressures.

55 Labor recognises that through action at state, territory and commonwealth levels, Australia has improved mental health service delivery and reform. This has included:

• An increased emphasis on community-based care and a decreased reliance on inpatient services.

• An increased mental health workforce.

• A greater emphasis on the safety, quality and outcomes of care.

56 Labor is committed to ongoing national mental health reform, and will affirm the key role of the Commonwealth in leading and promoting reform of Australia's mental health service system. Labor will work in partnership with the states and territories to:

• Ensure more seamless services that respond flexibly to people's needs.

• Ensure that reform efforts are focused on meeting service gaps, stabilising the mental health system and rebuilding the workforce in order to create a solid base on which to grow innovation.

• Ensure a comprehensive range of area-based community and bed-based public mental health services, which give priority to community-oriented mental health care;

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• Undertake evidence based approaches with reorient mental health policy towards prevention

and early intervention.

• Ensure mental health services are well integrated with other services.

• Develop an open and transparent system of evaluation and accountability.

57 Labor will continue to support the mental health workforce and provide more support for rural and regional mental health services. Labor will:

• Examine the allocation of postgraduate nursing and allied health positions, and strengthen mental health training options in undergraduate courses.

• Consider new innovations in areas of undergraduate training and ensure appropriate VET sector training options for the mental health sector workers, including nurses.

• Seek to improve the retention of psychiatrists and psychologists in the public system, and will work with State and Territory Governments with a focus in areas such as outer suburban areas and rural and regional areas.

58 Labor will work with and consult closely with the experts, including through the new National Advisory Council on Mental Health and an Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council.

Health workforce

59 Labor believes that the role of the health workforce such as doctors, nurses, allied and ancillary health professionals, must be recognised through measures to increase the training and skills of the health workforce. Building on Labor's commitment to increase the numbers of university places open to health, allied and ancillary professionals. Labor is committed to reducing the high attrition rate that affects the health workforce by improving, increasing funding to hospitals and cutting the red tape that doctors, nurses and other allied health and ancillary professionals often have to fight their way through.

60 Labor is committed to boosting Australia's health workforce—by training more doctors, nurses and other health professionals, as well as by making greater use of the skills and expertise of all health professionals.

61 Labor strongly supports the vital work performed by nurses and midwives in our health system and will introduce reforms to give our nurses and midwives access to Medicare and the PBS, which will provide greater access to health services for the community and better recognise their skills and experience. Labor will also expand the role of midwives in maternity care and provide eligible midwives with indemnity cover.

62 Labor believes that all efforts must be made to ensure there is an adequate supply of highly trained doctors nurses, allied and ancillary health professionals and medical educators to all parts of Australia, to ensure that all Australians can access the health care they need.

63 Labor also believes in supporting doctors to work as part of multidisciplinary care teams, to deliver a better range of services to patients and improve the standard of health care available to all Australians.

64 To meet these objectives, Labor will:

• Ensure that Australia educates and trains enough doctors to meet Australia's needs.

• Place a particular focus on improving the supply of doctors to rural and regional Australia.

• Work to improve the retention of doctors in the workforce.

• Deliver high quality training facilities for GP training.

• Continue to provide medical education resources and provision of clinical educational and practise supervisors for interns and related professions.

• Work with both the public and private sectors to develop new training opportunities for doctors.

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• Promote an increase in the number of people from linguistically and ethnically diverse

backgrounds at all levels of the health workforce.

• Increase the numbers of Indigenous Australians at all levels of the health workforce.

65 Labor will work to support nurses by increasing the number of university places available to nurses, and providing incentives to bring nurses back to the workforce. To support and strengthen the nursing workforce, Labor will:

• Invest in providing nurses with the clinical training they need.

• Ensure sufficient university and VET places are available to nursing students.

• Examine what barriers prevent nurses from providing the full suite of services they are trained to provide, and, where possible, abolish them.

• Recognise the valuable role nurses play, and provide nurses with the ongoing training and support they need to expand that role.

• Labor believes that multidisciplinary team-based care is an important element of our health system, and that allied health professionals have an important role to play in such teams. By providing access to allied health professionals in convenient locations, GP Super Clinics make it simpler and easier to access the care that families need.

66 Labor will:

• Invest to provide allied and ancillary health professionals with the clinical training they need.

• Ensure sufficient university places are available to allied and ancillary health students, including for primary health promotion counselling and psychotherapy, and family welfare services.

• Cut the red tape that prevents allied health professionals from providing services effectively and efficiently.

• Encourage and foster multidisciplinary team-based care.

• Support evolving new professional roles in health care professions that better meet the health needs of Australians.

67 Labor believes in the importance of building a national system for recognising the skills of all health professionals, and overcoming the fragmented and inconsistent process of registration and accreditation, which can undermine rigorous standards and public scrutiny.

68 Labor will pursue a nationally consistent system of accreditation and registration, through the National Workforce Agency and will work with health professionals, all governments, and the community to ensure that high standards are set and met for the provision of health care around Australia.

Rural and regional health—delivering access to health

services where people live 69 Labor recognises the historic difficulties that Australians in rural and regional areas have faced in accessing health care compared to people in more urban areas, and that this has contributed to their poorer health status. Labor also understands that lower levels of rural health are compounded

by socio-economic inequalities. Our commitment to regional health is therefore part of a wider rural policy that aims to restore the economic health of rural, regional and remote Australia.

70 Labor has already invested in greater training places for health professionals, which should increase the numbers of health professionals practising in rural and regional areas. GP Super Clinics, many of them placed in areas of workforce shortage, will also help strengthen services available in areas of need. The government has also expanded several programs designed to bolster the health workforce in rural and regional areas, including relevant scholarship programs.

71 To build upon these steps, Labor will:

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• Continue to invest in training the rural and regional health workforce.

• Focus on providing opportunities for students to train in rural and regional areas, to encourage them to return to those areas once their training is completed, and to foster an appreciation of the challenges and rewards involved in practising in areas of need.

• Continue to invest in programs designed to bolster the health workforce in rural and regional areas.

• Provide greater education and professional support to rural doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals to reduce the pressure they currently experience.

• Support measures to encourage doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other crucial heath professionals to relocate and remain in rural and remote communities.

• Expand GP Super Clinics to more areas of need across Australia.

• Examine whether a restructuring of the current professional boundaries that exist between disciplines could yield rewards in delivering better health services in rural and regional Australia.

• Make specific efforts to reduce the rate of youth suicide in rural communities, especially among young males.

The health system of the future

72 Labor recognises the role of new technology in delivering major benefits in health care, including making health services more effective, more accessible and more consumer friendly. At the same time, technological change needs to be carefully managed with close attention to the social and ethical implications and the need for privacy.

73 To drive better use of new technologies, Labor will work, in collaboration with state and territory governments to:

• Build information technology and communication infrastructure and systems that improve the decisions made by consumers, clinicians and health service managers about care, service delivery and policy.

• Ensure that appropriate privacy and security protocols are implemented to protect consumers' rights.

• Work towards the delivery of a universal electronic personal health record.

• Where possible, implement technological solutions to help combat the isolation that is sometimes a factor in delivering health services in rural and regional areas.

Investing in health and medical research

74 Labor will seek to maintain Australia's reputation as a world leader in high quality, innovative research and development activities and will:

• Continue to invest in world class health and medical research.

• Encourage private industry to increase its investment in Australian-based research and development.

• Ensure that health policy is evidence-based, and that clinical practice is similarly grounded in best-practice, based on the best available health and medical research.

• Ensure that comprehensive ethical guidelines to cover both public and private sector research are developed and regularly reviewed which recognise the integrity and intrinsic worth of the human person and which oppose initiatives such as human cloning, which would undermine these critical values.

• Protect the independence of health and medical research, free from political interference.

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Dental

75 Labor is committed to improving the delivery of dental services in Australia and working with the states and territories to reduce public dental waiting lists.

76 Dental health is important to overall general health and Labor recognises the importance of addressing the dental health needs of all Australians. Labor recognises that the lack of access to appropriate dental care for many disadvantaged Australians represents a significant gap in the provision of universal health care. Labor will work towards the goal of universal access to dental care.

77 Labor will establish a Commonwealth Dental Health Program to provide additional dental consultations for up to one million Australians.

78 Labor will provide eligible teenagers with access to preventative dental health checks and will encourage young Australians to continue to look after their teeth once they become independent and move out of home;

Quality aged care

79 Many older Australians rely on aged care, and Labor is committed to the provision of an adequate number of aged care places offering a high standard of care and subject to stringent auditing.

80 Labor will regularly review aged care planning ratios to take into account demographic changes and ensure the supply of aged care appropriately meets current and future demand. Labor will provide additional aged care beds where there is a shortage of residential care beds.

81 Labor recognises that community care is vital to meeting the care needs of an ageing population.

Labor is committed the provision of services that help older Australians remain independent and in their own homes, close to their family and community. Labor recognises the increasing demand for community care services and the need for competitive wage and entitlements outcomes to assist in the attraction and retention of staff and to lead to better quality of care outcomes. Labor will continue to invest in community care services to meets these goals.

Securing quality aged care through a quality workforce

82 Labor recognises the difficult working conditions and pressures faced by the aged care workforce. Labor recognises there is a critical workforce shortage in the residential and community aged care sector. Labor will support the establishment of career structures and pay scales for aged care workers that address wage disparity, ensure adequate training, improve training opportunities and attract and retain quality aged care staff.

83 Through the provision of Productivity Program Places and Recognition of Prior Learning programs, Labor will assist aged care workers to obtain Certificate III vocational aged care qualifications with the aim that Certificate III becomes a mandatory minimum qualification.

84 Labor will encourage nurses back into the workforce with new funding for aged care providers to assist with the cost of re-training and re-skilling.

85 Labor strongly supports the vital work performed by nurses in the aged care. Labor will introduce reforms to give nurses access to Medicare and the PBS which better recognise their skills and experience will provide greater access for older Australians.

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86 Labor in government will introduce minimum staffing levels in residential aged care facilities. Labor

recognises that there has been a high level of staff turnover in the aged care sector and is committed to industry policies that lead to competitive wages and improve basic entitlements.

87 Labor recognises and understands that there is a critical workforce shortage in aged care, particularly in mining boom states and remote and rural areas who struggle to compete for qualified staff.

88 Labor recognises that there is a high level of staff turnover in the aged care sector and is committed to providing competitive wages and improve basic entitlements to ensure aged care staff are retained for the long term.

89 Labor will ensure that a portion of Commonwealth funding to aged care providers will be specifically allocated to improving wages and conditions of workers in the sector and that this funding will be monitored and regulated accordingly by the Commonwealth.

90 Labor supports open industrial agreements between aged care institutions and aged care workers, in achieving greater workplace efficiency and long term sustainability of the sector. Furthermore, Commonwealth funding agreements will reflect this.

Palliative Care

91 Labor believes that every person should have access to quality palliative care. Labor is committed to improving the availability and standards of palliative care throughout Australia.

Utilising the power of Sport

92 Building on the movement of sport into the health portfolio, Labor will continue to entrench sport and physical activity as a central part of the preventative health agenda.

93 Labor believes that sport is not only a central contributor to the health of the nation, but also a vital tool in facilitating outcomes in trade, tourism, education, community capacity building, multicultural affairs, indigenous affairs, regional development, foreign affairs, social inclusion and creating cultural identity.

94 Labor will continue to support young Australians to participate in physical activity and to compete in recognised sporting competitions, including young people in regional areas.

95 Labor is committed to supporting indigenous sport, ensuring a co-ordinated approach to indigenous sport and utilising sport to contribute to the 'Closing the Gap' in indigenous disadvantage.

96 In recognition of the need to further increase the profile of women's sport in Australia, Labor will continue to support the promotion of women's sport and efforts to increase its media coverage.

97 Labor is committed to greater leadership and mentoring opportunities for women in sport.

98 Labor is committed to supporting sport for people with disability and establishing pathways for athletes with a disability.

99 Labor values the role of the coach, officials and volunteers and believes they should be supported.

100 Labor will continue to work to maximise the water safety of Australians , especially children.

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101 Labor is committed to keeping Australia at the forefront of international sport and maximising our

success on the international stage by continuing to support our elite athletes and ensuring elite pathways.

102 Labor is committed to strengthening Australia's sporting systems and will continue to ensure that the Australian Institute of Sport is a world class facility for elite athletes.

103 Labor will ensure that Australia is at the forefront of anti-doping in sport and will provide leadership in anti-doping on the international stage.

104 In partnership with sport, Labor will continue to tackle the issue of illicit drug use and binge drinking by athletes and in the wider community.

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Chapter 7: Securing an inclusive future for

all Australians 1 Labor believes that every Australian should have the opportunity to reach their potential and to participate fully in the economic and social life of the nation.

2 We have always stood for equality. Throughout our party's history successive Labor governments have sought to achieve this by helping people overcome disadvantages based on social class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, cultural background and racial prejudice. We have always pursued the fair go, tolerance and respect. We oppose all attempts to divide Australians by pandering to prejudice.

3 Today, building a fairer Australia means working actively to overcome disadvantage and social exclusion. This is not only an important moral objective, it is a crucial economic objective, because as our population ages, Australia cannot afford to have a high proportion of its population excluded from employment, dependent upon transfer payments and unable to contribute to future wealth creation.

4 In tough economic times, it is essential that government provides support for those who need it the most. Tackling social exclusion will become even more important in the face of the global financial crisis because some regions and groups of Australians will be more vulnerable to the effects of the downturn. We need to increase their resilience to prevent them losing touch with the mainstream economy and ensure they are able to contribute to the recovery.

The Liberal legacy: out of touch with today's Australia

5 During its twelve years in office, the Liberal Party presided over increasing inequities and unfairness, leaving increasing numbers of Australians on the margins of our economy and society.

Instead of using the wealth and opportunities generated by the resources boom to build a more inclusive nation, they allowed inequalities to increase and pursued socially divisive policies for short-term electoral advantage.

6 The Liberal Party neglected the needs of many people in the Australian community, and allowed increasing social exclusion through their social and economic policies. There is no more damning indictment of the Liberals' neglect than the appalling health, social and educational outcomes of Indigenous Australians.

7 The Liberal Party left hundreds of thousands of Australians with disabilities stuck on pension payments, without providing them with the support and skills development needed to participate in the labour market.

8 The Liberal Party failed older Australians, for twelve years ignoring the need for reform of the pension system to allow older Australians dignity and decent living standards.

9 Australia's commitment to providing for the basic housing needs of our most disadvantaged people was abandoned under the Liberals. The stock of social housing declined while older Australians, people with disabilities and others in need were left on lengthening waiting lists.

10 The Liberal Party refused to accept any national responsibility for dental care, abolishing the Commonwealth Dental Scheme and leaving many Australians without access to essential dental treatment.

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11 When people in community organisations stood up for the needs of disadvantaged Australians, the

Liberal Party sought to silence them by threatening to cut funding to their organisations for criticising government policy.

Labor's principles: social inclusion for a fairer Australia

12 Labor's belief in social inclusion is based on the following key principles: • Australia's diversity is one of the greatest sources of strength in our nation. Our national unity is based on mutual respect, shared values and a commitment to work together to build a stronger Australia.

• Every Australian is an important part of the Australian community. We must work together to include all Australians in the life of our community—whether at school, in work, at home or in care.

• Governments have a particularly important role in building an inclusive Australia, in which all people can participate fully in our economic and social life. Governments should use a full range of policy instruments to help create a more inclusive Australia.

• Every Australian should be able to access the opportunities and support they need to participate fully in community life. This includes having the resources to be able to cope with major setbacks, adversities and transitions in life.

• While celebrating the progress made in advancing the role of women in our nation, we must continue working towards full social, economic and political equality for women.

• Governments have a special obligation to tackle entrenched disadvantage, especially when concentrated in specific communities and remote and isolated populations.

• Labor is committed to supporting young Australians to reach their full potential, particularly those who face significant barriers through disadvantage.

• Commonwealth and state governments, together with businesses, community organisations and the wider community must work to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage, which is a cause for enduring national shame. There can be no social inclusion without action on the health outcomes, life expectancy, educational attainment and living standards of Indigenous Australians.

• During tough economic times, governments must take every possible step to prevent higher unemployment leading to long-term exclusion from the workforce, de-skilling, family breakdown and social isolation.

• Government must act to provide accessible housing to Australians, direct support for those who are homeless and assistance to those who find housing unaffordable.

• Governments should work in cooperation with the community and not for profit sector to support Australian families, older Australians, pensioners, people with disabilities and their carers.

Labor's commitment to a more inclusive Australia

13 Labor will establish a national action plan for social inclusion and develop a long term vision for a stronger, fairer Australia through sustained action across all levels of government and working with the private and community sectors.

14 We will work to embed the principles of social inclusion in policy-making and service delivery across the board and develop targeted strategies to improve social inclusion for specific groups of Australians.

15 Many Australians live on the margins of our economy and our community life. Labor is committed to overcoming marginalisation through such strategies as:

• Preventing long-term disadvantage, such as by helping young children in jobless families.

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• Improving outcomes in the most disadvantaged local communities by improving the way

governments engage with communities.

• Addressing the needs of older Australians facing social isolation and financial stress.

Strengthening Australia's communities

16 Labor's social inclusion goal is to enable all Australian individuals and families to participate in community life at all levels, through employment, volunteering, community service and education.

17 Achieving this goal is a responsibility not just for governments but for the whole community, working cooperatively. Labor recognises the crucial role of the community sector in providing high quality services to the most vulnerable Australians. Labor will deliver a national compact between the government and the community and not-for-profit sector.

18 Labor recognises the vital role that charitable and other community organisations play through charity, community outreach, community education, multicultural groups, family relationship centres, financial counselling and other social support services. Labor will continue to provide financial support to community organisations and their volunteers as they strengthen and serve their local communities. Labor will also provide a comprehensive system of community grants to various social, cultural, sporting, service-based and seniors organisations to build social capital and community resilience.

19 To build additional capacity in the community sector for this task, Labor is committed to tackling its serious workforce issues through a collaborative and strategic approach involving unions, sectoral peak bodies, employers and federal, state and local governments.

Meeting the challenges in social policy

20 Labor is committed to providing a secure social safety net that is adequate and promotes the workforce participation and social independence of individuals and communities of interest.

21 Labor is committed to preventing and eliminating poverty in Australia, to improving the living standards of all Australians and to reducing inequality between Australians, by providing Australians with a secure income and access to the services they need so that all Australians can live with decency and dignity.

22 Social policy must in particular address the major transition points in people's lives. such as the transition from education or training into work; the transitions of family life; the transition to retirement and the changes in people's lives resulting from the care needs of family and loved ones.

23 Labor has an abiding commitment to pensions and allowances and other payments supporting a decent quality of life for all Australians. Labor recognises the need for programs designed to enhance the skills of people of working age and assist them to join the workforce. In providing income support during periods of unemployment it is essential to ensure that financial barriers to work are removed and that incentives to participate in the workforce are enhanced. Labor is committed to ensuring that pensions and allowances support a decent standard of living and full participation in Australian society.

24 Labor recognises the important link between strong families, strong communities and a strong economy. We see social and economic policy as joint tools for the creation of a more prosperous nation.

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Modernising employment services to assist those

seeking work 25 Employment is the first and most important foundation for economic participation and social inclusion. Labor is therefore committed to helping all Australians to participate in the workforce, by ensuring access to a good education, training and skills development. Swift action by government

can help to ensure that if a person is made redundant they are able to retain or improve their skills, and are able to look for and gain new employment.

26 Labor will implement major reforms to employment services, to provide greater access to assistance and more support for job seekers to gain the skills needed to fill existing vacancies, and future vacancies.

27 Labor will also provide a greater focus on individualised and personalised employment services, ensuring that job seekers have pathways to employment that suit their circumstances and needs.

28 Labor will give service providers genuine flexibility to address barriers to employment faced by disadvantaged job seekers. Labor will also provide more support for disadvantaged job seekers, including those who are homeless, are currently in jobless families, live in Indigenous communities, or are in rural and remote areas.

29 Labor will put in place new incentives to ensure job seekers are equipped with the quality skills and training required to meet the labour needs of employers.

30 Labor's employment services policies will work in conjunction with training policies and programs, with additional new training places targeted towards those sectors of the economy which are experiencing ongoing skills shortages, enabling redundant workers to re-train in areas of skill need.

31 Labor will continue to implement reforms to Indigenous employment services, aiding the transition to non-CDEP jobs and enhancing the level of service available to every indigenous community.

32 Labor will also implement a national mental health and disability employment strategy, outlining measures to help increase the employment rates of Australians with mental health conditions and disabilities, including giving priority to employment programs specifically designed to work in close collaboration with the mental health and disability services.

33 Labor recognises that CRS Australia plays an important role in providing a comprehensive service assisting job seekers with a disability or mental illness nationally. Labor is committed to ensuring that the Commonwealth remains a key provider of these services and to CRS Australia remaining a viable Commonwealth entity.

Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders: Closing

the Gap in life outcomes 34 Labor believes that closing the gap in employment, health and education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is a national challenge of the highest priority. Closing the gap will require enduring commitment from all levels of government and the corporate and non-

government sector. It requires a national effort.

35 Labor will work with state, territory and local governments to ensure that Indigenous Australians enjoy equitable access to essential services, amenities and infrastructure, including quality education. Labor will work through the COAG process to implement national strategies in the areas of Indigenous health, remote Indigenous housing, Indigenous early childhood development,

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Indigenous economic participation and remote service delivery. Labor supports a strong focus on

better Indigenous outcomes being incorporated into mainstream funding and service delivery.

36 Labor's approach will be based on openness, transparency and evidence, to develop effective solutions that achieve long-term and measurable improvements in the lives of Indigenous Australians. We will use targets to measure progress in closing the gap in literacy and numeracy, employment outcomes, infant mortality, life expectancy and education opportunities.

37 At the centre of Labor's policy is the imperative to strengthen Indigenous families and give Indigenous children a better start in life. Indigenous children currently experience much higher levels of disadvantage than non-Indigenous children, resulting in poorer outcomes in health and education. Working with state and territory governments through the National Partnership on Indigenous Early Childhood Development, Labor will implement a comprehensive early childhood strategy for Indigenous children, including better access to antenatal care services, sexual and reproductive health services for Indigenous women and maternal and child health services.

38 Labor recognises the housing crisis faced by many remote Indigenous communities. Labor is committed to addressing the serious issues of significant overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing conditions and severe housing shortages. Through the COAG process, Labor will work with state and territory governments to reform housing and infrastructure arrangements including land tenure reform in remote Indigenous communities.

39 Labor acknowledges that Indigenous Australians have the worst health outcomes of any Australians. On average, Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of illness, die at a younger age than non-Indigenous people and too often do not have access to adequate health services.

40 Labor recognises that addressing the health status of Indigenous Australians requires a comprehensive approach that looks beyond health services to include cultural well-being and connection to the land, education, environmental health and employment and training opportunities.

41 Labor recognises the importance of community control and direct involvement of Indigenous Australians in the planning and delivery of health services. Australia must therefore train Indigenous health workers and vastly increase the number of Indigenous health professionals.

42 Labor is committed to closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. This will require significant investment and determined, concerted action by all governments. In March 2008, a historic Statement of Intent was signed between the Australian Government, the opposition, Indigenous and non-Indigenous health experts and the reconciliation movement to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy.

43 Labor has already utilised the COAG process to start closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The COAG agreement will deliver major investments to improve housing, health, employment, early childhood and to drive fundamental reforms to Indigenous service delivery over the next ten years. The COAG agreement will make in-roads on closing the gap through:

• Reforms and investment in Indigenous remote housing including 4200 new houses and 4800 major upgrades to existing houses in remote communities.

• Reducing the incidence of chronic disease and improving Indigenous peoples' access to mainstream health care.

• Supporting 13,000 Indigenous Australians find and keep a job.

• Better coordinating early childhood, health, housing and welfare services in priority remote communities.

• Access to early childhood education for Indigenous children.

• Increasing the number of Indigenous people who are employed in the public sector.

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44 Labor is committed to improving employment opportunities and the job readiness of Indigenous

Australians. Labor has reformed the Community Development Employment Projects program and the Indigenous Employment Program to ensure more Indigenous Australians have the skills needed to gain employment. Labor will support government programs that enable more economic development opportunities for Indigenous Australians, including through public procurement.

45 Labor notes the high level of incarceration experienced by Indigenous people and that these high rates continue to rise. Labor recognises that the 1992 Report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody identified the systemic causes of incarceration and provided a specific and targeted agenda for reducing social and economic disadvantage. Labor notes that the Australian Institute of Criminology reports annually on national deaths in custody. Labor will provide national leadership to prevent deaths in custody, reduce over representation in jails and recidivism, and provide full and equitable justice to Indigenous communities. Suspicious deaths in custody must also be treated in a manner that maintains public confidence in the justice system.

46 Labor acknowledges the numerous reports indicating that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children have a significantly greater risk of experiencing violence than non-Indigenous Australians. Labor pledges to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in particular victims of violence, to overcome violence in their communities.

Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders: Resetting

the relationship 47 Central to our approach is building a more trusting and respectful relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. This relationship is crucial to our capacity to face the world as a united, peaceful and just nation.

48 Labor remains firmly committed to reconciliation, recognises the role of reconciliation as a vehicle for healing and justice in Australian society and will continue to support the community and corporate sector in driving reconciliation.

49 Labor acknowledges the First Nations status and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, as well as their contribution to Australian society.

50 Labor has achieved important milestones to resetting the relationship between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians. On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd moved a Motion of Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples, in particular the Stolen Generations. Acknowledging and saying sorry for the past was a necessary healing symbol and bridge to building respect. It has generated a groundswell of good will from the community and corporate sectors.

51 Labor is working in partnership with Stolen Generations members and their families to comprehensively respond to their needs as a distinct group and continue the programs arising from the Bringing Them Home Report. Since the Apology, Labor has boosted support for family reunion services and supported the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation.

52 Labor has also given indicated formal support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration affirms the entitlement of Indigenous peoples to all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognised in international law. It also provides an aspirational and respectful framework for future dialogue. Australia's formal support was welcomed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, key Indigenous UN experts and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. This support underlines Labor's desire to work in good faith with Indigenous peoples, acknowledging that our relationship will be tested and evolve over time.

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53 Labor is committed to compliance with the Racial Discrimination Act in the development of policies

relating to Indigenous Australians.

54 Labor is committed to establishing a national Indigenous representative body. This body will give Indigenous peoples in Australia a forum to articulate their views and aspirations and build on the strengths of existing institutions and bodies at the national, state and regional level. Consultations on the model and functions of this body are being led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

55 We will build public support for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Labor will work towards a lasting settlement with Indigenous Australians.

56 Labor understands that land and water are the basis of Indigenous spirituality, law, culture, economy and well-being. Native title and land rights are both symbols of social justice and valuable economic resources to Indigenous Australians.

57 Labor supports land rights and native title as property rights under Australian law and will work to accelerate the resolution of outstanding land and native title claims in partnership with other stakeholders. Labor believes that negotiation produces better outcomes than litigation and that land use and ownership issues should be resolved by negotiation wherever possible.

58 Labor supports the statutory recognition of inalienable freehold title under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

59 Australia's Indigenous peoples represent the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

Australia's Indigenous cultures enrich the nation and are integral to our national identity making Australia unique in the world. Labor recognises that the preservation and revitalisation of endangered Indigenous languages is a critical issue. Labor will also work to ensure adequate protection of Indigenous cultural heritage and intellectual property.

Children

60 Labor believes that governments have a responsibility to ensure every child has a safe, healthy and happy childhood. Labor is committed to the protection of children at risk from disadvantage and abuse. Labor is committed to ensuring that children are adequately protected from exposure to inappropriate material over the internet, at home, school and at other public access points.

61 Having established the National Child Protection Framework, Labor will work closely with state and territory governments and the non-government sector to improve the way agencies, payments and programs interact to help prevent abuse and better protect children identified as being at risk.

62 Through the National Child Protection Framework, Labor is committed to:

• Improved prevention and early intervention through a national, collaborative approach.

• More effective responses for children in care and leaving care.

• Improved outcomes for Indigenous children.

• Attracting and retaining a skilled professional workforce to improve child protection systems.

63 Labor will work with the states and territories to develop a uniform national system for adoption. This will include work to achieve harmonisation and best practice of fees and procedures for inter- country adoption, whilst always prioritising the best interests of the child and ensuring adequate safeguards against child trafficking.

64 Labor supports the development of a national approach to children and the law, which will include:

• Recognising the best interests of the child as a primary consideration.

• A sentencing regime based primarily upon the principles of restorative justice.

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• Standards for court procedures where children are involved as witnesses, victims or offenders.

• Standards for support, counselling and rehabilitation services for child victims and offenders within the criminal justice system.

• Support for research into causes of juvenile crime.

Young Australians

65 Labor believes that young Australians deserve the opportunity to contribute their views, ideas and opinions to Government on the issue that matter most to them.

66 Labor's reinstatement of the Minister for Youth and establishment of the Office for Youth will ensure young Australians have their views considered as an important part of across Government decision making.

67 Through the Australian Youth Forum (AYF), an innovated approach driven by young people, Labor will continue to interact with young Australians on their own turf and through new technology.

68 Labor will ensure young Australians are supported to reach their full potential, by investing in education, training, employment and school to work transition support.

69 Labor will place a particular focus on young people's health needs, including physical and mental health, drug and alcohol education, the promotion of positive body image and a healthy lifestyle.

Labor will work towards developing strategies to prevent and reduce the damage being caused by the increased sexualisation of children in the media and popular culture.

70 In recognition of young Australians growing concern about personal safety, Labor will work in partnership with young people to tackle street violence.

71 Through the reinstatement of funding to the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC), Labor will ensure a national voice for the Australian Youth Sector.

Older Australians

72 Labor is committed to fostering the full participation of older Australians in community life, by providing a high standard of services and support. Labor will:

• Seek long-term solutions that provide financial security to aged pensioners.

• Maintain the benchmark of maximum single adult rates of aged, disability and carers pensions to at least 27.7 per cent of male total average weekly earnings and ensure basic rates are indexed at least twice a year in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index.

• Ensure that those whose only income is provided through the social security system will not have to pay income tax.

• Labor will continue to implement progressive reform of the pension system to provide more financial security for seniors.

• Continue to engage with representatives from seniors' groups prior to introducing any new reforms.

• Recognise the important contribution that self-funded retirees have made and continue to make to the Australian economy and to their communities by providing targeted support and incentives to self-funded retirees.

• Help seniors gain confidence and build skills in ICT through education and the availability of appropriate public resources.

• Help senior Australians gain financial literacy and will work to provide information, education and support to seniors on post-retirement incomes, superannuation and financial products.

• Recognise the importance of seniors' community organisations and will support them through its communities policy and social inclusion agenda.

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Providing opportunities for people with disabilities

73 Labor believes governments have a responsibility to support and empower people with disabilities, their families and carers.

74 Under Labor, disability policy is based on the recognition that people with disability have the same rights to health, work, adequate housing, freedom of movement and equal recognition before the law, as the rest of the Australian community.

75 It is the role of government to remove the barriers that prevent people with disability from exercising those rights and ensure that they receive the support they need to become full participants in society.

76 Labor believes disability policy must treat people with disability as individuals and support must be tailored to their individual circumstances and potential.

77 Labor will continue to lead and coordinate national disability policy, delivering income support and employment services; focusing on early intervention, individual and personalised attention; and working cooperatively with state and territory governments to expand the availability of supported accommodation places, in-home support and individualised arrangements that support community recreational participation and inclusion.

78 Labor will help create incentives and opportunities for people with disability to participate in the paid workforce, through engagement with the private and non-government sectors.

79 Labor will improve access to buildings, communications, transport, healthcare, aids, equipment and the justice and education systems, for those with disability and their families.

80 Labor will support service providers to better develop, train and employ disability care workers and is committed to addressing attraction and retention of the disability services workforce.

81 Labor will continue to work to change public attitudes to people with a disability and encourage better recognition of the rights and potential of people with a disability.

Acknowledging the role of carers

82 People who care for sick and elderly relatives and people with disabilities and mental illness deserve acknowledgement and support for the job they do and their great contribution to Australia's economy. They take on enormous responsibilities which are often at both a personal and a financial cost.

83 Labor recognises that many carers experience substantial financial hardship, reduced education and employment prospects, lower levels of health, depression and chronic grief or anger.

84 The government has an ongoing responsibility to improve respite services and financial support for carers.

85 Labor will ensure that carers are provided with adequate recognition and financial support for the critical role they play.

Community and not-for-profit sectors

86 Labor acknowledges the important contributions of community organisations and the 'not for profit' sector to the Australian economy and to Australians' quality of life and, in consultation with the sector, and state and territory governments, will encourage the development of a national regulatory framework for 'not for profit' organisations that:

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• Stimulates the establishment and further development of a broad range of community or 'not for

profit' organisations.

• Does not attempt to inhibit the public advocacy role of the sector.

• Encourages donor confidence.

• Sets a reasonable standard for public disclosure.

• Establishes appropriate oversight of the sector.

87 Labor supports the development of a national regulatory framework based on the 2008 report of the Senate Standing Committee on Economics Disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations, and supports the examination of:

• A single national Associations Act providing for the registration and regulation of not for profit organisations, including all current non-profit companies and incorporated associations, by a referral of powers from the states through COAG.

• A tiered system for regulation based on revenue.

• A single national Fundraising Act to regulate fundraising by not for profit organisations.

• A specialist national regulatory body for not for profits.

• An accounting standard for not for profits, with appropriate recognition for small, non-complex organisations • Codification of the law relating to the taxation of charities and not for profits, based on the June 2001 report of the Inquiry into the Definition of Charities and Related Organisations.

Delivering quality community services

88 Labor recognises that government relies on the non-government and community sector to help build an inclusive society. Labor believes that a highly skilled and well educated workforce is central to the delivery of quality services by the non-government community sector.

89 Labor believes government has a core responsibility for developing partnerships with the community sector to build an inclusive society. In procuring social and human capital Labor will ensure the real value of funding is maintained to ensure the attraction of a highly skilled and well educated workforce. Labor recognises that the social value and unique contribution of the community sector must be taken into account and that many competitive tendering models which take into account price alone do not deliver on broader social policy objectives.

90 Labor recognises the need for competitive wages in the community sector to overcome problems in retaining skilled workers in the industry, recognising the value of the work performed and ensuring the sector can provide the quality of service expected by the community.

91 Labor will support the establishment of career structures and pay scales that enhance service delivery, skills development and education opportunities for the community sector workforce.

Homelessness

92 Homelessness and the housing crisis have been neglected for too long in Australia. Labor will deliver a new approach that tackles the underlying causes of homelessness, improves crisis services, helps people to get long term secure housing and stops the cycle of homelessness.

93 Labor will implement the 12-year strategy laid out in the 2008 White Paper on reducing homelessness, through a major new investment in an integrated plan involving business, community and charitable groups as well as Commonwealth and state and territory governments.

94 Labor will improve and expand homelessness services, giving particular emphasis to improving the connections between homeless shelters and mainstream services and getting the homeless into work. In particular Labor understands the significant connection between homelessness and

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mental health problems. Labor will continue to expand the availability of mental health clinical and

support services for homeless people.

95 Labor recognises the links between access to affordable rental housing and homelessness. Labor will ensure that people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness receive priority in the allocation of increased social housing.

Labor's National Housing Strategy

96 Labor believes that all Australians have the right to secure, affordable and appropriate housing throughout their lives. Labor recognises that having a home provides the foundation for financial, social and emotional security. If Australia is to be a truly fair and democratic society, we must not tolerate the social exclusion that arises from failing to meet this basic need.

97 Labor is committed to policies which make housing affordable including:

• Economic policies designed to keep downward pressure on interest rates and create a competitive housing finance sector.

• Assistance that allows low to middle income households to meet the cost of home ownership.

• Programs to supply affordable public, community and private rental.

98 Labor recognises that over the last decade owning a home has become more difficult for many Australian families, with housing prices and rents increasing substantially.

99 Labor is committed to ensuring that policies to improve housing affordability are effectively targeted to provide help for Australians who need it most.

National Affordable Housing Agreement

100 Labor has developed a National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) to bring together all areas of housing policy. The NAHA is the mechanism to commit all governments to joint action on housing policy and reforms including:

• Expanding the supply of housing, particularly affordable rental accommodation.

• Delivering more efficient and effective housing, land and infrastructure development.

• Improving opportunities for first home buyers to enter the market.

• Reforming the social housing sector to improve the public and expand the not for profit (community) housing sector.

• Better integrating housing and other services to strengthen communities and build neighbourhoods that are safe, healthy and close to employment opportunities.

• Expanding the role of institutional investment in the provision of affordable housing.

• Promoting housing options that minimise adverse environmental impacts.

• Preventing and reducing homelessness.

• Improving housing outcomes, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in remote communities.

Home ownership for Australia's working families

101 Labor believes that national leadership is required to support Australians who aspire to home ownership. Labor supports strategies to make home ownership more affordable including:

• First Home Savers Accounts to provide incentives and assistance for young Australians and their families to long term savings for a house deposit.

• Grants for first home owners.

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• Programs to reduce the cost of new homes by improving the efficiency of the housing sector

such as streamlining planning processes or defraying the impact of infrastructure charges.

• National regulation of consumer credit to ensure that all home providers are appropriately regulated and that borrowers are protected as far as possible from taking on unsustainable home loans.

• The development of pathways into home ownership for low and moderate income earners such as key workers and social housing tenants including shared equity products.

102 Labor acknowledges that much of the urban infrastructure to support new residential areas is a long-term community asset. Labor will work with state, territory and local governments to:

• Ensure that new home buyers do not unfairly bear the costs of such infrastructure, with infrastructure charges levied on developers appropriately reflecting the cost of infrastructure related to specific developments.

• Find better ways to finance infrastructure that has a broader community benefit.

• Reduce development costs by improving national consistency in building codes and urban design regulations and streamlining approval processes.

Stable, affordable rental homes

103 Labor recognises that most rental accommodation will be provided in the private rental market. Labor will maintain programs to improve the affordability of private rental accommodation. Labor is committed to providing rental assistance in a way that supports people to move from welfare to work.

104 Labor is committed to encouraging greater private investment in the affordable rental sector. Labor established the National Rental Affordability Scheme and will continue to expand the Scheme to stimulate investment in affordable rental stock.

105 Labor believes that Australia needs a strong and vibrant social housing sector to improve housing affordability for low and moderate income earners. The social housing sector incorporates public housing authorities, community housing organisations and a range of other not for profit housing organisations.

106 Labor is committing to growing and improving the social housing sector. Labor has committed the greatest single capital investment in social housing in the history of the Federation. Labor will continue to work with all state, territory and local governments to expand, reform and improve the social housing sector including:

• Setting targets for a growth in public and community housing stock in each state and territory, based on a national assessment of need.

• Ensuring maintenance programs operate to keep social housing stock at acceptable standards.

• Supporting the renewal of public housing estates, to create mixed communities and tenures and better access to jobs, transport and integration with services.

• Promoting partnerships between the public, community and private sectors.

• Supporting the substantial growth of the community and not for profit housing sector.

• Ensuring public housing rental rebate policies do not require tenants to pay more than 25 per cent of household income in rent, unless there is an agreement with the housing authority to charge a higher rate for the provision of additional services.

• Ensuring that social housing tenants are supported to maintain their tenancy by linking tenancy management with health, disability and other support services, with specific support for tenants who are vulnerable or marginalised, including tenants with a mental illness.

• Improving the capacity of public and community housing to help tenants move from welfare to work, including creating employment opportunities for public housing tenants.

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• Ensuring that public and community housing tenants in all states and territories have access to

independent mechanisms to review decisions made by housing providers.

• Supporting programs which ensure that people are made aware of and can access the various forms of housing assistance which are available.

107 Labor believes that the rights of renters must be protected. Labor is committed to funding adequate housing consumer services. Labor will improve the rights of renters through the application of appropriate regulation and standards and will work with states, territories and non-government organisations to:

• Introduce national tenancy standards for all residential tenancies, including caravan park residents, boarders and lodgers, to ensure that tenants' rights are protected in relation to matters such as eviction, unfair rents, repairs and maintenance, quality of rental accommodation, appeals and bond security.

• Ensure that all states and territories have independent review mechanisms for resolving tenancy disputes with the power to overturn evictions and unfair rents, determine bond or rental disputes and refer matters for prosecution where necessary.

• Support the regulation of tenant databases though stronger privacy protection including independent monitoring of compliance and access to affordable dispute resolution processes.

Women: making equality real

108 Labor recognises that the work of courageous and inspirational women throughout our history has seen great achievements toward the equality of women and men in Australian society.

109 Society as a whole benefits from greater economic equality between women and men. Labor also recognises that women benefit from equality with better life opportunities, greater independence and higher incomes.

110 Limiting women's employment opportunities through discrimination, inflexible workplaces or social expectations also limits men's opportunities to become equal parents and hands on nurturers, and improving women's choices and earning capacity reduces pressures on men to be sole breadwinners.

111 Labor believes we need to build a much stronger partnership between men and women to achieve our goals. Labor will do this through:

• An industrial relations system that protects minimum level of standards to protect the most vulnerable workers, many of whom are women.

• An industrial relations system that provides employees the right to request family friendly conditions such as extended unpaid parental leave, and flexible and part-time work following the birth of a child.

• Regulation and education for employers to promote equal opportunity, gender pay equity and work and family balance.

• Policy and law that promotes diversity, including through the participation of women, on company boards.

• A government-sponsored paid parental leave scheme for all parents.

• Improving the accessibility of affordable quality childcare and before and after school care.

• Promoting women's equal access to educational and training opportunities, particularly for women who have spent time out of the workforce to care.

• Recognising and valuing women's paid and unpaid work.

• Supporting and encouraging men to take an increased role in care giving and domestic labour.

• Providing women access to financial literacy and superannuation information.

• Ensuring that all employees that worked for a small amount of hours in part-time or casual work will continue to receive compulsory superannuation.

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Ensuring justice in the community

112 People on the margins of society often have the highest levels of interaction with the justice system. Labor believes that Australia's system of justice must provide security for all Australians, protect their property, deter and prevent crime, compensate victims where appropriate and rehabilitate offenders.

113 Labor supports a charter of rights for the victims of crime based on the United Nations Charter of Victims Rights (Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power 1985), and laws providing for victim impact statements, the provision of witness support and information, and standards for the treatment of victims by the criminal justice system.

114 Labor will continue to ensure that the Commonwealth's investigation, prosecution, defence and judicial processes are separate, independent, adequately resourced and appropriately accountable.

115 The independence of the judiciary is fundamental to the maintenance of both the rule of law and our democratic society. Labor believes that the courts should be accountable and will work with the judiciary to ensure that the judicial system is efficient and adequately funded. Labor will use benchmarking to evaluate and improve the delivery of services by courts.

116 Labor will also ensure the leading law enforcement agency of the Commonwealth, the Australian Federal Police, is adequately resourced and supported.

117 Labor is committed to the rule of law and basic principles of justice including that people accused of a criminal offence are not compelled to incriminate themselves; that they are not subject to prolonged detention without charge; that they are given a fair trial; that people charged with serious criminal offences are provided with legal representation if they are unable to afford legal representation of their own; and that evidence obtained illegally, by torture, coercive techniques or by improper investigative practice is inadmissible.

118 Labor is committed to providing national leadership to resource our system of legal aid in partnership with the states and territories. Labor will continue to support general and specialist community-based legal services and clinical legal education schemes.

119 The legal profession plays a fundamental role in the provision of access to justice. Labor supports the creation of a modern, efficient and accountable national legal services market, regulated by an independent body so as to be fully accountable.

120 Labor is committed to the ongoing process of law reform so that our laws and legal system reflect the traditions, values and aspirations of all Australians, and meet the needs of our modern democratic society. Labor is committed to the adequate resourcing of the Australian Law Reform Commission, to enable them to provide independent and comprehensive advice on all aspects of law reform.

Custody and sentencing

121 Labor recognises the principles of sentencing as deterrence, punishment, retribution and rehabilitation and supports the just and humane treatment of accused people in custody and offenders in prison. Labor's policies and practices will conform to Australia's international human rights obligations and strive for world's best practice in its treatment of prisoners.

122 Labor supports the sentencing principle of prison as a last resort and the appropriate use of non- custodial sentencing options for all offenders.

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123 Labor recognises that the way in which the criminal justice system treats juvenile offenders greatly

influences whether they will re-offend. The incarceration of juveniles should be a last resort, and all efforts should be made to divert children from long-term involvement in the criminal justice system.

124 Because they are often discriminatory in practice and have not proved effective in reducing crime or criminality Labor opposes mandatory sentencing and detention regimes.

125 Labor supports:

• Special attention to prevent deaths in custody, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• Training of police and prison officers in understanding Indigenous culture and the Indigenous social context.

• Indigenous legal aid services that are efficient, culturally appropriate and recognises the over representation of indigenous people with the criminal justice system.

• The adoption of international treaties allowing the repatriation of Australians in overseas prisons.

• The ongoing development of ensuring consistency in sentencing so that the judiciary retains a sufficient degree of appropriate discretion so as to enable sentences to be tailored to the circumstances of each individual case.

• Restorative justice seeks to build a sense of community spirit and responsibility in the offender and aims to restore the victim and the community to their pre-offence state of security. Labor will promote the principles of restorative justice as a just and effective way to be tough on crime.

Labor will support the introduction of programs that are consistent with victims' rights, based upon restorative justice.

Reducing violence against women and children

126 Labor believes that reducing violence against women and ensuring women's equal place in the world are important steps towards achieving gender equality.

127 Labor believes women and men in Australia must work together to ensure women and their children are safe from violence in their homes and in their communities

128 Labor is committed to reducing the incidence and impact of violence against women. Labor will work towards this goal through the implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. This National Plan will be based on the best available evidence and it will support the community to:

• Build communities that are safe and free from violence.

• Support and encourage men who speak out against violence against women.

• Promote and develop respectful relationships and reduce violence for future generations.

• Provide funding for women and children escaping domestic and family violence to access legal assistance and community services.

• Ensure that women and their children escaping violence are able to access emergency and affordable housing.

• Support the establishment of a national database to record and advise authorities of family violence and abuse orders.

• Ensure systems work together effectively to provide better support for victims of violence including through legal assistance, emergency and affordable housing, and support for survivors of people trafficking.

• Ensure responses are just, the legal system is effective and perpetrators stop their violence.

• Conduct research and education to counteract the effects of family violence and abuse.

• Ensure women and children are protected from family violence in the family home or through access to high-security refuges with skilled staff to support them.

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• Offer continued support to successful programs already established to combat domestic and

family violence.

Family law

129 Labor believes that the resolution of family disputes should focus on counselling and family dispute resolution with litigation as a last resort. Labor will ensure community-based services aimed at preventing marital and family breakdown such as counselling and family dispute resolution services are accessible, affordable and equipped to resolve entrenched disputes.

130 Labor will continue to develop and implement measures to ease the anxiety and stress of family breakdown. In particular, Labor will ensure that:

• The rights of children are paramount.

• There is a just and equitable division of matrimonial property.

• Appropriate protections are in place in cases of actual or apprehended family violence or abuse.

• The particular needs, customs and practices of diverse cultures are appropriately respected.

• Disputes are resolved in a timely, effective and affordable way.

131 Labor will continue to encourage all states to be a part of the national uniform system, implemented in 2008 for defacto couples.

Human rights and discrimination

132 The recognition of human rights actively contributes to building a more inclusive society. Labor is committed to promoting the awareness and understanding of human rights, supporting the international human rights instruments to which Australia is a signatory, and properly funding the Australian Human Rights Commission.

133 Labor will adhere to Australia's international human rights obligations and will seek to have them incorporated into the domestic law of Australia, and have them taken into account in administrative decision-making and whenever new laws and policies are developed.

134 Labor will act to eliminate all forms of discrimination, vilification or harassment and to harmonise anti-discrimination laws and procedures.

135 Labor supports the appropriate protection of the religious freedom of all people.

136 Labor will act to eliminate the exploitation, including sexual exploitation, of women and children, either in Australia or overseas.

Removing discrimination against same-sex couples

137 Labor supports the enactment of legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or gender status, and the removal of such discrimination from Commonwealth legislation

138 Labor believes that people are entitled to respect, equality, dignity and the opportunity to participate in society free of hatred or harassment and receive the protection of the law regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. Consistent with this belief, in 2007 Labor audited Commonwealth laws to identify discrimination against same sex couples. In 2008, laws were passed to remove discrimination from 84 pieces of Commonwealth legislation.

139 Labor will ensure that all couples whether married or de facto do not suffer discrimination.

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140 Labor will take action to ensure the development of a nationally consistent framework that provides:

• The opportunity for all couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life to have their relationship officially recognised.

• Equal rights for all couples in federal and state laws.

141 Labor will review relationship recognition arrangements to ensure national consistency.

142 These reforms are to be implemented consistently with Labor's commitment to maintaining the definition of marriage as currently set out in the Marriage Act.

Migration

143 Labor recognises the economic and social contribution that has been made by immigrants and refugees throughout our nation's history. Labor regards Australia's diversity as a source of national strength and a critical factor in nation-building.

144 Australia is and will remain a society of people drawn from a rich variety of cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. Australia is and will remain a multicultural society.

145 To support Australia's multicultural society, Labor's migration policies will:

• Remain non-discriminatory.

• Respect the heritage and traditional customs of migrants and their children.

• Recognise the importance of all aspects of the migration program, including skilled, family and humanitarian streams.

• Be evidence-based, supported by rigorous research and evaluation.

• Support Australia's social cohesion by encouraging universal respect for Australia's democratic beliefs and laws, and the rights, responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

• Promote our cultural diversity and combat prejudice and discrimination.

• Consistently oppose those who foster extremism, hatred, ethnic division or incitement to violence.

146 For the Australian people to have confidence and trust in the integrity of our migration system, it must be built upon rigorous procedures and processes which protect our national interest and our national borders while also treating individuals with fairness, dignity and humanity. Labor will review existing decision making processes under the Migration Act, including primary decisions, merits review and judicial review, with a view to ensuring that principles of procedural fairness, natural justice and genuine independence are upheld. The review will include the interaction between the Migration Act and mainstream administrative law and the operation and structure of the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal.

147 Australia will adhere to its international protection obligations under the Refugees Convention and other relevant international instruments to which it is a party.

Citizenship

148 Recognising that citizenship is a critical factor in social inclusion in our culturally diverse society, Labor supports a citizenship process that encourages all permanent residents to become citizens.

149 Labor's citizenship process will focus on the principles underlying Australia's citizenship pledge:

Australia's democratic beliefs and laws, and the rights, responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

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150 Appreciating that Australian citizenship is a critical part of encouraging participation in the

Australian community, Labor will remove unnecessary and unintended barriers to citizenship, particularly for vulnerable groups of migrants.

Maintaining the integrity of our migration system

151 For the Australian people to have confidence and trust in the integrity of our migration system, Labor will fund and maintain robust border security measures that support the orderly processing of migration to our country and protect our national interest and our national borders.

152 To support Australia's strong border security regime, Labor will maintain:

• An architecture of excised offshore places.

• The non-statutory processing on Christmas Island of persons who arrive unauthorised at an excised place.

153 Labor recognises that people smuggling remains a threat to Australia's border security. Labor will take a zero tolerance approach towards people smugglers engaged in organised transnational criminal activity. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, Labor will focus on tackling people smugglers, rather than vilifying their exploited clients.

154 Labor will continue to take all necessary steps to eradicate people smuggling by:

• Promoting effective law enforcement measures, with people smugglers subject to prosecution and harsh penalties to deter their activities.

• Working in close cooperation with our regional neighbours to address people smuggling at its source and prevent attempts at dangerous sea journeys by people seeking to enter Australia unlawfully.

• Working with regional neighbours to develop their capacity and enhance projects in home and transit countries to assist people displaced by conflict who may be vulnerable targets of people- smugglers and traffickers.

• Pursuing strong regional and international arrangements to deter secondary movements of asylum seekers.

• Increasing Australia's capacity to prevent illegal fishing and smuggling operations.

Protection and humanitarian assistance

155 Labor will treat people seeking our protection with dignity and in accordance with the core Australian principles of fairness and humanity.

156 Australia will comply with the non-refoulement and all other protection obligations we have voluntarily assumed in signing the Refugee Convention and other relevant international instruments and actively engaging in the work of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relevant international and regional agencies.

• Labor will continue Australia's generous humanitarian program, including providing appropriate support for the travel and resettlement of refugees and others requiring Australia's protection, and contribute to international aid efforts to alleviate the pressing humanitarian needs of displaced persons.

• Labor will seek to lead debate on the new agreements and understandings required to ensure that the Refugee Convention and the international protection system function effectively over the long-term, including encouraging countries in our region to provide protection to those in need.

• Labor will contribute to the development of further multilateral solutions, recognising the importance of regional neighbours, with the aim of eradicating people smuggling, deterring

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secondary movement and enabling refugees to access appropriate processing and settlement

outcomes.

157 Labor's protection policies will be based on the following principles:

• Access to protection in countries of first asylum and transit will be supported so as to reduce pressure for dangerous irregular movement.

• Protection claims made in Australia will be assessed by Australians on Australian territory.

• Those found to be owed Australia's protection under the Refugee Convention and other international instruments will be given permanent protection under the Migration Act 1958 and will be provided with appropriate settlement support and services.

• Those not found to be owed Australia's protection under the Refugee Convention and other international instruments will be promptly returned.

• The Temporary Humanitarian Visa will be retained for situations where temporary safe haven is required.

158 For the Australian people to have confidence and trust in the integrity of our migration system, protection claims made in Australia should be assessed and reviewed in a manner which balances efficient decision making with procedural fairness and ensures that our international human rights obligations are met.

• The assessment and review of protection claims should be underpinned by robust, efficient and transparent processes that ensure fair and consistent outcomes, including access to review and independent advice.

• The assessment and review of protection claims must be independent and free from any political or diplomatic interference.

• The processing of protection claims must be streamlined to improve client service, to enhance the quality of decision-making, to provide more efficient pathways for prompt resolution of visa status and to alleviate the courts' immigration case-load burden.

159 Exercise of personal Ministerial intervention powers should be limited to cases raising claims that are unique or exceptional for humanitarian or other compelling reasons, and which cannot be appropriately resolved through normal processes which under Labor will include a consideration of any complementary protection claims by way of the Protection visa framework.

160 Labor recognises that people residing in the community should not be arbitrarily deprived of the right to work while their claim is being processed, as occurs under the 45-day rule. Labor will abolish the 45-day rule and introduce arrangements that reflect relevant international obligations and grant work rights to all people who have actively and genuinely pursued resolution of their claims.

Compliance and immigration detention policy

161 Labor expects that people who come to Australia enter and leave in accordance with their visa conditions.

162 Labor is committed to the integrity of Australia's visa programs, including student visas.

163 Labor's immigration processes should be underpinned by robust, efficient and transparent processes focused on prompt and fair resolution of status for those seeking migration outcomes.

164 For the Australian people to have confidence in the integrity of our migration system, Labor will:

• Employ a risk-based approach to the management of immigration clients which emphasises robust, efficient, consistent, independent and transparent processes which support the prompt resolution of immigration status.

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• Enforce compliance with visa conditions that support the orderly processing of migration to our

country.

165 Under Labor's policies, the presumption will be that persons will remain in the community while their immigration status is resolved: persons will be detained only if the need is established. Labor's humane and risk-based immigration detention policies and practices will be guided by seven key immigration detention values:

• Mandatory detention is an essential component of strong border control.

• To support the integrity of Australia's immigration program, three groups will be subject to mandatory detention:

• All unauthorised arrivals, for management of health, identity and security risks to the community.

• Unlawful non-citizens who present unacceptable risks to the community.

• Unlawful non-citizens who have repeatedly refused to comply with their visa conditions.

• Children, including juvenile foreign fishers and, where possible, their families, will not be detained in an immigration detention centre (IDC).

• Detention that is indefinite or otherwise arbitrary is not acceptable and the length and conditions of detention, including the appropriateness of both the accommodation and the services provided, would be subject to regular review.

• Detention in immigration detention centres is only to be used as a last resort and for the shortest practicable time.

• People in detention will be treated fairly and reasonably within the law.

• Conditions of detention will ensure the inherent dignity of the human person.

166 The management of immigration detention centres will remain with private sector management for the term of the current contracts. A Government evaluation to determine the future form of detention facility and detention services management will be commenced no later than two years prior to the end of the term of the current contracts. The evaluation process must take into account the views of all stakeholders, including the relevant unions.

167 Recognising the inequities the policy causes, Labor will abolish the practice whereby immigration detainees are charged a daily maintenance rate while in immigration detention, and extinguish all existing detention debts.

168 Labor supports existing specialised and tailored Government services for those most in need to connect new arrivals to Australian society and to ensure that there is a seamless transition to mainstream services provided for by other levels of Government. Labor will review the financial and other assistance to people coming to Australia under the Special Humanitarian Program to better address instances of financial hardship.

169 Settlement support services include:

• Orientation courses for humanitarian entrants prior to arrival in Australia.

• Initial intensive settlement assistance for humanitarian entrants for up to 12 months after arrival.

• Specialised case management services in circumstances where there are significant barriers to successful settlement.

• Orientation and referral services to build self-reliance in individuals and families and foster community participation and development • Access to the Translating and Interpreting Service.

170 English language tuition is an essential settlement service and critical to the achievement of full social and economic participation. Labor will continue to provide:

• Tailored language programs within a settlement context combined with appropriate support through childcare and case management.

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• Opportunities for eligible migrants to continue to learn English while developing knowledge,

skills and experience in the Australian workplace.

• Language training framed to introduce new entrants to Australian workplace culture and practices delivered through a range of formal and informal settings.

171 Labor recognises the importance of access to culturally appropriate employment services in achieving full participation.

172 Labor policy will improve the availability and integration of Commonwealth-funded migrant and settlement services. Labor will ensure settlement service policies are:

• Informed by advice from the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council, the Settlement Council of Australia other key stakeholders and the community.

• Coordinated in partnership with State and Territory governments, local councils, community organisations and service delivery providers.

173 Labor acknowledges the positive effect regional settlement can have on rural locations. Labor supports the settlement of suitable humanitarian entrants in regional locations with the support of state and local governments and local communities.

174 Labor is committed to ensuring that services across government are culturally responsive and universally accessible. Consistent with Labor's social inclusion agenda, Government policies will be receptive to the needs, circumstances and backgrounds of all members of Australia's culturally diverse population.

175 Labor will develop a Pacific Climate Change Strategy, which will include:

• Taking a leading role in working with the international community on planning for the impacts of climate change; • A continuation of the proposed long-range climate change prediction project; • Assistance for mitigation, adaptation and emergency response efforts, such as protecting fresh

water sources from salt water contamination and dealing with infrastructure decay caused by coastal erosion; • Assisting with intra-country relocations when citizens have to be moved from low-lying areas to higher ground; • Building resilience to climate change in the Pacific region; and • If in the longer term permanent migration becomes necessary for some Pacific Islanders,

working in close consultation with the region to ensure that Pacific Islanders' key interests are recognised, noting that Pacific Island nations have expressed a clear desire for Pacific peoples to continue to live in their own countries where possible.

Cultural Diversity

176 Labor's cultural diversity policy framework will affirm the equality of our rights, benefits and obligations, regardless of background or place of birth. It will communicate the strengths of our nation's diversity. The Government's strategies, policies and programs will be underpinned by this framework.

177 Labor's cultural diversity policies will:

• Re-connect marginalised individuals and community groups suffering from persistent social exclusion to Australian society.

• Work in partnership with local communities, state and local governments and community organisations; • Respond rapidly to emerging community needs.

• Promote equality both within and between communities, both established and emerging.

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• Be designed to engage all Australians.

178 Labor's cultural diversity policies will be shaped by advice from the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council (AMAC) on practical approaches to social cohesion and the full participation of migrants in Australian society.

179 Labor will oppose racial and religious intolerance while promoting respect, fairness, acceptance and a sense of belonging for everyone (Diverse Australia Program).

Arts and culture

180 Australians celebrate the diversity of our nation through a wide range of arts and cultural events. These events provide an opportunity for communities to come together, develop a deeper understanding of each other and foster greater social inclusion.

181 Labor supports an active role for public arts and culture programs in schools, regional communities, Indigenous communities and throughout our cities and suburbs. Labor supports measures to maximise the participation of all Australians, especially in disadvantaged and marginalised communities, in Australia's cultural life.

182 Labor will support and fund the Australia Council to provide an independent voice in policy development, deliver funding for arts programs, act as an advocate for the arts and work closely with arts organisations and individual artists.

183 Labor will ensure that the Commonwealth maintains and develops the great national collecting institutions. We will support these institutions to tour their collections to ensure access by all Australians.

184 Labor is committed to supporting and financing the film and television industry, encouraging increased private investment, training further talent and assisting market development through Australian local content requirements on free to air and pay television as well as diverse new technologies.

185 Labor recognises the role of strong local markets in supporting the development of the Australian music sector. We will maintain and strengthen access to local markets and support for independent and emerging artists building overseas careers.

186 Labor supports the legal framework of copyright as a necessary part of a program to ensure that the income generated by arts, culture and heritage is fairly distributed between the creators and the institutions and entrepreneurs who make it available.

187 Labor affirms that a successful copyright framework will support the education, arts, culture, and heritage of Australia through:

• The development and maintenance of a national identity in the Australian creative industries.

• The development of new and emerging Australian creative talent.

• The meeting of consumer expectations in speed to market.

• Certainty of supply and diversity of Australian-produced intellectual property.

• The promotion of competitive, sustainable and innovative Australian creative industries.

• The promotion of exports of Australian creative product to foreign territories.

Animal welfare

188 Labor believes that all animals should be treated humanely and will work to achieve better animal welfare through harmonisation of relevant State, Territory and Commonwealth laws and codes to ensure consistent application and enforcement of animal protection statutes.

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Chapter 8: Strengthening regional and

local communities 1 Australia's regional communities are central to our national identity and integral to our economic prosperity. Regional Australia needs the support of a nation-building government, committed to the provision of modern infrastructure and quality services, and to ensuring decent standards for

working Australians and families in regional centres and more isolated communities throughout our nation.

2 Regional communities face unique challenges arising from global economic changes, population movements, the disproportionate effects of climate change and limited access to adequate levels of care and support. These challenges have been intensified by the years of neglect under the Liberal Party and the global economic downturn.

3 Labor recognises the diverse range of needs and issues facing this nations regions. Coastal communities face different challenges to inland regions and solutions are not possible within a single policy approach. Labor is committed to continue to work with regional communities to address these challenges, develop practical local solutions and ensure that living in regional Australia can continue to provide a high quality of life for Australians.

The Liberal legacy: opportunistic politics, not the national

interest 4 In the 12 years that the Liberal and National parties were in office, they neglected the Government's basic responsibilities for the jobs, services and infrastructure of regional Australia.

5 The Liberal and National Parties used regional policies and programs to serve their narrow political advantage, rather than to support families and strengthen regional communities.

6 The neglect of regional infrastructure under the Liberal and National Parties resulted in widening infrastructure gaps, due to a lack of planning and underinvestment in roads, rail, ports and air services. These failures reduced the competitiveness of businesses in regional Australia, restricted employment opportunities and held back export growth.

7 The Liberal and National Parties held back regional development by failing to plan and build a high-speed national broadband network. Instead of ensuring that regional Australia would have access to high-speed broadband, they cobbled together an inadequate patchwork of short-term quick-fix measures that left millions of people in regional Australian without access to this essential 21st century infrastructure. Small businesses, educational institutions and local health services all suffered as a result of this neglect.

8 Instead of supporting jobs in regional Australia, the Liberal and National Parties imposed their unfair Work Choices legislation on working families in regional Australia, undermining their job security and living standards.

9 The Liberal and National Parties provided no support to local government. There is no part of the Australian community that relies more on local government to create jobs and provide services than regional Australia, yet the Liberal and National Parties denied them any recognition or financial support.

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Labor's principles: building strong and dynamic regional

communities 10 Labor believes regions play a vital role in the economic development of Australia. Labor is committed to nation-building investment in our regional communities in order to lift productivity and economic growth, and expand job opportunities throughout regional Australia.

11 Labor is committed to helping regional Australia seize its economic opportunities by investing in nation-building infrastructure, quality government services, local skills development and a high- speed national broadband network.

12 Labor recognises the threat posed to regional Australia by climate change, in particular for employees and businesses in agriculture, tourism and related industries such as retail and hospitality. Labor is committed to tackling climate change and ensuring support for regional Australia in responding to the challenge of climate change including drought, increased adverse weather events and environmental degradation.

13 Labor is committed to the role of national government in ensuring that people in regional Australia have access to key government services such as high quality health care and educational opportunities.

14 As the level of government closest to the community, Labor recognises the unique role played by local government in regional Australia. Labor will continue to support local government in providing for community infrastructure and contributing to regional economic development.

Strong and sustainable communities

15 Labor believes that Australia's regions are not only important drivers of our national economy but they are also a source of social and cultural diversity. In order for regional communities to continue making a vital contribution to the nation, they must remain strong and sustainable.

16 Labor recognises that a strong community is underpinned by a stable economic and income base, adequate physical infrastructure such as roads, telecommunications, and water infrastructure, social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, community facilities, and reasonable access to health and community services. It also recognises that as key drivers of regional economies, sectors such as agriculture, tourism and retail are interdependent, and require a whole of economy approach to regional development and cross sector policies across government agencies.

17 Labor believes that all Australians, regardless of where they live, should have reasonable and affordable access to services including:

• Secure and appropriate housing.

• Transport.

• Basic utilities.

• Universal and affordable broadband facilities and mobile access.

• Quality education and training opportunities.

• Health and aged care.

• Financial services.

• Personal, family and social services.

• Employment services.

• Information on government programs and policies.

18 With these basic foundations in place, individuals within regional communities are better able to form social bonds, contribute to their community and the nation's prosperity and to make plans about their future and their children's future.

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19 Labor supports local communities driving their own future through local solutions and innovative

strategies.

20 Since the 2007 federal election, Labor has implemented a range of policies to help support Australia's regional communities. These policies include:

• Establishing the Building Australia Fund to begin addressing national infrastructure bottlenecks.

• Investing record funding for our railways, regional highways, country roads and local streets over the next six years.

• Providing record funding through local government for community facilities and infrastructure to help support local jobs and make our regional communities even better places to live and work.

• Helping farming communities prepare for and manage climate change through the Farming for our Future program.

• Investing in the modernisation of all schools in regional and rural Australia, through the Building the Education Revolution program and investment in trades training facilities.

• Delivering improved broadband services to regional areas.

21 Labor will continue to implement plans involving all levels of government to improve the physical, social and economic environment in regional communities. These will include development of local industry and employment opportunities, access to education, health, housing and community support services, and improved transport links.

22 Labor will finalise a new Regional Development Australia network of local advisory committees to engage with regional communities and local and state government and ensure that national policies achieve practical results.

23 In recognition of varying population growth in Australia's regions, Labor will bring together evidence about Australia's settlement trends, enabling all levels of government to identify needs and plan for a sustainable future.

24 In recognition of the contribution of migrants to regional communities and economies, Labor will also consider improvements to services and infrastructure to attract and sustain migration in regional communities.

25 Labor will continue to address the needs of ageing populations in regional communities through the provision of aged care, medical services and appropriate community facilities.

26 Labor will ensure that in regional communities with Indigenous populations, the local Indigenous community is engaged in the development and delivery of infrastructure, service and programs.

27 Labor will consider policies to provide targeted assistance to regions of greatest disadvantage, such as those with high unemployment and other factors including drought and natural disasters.

28 Labor will develop a comprehensive national aviation policy, including addressing skill shortages in regional areas.

29 Labor will examine ways to encourage and support a domestic shipping industry and maintain a strong regional ports network.

Strengthening regional economies

30 Labor recognises that up-to-date communications infrastructure and facilities are essential to the development of industry and business opportunities. Through the National Broadband Network Labor will deliver broadband services to all parts of the nation.

31 Labor recognises that access to fast and affordable broadband is the great enabling infrastructure for individuals and regions. Labor is committed to ensuring that the digital divide is minimised.

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32 Labor recognises that access to fast and affordable broadband in regional areas will enable

regional industries and businesses to be better able to access world markets and improve export performance. The National Broadband Network is vital long-term infrastructure investment in Australia's future economic prosperity.

33 Labor recognises that access to fast and affordable broadband will not only benefit regional economies but will also enhance the educational opportunities of all of children regardless of where they live. The National Broadband Network will underpin Labor's Digital Education Revolution which will enhance access to new technology in schools across Australia.

34 Labor recognises the value that banking services at Australia Post have brought to rural and regional communities.

Regional engagement

35 Labor is committed to engaging with regional communities in order to develop evidence-based policies, undertake practical regional planning and ensure that national policies achieve desired outcomes.

36 While Labor maintains that regional development should be part of mainstream policy, it will retain regional-specific programs. Labor will ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of these programs.

37 Since the 2007 election, Labor has begun implementing Regional Development Australia, a network of local advisory committees to better engage with regional communities, provide local input and strategic advice to all levels of government regarding the needs of regional communities, coordinate government policies affecting the regions and improve service delivery.

38 Labor will ensure that Regional Development Australia committees operate in a transparent and accountable manner and are representative of their communities, working closely with state and local governments.

39 Labor recognises that all three levels of government are essential in developing Australia's regions.

Labor will provide the national leadership necessary to work with state, territory and local governments to implement targeted strategies and polices in regional Australia.

Remote communities

40 Labor recognises that distance brings unique challenges to Australia's remote communities, particularly in relation to access to basic services such as food, shelter, education, healthcare, communications and transportation.

41 Labor supports equitable access to services and infrastructure for Australians in remote communities, and will work with remote communities and industries to maximise their economic potential.

42 Since the 2007 election, we have implemented a range of policies to improve economic and social opportunities for remote communities. They include:

• Increasing funding for the remote air services and aerodromes to ensure that these communities can have access to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and other basic services such as mail deliveries and fresh food.

• Investing additional funding to upgrade remote and regional roads, particularly in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland.

• Improving port access transport networks to ensure more products and produce are delivered from remote mines and farms to Australia's export markets.

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• Delivering record funding for regional and inter-state rail networks to better link remote

communities with major regional centres and capital cities.

• Providing increased funding for Tasmanian island communities through the Bass Strait Freight Equalisation Scheme.

• Investing record funding in local government in remote areas in order to deliver better municipal services, community facilities and remote roads.

43 Labor will look at funding programs and policies to ensure they deliver practical improvements for remote communities and increase the economic contribution that remote communities make to the nation.

Local government

44 Labor recognises that local government is the level of government closest to the community. 45 The role of local government has evolved beyond the traditional municipal and road services to delivering:

• Social services such as childcare, aged care, affordable housing and health services.

• Environmental services such as coastal management, improved waste management, energy efficiency, and improved catchment and water resources management.

• Community infrastructure such as sports grounds, swimming pools, community centres and tourism facilities.

• Regional planning and economic development strategies.

46 Labor is committed to a new partnership with local government in order to improve the provision of services and infrastructure for local communities. As a central plank of this new partnership, Labor will continue working with local government to advance the recognition of the third sphere of government within the Australian Constitution.

47 In addition, Labor will continue to build on policies to assist local government such as:

• Delivering the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, a new fund to address specifically the backlog in building and renewing community facilities.

• Providing record funding through the ongoing Financial Assistance Grants—a program commenced by Labor in 1974-75.

• Increasing funding for local government-maintained roads through the Roads to Recovery program.

• Establishing the first Australian Council of Local government to consult and engage directly with local government.

• Ensuring that local government has a voice within Infrastructure Australia and is represented consistently across the Regional Development Australia network.

48 Labor will work with local government to consider policies that help make our urban and regional communities more liveable and productive, including urban and regional planning, development assessment and approval processes.

49 Labor will promote the role of local government in national and local environmental strategies, such as natural resource management, climate change and water management.

50 Labor acknowledges the need for greater local government involvement in pursuing employment and training opportunities, in partnership with other spheres of government, business, unions and regional organisations.

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51 Labor understands that rising costs and increasing demand for local services have affected the

financial sustainability of local governments, in particular many remote, regional and outer- suburban local governments.

52 While recognising that Labor is delivering record funding, we will continue to work with local government to improve efficiency and financial sustainability.

53 Labor will work with local government to achieve best practice in the development, management and maintenance of infrastructure, particularly through asset and financial management frameworks.

54 Labor will work with local government to promote collaboration between Councils such as through shared services, encourage best practice, innovation and skill development, work with industry skills Councils and those partners to achieve long term skills retention and quality public service, and generally improve governance within local government.

55 Labor is committed to working with local government to develop and implement strategies to increase participation by women and Indigenous people in all aspects of local government.

External territories

56 Labor recognises the need for special arrangements between the Commonwealth and the external territories that are tailored to the particular needs and circumstances of each territory.

57 Labor believes that the potential of our external territories and their people will be best realised when they have access to:

• Fair and equitable opportunities similar to that in Australian states and mainland territories.

• Appropriate economic, social and cultural development strategies addressing the needs and circumstances of each territory.

• Governance arrangements which are equitable, fair, sustainable and reflect the islanders' desire for real decision making power and responsibility and a level of autonomy.

58 Labor recognises that the people of Australia's external territories have suffered from isolation and neglect and that new policies are required to protect their full citizenship rights and to support economic development to underpin their sustainability.

Northern Australia

59 Labor believes that Northern Australia, identified as that part of Australia north of the Tropic of Capricorn, makes a vital contribution to the national economy, particularly through its resources, agriculture and tourism industries.

60 Labor recognises the rich diversity of northern Australian communities as well as its unique and fragile natural environment.

61 Labor understands that through distance and decades of under-investment, Northern Australia has significant social and economic infrastructure needs.

62 Labor believes in encouraging development in Northern Australia in a sustainable manner which protects the region's natural environment and its many social and cultural assets while harnessing its potential.

63 Since the 2007 election, Labor has made significant investments in Northern Australia and laid out the policy foundations to enable sustainable development in the longer term. They include:

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• Committing record funding to upgrade transport infrastructure in north Queensland, Western

Australia and the Northern Territory.

• Committing funding as part of the Ord Stage 2 development in the East Kimberley, in particular to address social and economic disadvantage in the region.

• Investing in community infrastructure in Northern Australia through the Better Regions and the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Programs.

• Investing in housing, education, and social infrastructure in Indigenous communities in Northern Australia to address disadvantage.

• Establishing the Office of Northern Australia to provide high level advice about priorities and strategies that promote sustainable development and barriers impeding the development of significant initiatives in northern Australia.

• Reforming and reconvening the Northern Land and Water Taskforce, an independent group of Australian experts to examine the potential for new developments in northern Australia that rely on significant local or regional water resources and identify opportunities for further development.

• Undertaking the first national infrastructure audit to identify backlogs and under-utilisation of infrastructure, including in Northern Australia.

• Publishing a statistical compendium of data relating to Northern Australia, which covers population, the economy and workforce, social conditions, transport, infrastructure, climate, land use and industry.

64 Labor will address ongoing infrastructure bottlenecks in Northern Australia in order to remove obstacles for future investment.

65 Labor will work with Indigenous communities in Northern Australia to tackle systemic disadvantage and ensure access to quality education, housing and basic services, and enable Indigenous Australians to take advantage of employment opportunities.

66 Labor will work with relevant state and territory governments, industry, local government and the community to identify further opportunities for investment in Northern Australia.

67 Labor will take steps to ensure that the natural environment and heritage are protected, and water resources are used sustainably in future development in Northern Australia.

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Chapter 9: Tackling climate change and

our environmental challenges 1 Climate change is the most dangerous long term threat to Australia's prosperity. Our economic future and well-being depends on protecting our environment by using our natural resources in a sustainable way, preserving biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions and keeping our water, land

and air clean.

2 Labor recognises the seriousness of these challenges and is taking decisive action to move Australia to a low pollution future. We understand the impact that climate change is having on our water resources in particular and we are preparing for a future with less water.

3 Labor will help provide the knowledge and resources needed to make the transition to a more sustainable society and a more resilient environment. We will support jobs in the low pollution industries of the future and use regulation effectively and efficiently. As the people of the world demand action to protect the environment, becoming more environmentally sustainable will become an economic necessity and a job-creating opportunity for Australia. It is an opportunity we must not miss.

The Liberal legacy of neglect on climate change

4 For twelve years in government, the Liberal and National Parties remained in denial about the reality of climate change. While other nations were taking action and despite an overwhelming consensus in the scientific community about the urgent need for action, the Coalition Parties continued to attack those who spoke out on the dangers of inaction, leaving Australia's economy and environment vulnerable to the growing climate threat.

5 The Coalition Parties refused to be a part of the global solution to climate change. Under the Coalition Parties, Australia became the only industrialised nation other than the United States that refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, despite Australia having become one of the largest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases in the world.

6 The Coalition Parties failed future generations of Australians by staying in denial about the climate threat and delaying action in response. This inaction left Australia exposed to worsening environmental impacts, including severe damage to the Great Barrier Reef, the Murray-Darling Basin and Kakadu.

7 The Coalition Parties failed to see the long-term economic opportunities of tackling climate change, and allowed leading Australian renewable energy entrepreneurs and businesses to move offshore because of the lack of supportive policies in Australia. This neglect has left Australia behind in the global transition to a low carbon economy and held back the creation of green collar jobs.

8 The Coalition Parties neglected the increasingly critical water shortages in many parts of Australia, presiding over the decline of river systems and failing to provide any long-term solution to strengthen the viability of communities dependent on agriculture and tourism in regional Australia.

9 The Coalition Parties played politics with environmental policy, instead of working to support and protect the biodiversity of Australia's natural environment. In contrast to previous governments of both political persuasions that advanced environmental protection, the Liberal and National Parties instead attacked those who stood up for the environment.

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Labor's principles: tackling climate change and our

environmental challenges 10 Labor's approach to creating a sustainable environment is based on the following principles and scientific understandings:

• Carbon pollution is causing the world's climate to change, resulting in extreme weather, higher temperatures, more droughts, and rising sea levels.

• With one of the hottest and driest continents on earth, Australia's environment and economy will be one of the hardest and fastest hit by climate change if we do not act now.

• As one of the largest polluters per capita, Australia must reduce our emissions in the short and long term.

• All Australians, whether at industry or household level, need to do their bit to tackle carbon pollution.

• Government must play its part by setting the regulatory framework and providing mechanisms for the reduction of carbon emissions like the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

• Climate change is a global problem and needs a global solution. The developed world must act in a forthright way that will encourage developing countries to join the global fight.

• Acting on climate change demands that we move to a low carbon economy. To achieve this we must take account of the cost of climate change by placing a price on carbon. This will provide the incentive for investment in the industries and green jobs of the future.

• Government must also assist the transition to a low carbon economy by providing appropriate regulation, subsidies, support and direct investment where needed.

• Climate change also means we need to use water more wisely and diversify our water supplies to reduce our reliance on rainfall.

• Protecting our biodiversity is a core environmental challenge, requiring research, regulation and protection through sustainable land management practices, forestry, parks and reserves and cooperation with landholders and land managers, governments and agencies.

• Our environmental challenge extends to lived environments and involves identifying, preserving and restoring significant examples of our built and cultural heritage.

• Government must also assist the transition to a low carbon economy by providing appropriate regulation, subsidies, support and direct investment where needed, including taking action to encourage superannuation funds to invest in clean technology and job creation and adequately consider the environmental impacts of investment decisions.

Shifting to the low pollution economy of the future

11 Labor understands that successfully tackling climate change means shifting from today's high carbon pollution economy to the low carbon pollution economy of the future.

12 Labor believes that the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme must be the central reform underpinning our response to climate change and that it is best supported by additional complementary measures to help drive investment in clean and renewable energy and aid the shift to a low carbon future.

13 Labor is ready to set our post 2020 targets so that Australia can contribute positively to a global agreement to stabilise emissions. Labor recognises the science of climate change is continuing to evolve and a deeper National 2050 target may be necessary to act in concert with international effort to reduce carbon pollution. Should this be necessary, Labor will seek a mandate in an election context to lift the 2050 target.

14 Labor is increasing the Renewable Energy Target, so that by 2020, 20 per cent of Australia's electricity—the equivalent of all Australia's household electricity will come from renewable sources like wind and solar.

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15 Labor will reduce Australia's carbon emissions by 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 if the

world agrees to an ambitious global deal to stabilise levels of CO2 equivalent at 450 parts per million or lower. If a global agreement falls short of 450ppm, Labor will reduce Australia's carbon emission between 5 per cent and 15 per cent on 2000 levels by 2020, depending on the extent of international action. The 15 per cent target represents a significant reduction per capita of 41 per cent from 1990 levels.

16 Labor recognises that current projections show emissions would be 20 per cent higher by 2020 than they were in 2000 if Australia were to choose not to act.

17 Furthermore, Labor is committed to reducing Australia's carbon pollution by 60 per cent on year 2000 levels by 2050 and to seeking a new election mandate for increased 2050 targets if the world agrees to a more ambitious global agreement.

18 Labor will progress this in part through the creation of a new, independent body, Australian Centre for Renewable Energy, to support research development and demonstration of renewable technologies, and a Solar Flagships Program to create an additional 1000 megawatts of solar power generation capacity in Australia

19 Labor at all times will ensure that the targets put in place to lower emissions are appropriate and responsible given the need to protect our economy and jobs during the global recession.

Implementing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

20 Labor believes that to reduce the carbon pollution that causes climate change Australia must implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

21 The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme delivered by Labor in government will for the first time put a price on carbon to encourage major polluting businesses to lower their emissions and invest in new, clean, low pollution technologies.

22 Labor recognises that the rest of the world is already moving towards implementing schemes similar to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, including in 27 European countries, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. In implementing the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia will be helping to build the international climate change infrastructure of the future.

23 Through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Labor will:

• Put a cost on carbon pollution to encourage major polluting businesses to lower their emissions.

• Help industries that pollute to transition to a low-carbon economy.

• Use the funds raised to assist households to adjust to the scheme, making sure Australian families do not carry the cost of climate change.

• Build on our investment in renewable energy to create the low pollution jobs of the future- in biofuel, biomass, solar energy, on wind farms and in jobs using new technologies like clean coal and geo-thermal energy.

International action on climate change

24 Labor's first act of government was to ratify the Kyoto protocol, which signified Australia's readiness to be part of the global solution.

25 Under Labor Australia is now playing an active and constructive role in international efforts to forge a new global climate change agreement.

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26 Labor believes a key part of reaching a global solution involves decoupling economic growth from

emissions growth, a priority which has particular resonance for developing countries, which have a right to promote sustainable economic development and raise living standards.

27 Labor recognises that a critical aspect of the global effort is cooperation with developing countries to develop technologies for cleaner growth. A practical example of such work is the Global Initiative on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), initiated by Labor in government, which incorporates an Institute to drive the dissemination of CCS technology and know-how around the world.

28 Labor recognises that achieving a comprehensive global solution also requires a change in the traditional dynamic between developed and developing nations, and has fostered cooperative relationships with developing countries, such as with Indonesia through the Australia-Indonesia Forest Carbon Partnership.

29 Labor is also committed to working within our region with vulnerable developing countries to adapt to climate change. Labor will help our neighbours, primarily in the Pacific and East Timor, to prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Direct investment in green jobs

30 Labor believes that Australia's low-carbon future will be driven by the creation of new industries and new green jobs in existing industries.

31 These new industries and the new jobs in existing industries represent an important opportunity to tackle climate change and to assist industries to transition to a low pollution future. Labor recognises that the skills needed to make these transitions are often found in regions with existing carbon reliant industries, providing an opportunity to create the jobs of the future when and where they are needed.

32 Australia's response to climate change should seek to create greener ways of work in all its forms—from production and maintenance, through to research, design and development.

33 Labor will drive the creation of green collar jobs in Australia through the implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and other measures and will continue to draw on international experience and world leading policies to further enhance green employment opportunities for Australians.

34 Labor recognises the importance of supporting high carbon emitting industries to find ways to become more energy efficient and reduce emissions. This includes supporting workers in these industries to access training and skills programs to allow them to support lower emissions practices. Labor further recognises the importance of making training and skills programs available for workers wishing to transition to new, low pollution industries.

35 Labor will deliver policies to support regions in building a low pollution future.

36 In supporting job creation and economic growth, Labor will continue to identify opportunities for initiatives that help Australia in its response to climate change, such as the funding in the National Building and Jobs Plan under which will:

• Install ceiling insulation in around 2.7 million homes.

• Provide rebates to landlords who insulate rental properties.

• Give rebates for eligible home owners and renters who install solar or heat pump hot water.

• Introduce a Green Loans program to provide energy assessments backed with low-interest loans for solar, water and energy efficient products.

• Continue to provide support for eligible households to install solar photovoltaic systems, through the 'Solar Credits' program.

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Renewable energy and energy efficiency

37 Labor will encourage investment in low pollution and renewable energy technologies. 38 Labor will ensure 20% of Australia's electricity supply will be sourced from renewable based electricity by 2020. Labor will deliver policies to continue increasing the uptake of renewable energy beyond 2020, noting that the CPRS could see up to 51% of Australia's electricity sourced

from renewable by 2050.

39 Labor supports the promotion of demand management and energy efficiency with programs targeting both domestic and industrial energy use.

40 Labor will work in partnership with energy suppliers, regulators and state and local governments to ensure that every business and household in Australia has improved access to energy saving technologies and advice.

41 Labor is committed to expanding national, mandatory energy efficiency design and performance standards, including those for domestic appliances, industrial equipment, residential and non- residential buildings and motor vehicles.

42 Labor is committed to taking a leadership role in the efficient use of energy and will ensure all government departments and agencies adopt best practice energy efficiency.

43 Labor supports the promotion of less greenhouse-intensive forms of transport, including public transport, cycling and walking.

Adapting to the climate change we cannot avoid

44 Labor understands that some climate change is already built into the world's climate, meaning that while we work to reduce emissions we need to adapt to the climate change that is happening now.

Adapting to a changing climate is a central part of Labor's long term planning to tackle the issues around water and other resource management. Labor is also working with the states and territories to implement the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework across all jurisdictions through the COAG process.

45 Labor also understands the importance of strengthening the ability of Australians to respond to the impact of climate change, which involves helping local governments, coastal planners, agricultural communities, architects and others to build a response to climate change.

46 Labor will continue to put in place a range of programs at the local level, to assist local councils and other organisations better understand their vulnerability to climate change and develop strategies to address those vulnerabilities.

Preparing primary industries for climate change and

future droughts 47 Labor recognises that despite the best efforts of farmers to prepare for periods of low rainfall, severe droughts have a serious impact on the livelihood of rural Australia.

48 Labor acknowledges the link between drought and human induced climate change. With some parts of Australia in long term drought, it is time for Australia's farming community and rural policy makers to reconsider the best policy framework to support farmers facing hardship as a result of reduced rainfall.

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49 Labor believes there is a need to refocus programs to support early investment in preparing for the

social, environmental and economic impacts of drought and climate change. Drought policy should be aimed not just at improving farm productivity but also supporting the wellbeing of families on the land.

50 Labor believes that farmers should be supported during periods of transition to new policy settings.

Labor supports the following principles for an improved drought policy:

• Governments should focus on addressing the specific needs of farming families, farming businesses and farming communities.

• Future farm family welfare assistance should be built on mutual responsibility.

• There is a need to support farm families in accessing off-farm income during times of financial hardship.

• Farming families should have a temporary period of exemption from the normal assets tests for farm assets but otherwise receive the same access rights to income support as the wider community. Government support for farm businesses should assist businesses plan and prepare for the future. Farm business support should be premised on a willingness to prepare for the impacts of drought and climate change.

• Government policies and programs should support farming communities to prepare for drought and enhance their long term sustainability and resilience.

51 Labor recognises the increasing frequency and intensity of drought is not the only risk posed from climate change. Australia's primary industries are particularly vulnerable to predicted increases in severe storm events and shifts in the distribution of weeds and pests.

Strengthening the role of farmers in the delivery of

environmental services 52 Labor recognises the critical role of the rural community in the ongoing stewardship of our land. 53 Labor sees an expanded role for the agriculture sector in meeting major environmental challenges such as soil degradation, salinity, chemical use, water conservation, reducing greenhouse gas

emissions, river rehabilitation, feral animal and noxious weed control, and the loss of biodiversity.

Labor acknowledges the considerable progress made by farmers in these areas.

54 Labor recognises that many of the improvements farmers make to the environmental resilience of their land also make their land more productive and better prepared for the impacts of climate change.

55 Labor will:

• Encourage the development of innovative production systems and farming practices, new research and infrastructure developments that address these major challenges.

• Acknowledge the particular implications for Australian agriculture of climate change, direct scientific effort to identifying areas at risk from such change, and develop long-term strategies for regions required to change the nature of their farming activity.

• Make the development of economically and environmentally sustainable farming methods for a changing climate a focus of research efforts.

56 Labor is committed to building on the achievements of Landcare, encouraging the uptake of sustainable farming practices and the continuing support for the repair of our rural landscapes.

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Managing our water assets

57 Labor understands that addressing Australia's long term water issues requires national leadership. Labor believes that responsible management of water assets requires a combination of:

• Taking action on climate change.

• Using water wisely.

• Securing water supplies.

• Supporting healthy rivers.

58 Labor is committed to addressing the long term problems of the over-allocation of water resources of the Murray Darling Basin, and the neglect of the health of its iconic rivers and wetlands. These problems have been further exacerbated by prolonged drought and the emerging impacts of climate change.

59 Labor will restore the balance in the Murray Darling Basin through the Murray Darling Basin Authority, an independent authority that was established under Labor as a result of a historic agreement with Basin states for a referral of powers. As a priority, the Authority will develop a new sustainable Basin Plan and cap that will be completed in 2011. This plan will include a sustainable limit on the amount of water that can be taken from rivers and groundwater systems, to take effect as existing Basin water plans expire.

60 By continuing to purchase water from willing sellers and investing in water savings, Labor will improve the health of our rivers and facilitate an early transition in anticipation of lower sustainable diversion limits under the new Basin Plan.

61 Labor recognises that water is vital to the livelihood of many regional and rural communities across the Basin. That's why Labor is committed to investing in water efficiency projects in the Murray Darling Basin to help rural and regional communities improve the efficiency and productivity of water usage. By improving irrigation water management practices and on-farm water use efficiency, and by modernising our outdated, leaky irrigation infrastructure, this investment will enable more crops to be grown with less water. As projects get underway this investment will boost regional economic and employment opportunities in the Basin, and help underpin the future prosperity of irrigation communities.

62 Labor recognises that climate change means we need to use water more wisely in our cities, at the same time as diversifying our water supplies so that we reduce our reliance on rainfall

63 Labor will invest in initiatives to improve water security for Australia's cities and towns. Labor will continue its support for new investments in wastewater recycling, desalination, stormwater harvesting and efficient water infrastructure throughout Australia.

64 Labor will also provide assistance for Australian households to adopt water saving and water efficiency measures in their homes and businesses, including through rebates for households to install rainwater tanks or greywater systems.

65 Labor will support research and commercialisation of new technologies in improved water efficiency, desalination and water recycling.

Leadership on sustainability

66 Labor supports the incorporation of environmental values and sustainability into all areas of government decision making, both in terms of the government's direct environmental impacts and the environmental consequences of all legislation and regulation.

67 Labor encourages the use of certified carbon neutral paper that meets the Australian standard.

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68 Labor is committed to open and transparent environmental decision making and effective

monitoring, assessment and reporting of environmental performance.

69 Labor will develop, with state and territory governments, a National Sustainability Charter that sets key national targets across a number of areas which impact on Australia's environmental, social and economic sustainability.

70 Labor will establish an independent National Sustainability Commissioner and Council to monitor Australia's performance against sustainability targets and to evaluate Australian Government policies in terms of their impact on sustainability and agreed national targets.

71 Labor will support local government to fulfil its potential in environmental protection, repair and natural resource management.

72 Labor will ensure that national environment laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, provide strong, rigorous and accountable protection for the environment while being harmonised with state and territory regulatory regimes.

73 In the context of a comprehensive response to climate change, Labor will consider the appropriateness of a climate change trigger in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

74 Labor is committed to post-approval monitoring of major projects to ensure that measures and targets agreed during environmental impact assessment processes achieve the desired environmental outcomes.

75 Labor notes that the whole community should play a role in climate change actions. This includes the role played by those in our community that deliver quality public services, like local government, water supply, electricity and public transport. These industries take actions every day in a range of services from recycling, water harvesting, demand management and much more. This is a significant role in making our community environmentally sustainable and fighting climate change. Labor recognises the role played by the broad community and asks the Government to continue to implement a broad range of climate change actions.

Protecting biodiversity and natural resources

76 Labor is committed to protecting Australia's biological diversity through a national system of comprehensive, adequate and representative parks and reserves, while using education, regulation and incentives to achieve ecologically sustainable use elsewhere in the landscape.

77 Labor will work with state and territory governments and landholders to develop, resource and implement threat abatement and recovery plans for threatened species and ecological communities, while preventing clearing that will have a significant impact on threatened ecological communities and critical habitats for threatened species.

78 Labor will cooperate with states, territories and landholders to achieve a net increase in Australia's vegetation cover, to improve its management and to end broad-scale clearing. Funding of state, territory and landholder projects will be conditional upon appropriate clearing controls being in place.

79 Labor will promote research into invasive species and weeds and fund measures for their control on both public land and private land.

80 Labor will build on the achievements of Landcare by encouraging the uptake of sustainable farming practices and supporting improved natural resource management.

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81 Labor will provide funding and other support for landholders who have engaged in good

environmental practice, particularly those who are conserving and regenerating native plant communities.

82 Labor is committed to ensuring proper management and protection of our wetlands and will promote and honour Australia's obligations under the Ramsar Convention.

83 Labor is committed to maximising the social, economic and environmental benefits that flow from the sustainable management of Australia's forests.

84 Labor will continue to support the Australian Forestry Standard and remains concerned about other international forest certification and related ratings schemes which unduly penalise forestry.

85 Labor is committed to the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive, adequate and representative forest reserve system, achieved through the ongoing implementation of Regional Forest Agreements.

86 Labor recognises the multiple benefits that flow from developing plantations and integrated farm forestry, particularly on existing cleared agricultural land, and recognises that any adverse effects need to be carefully managed.

87 Labor does not support mining or other resource extraction in national parks and world heritage areas.

88 Labor supports Indigenous people being involved in land management through various means, including national parks, tourism and state forests, particularly where this provides cultural, social, economic and environmental benefits.

Marine and coastal protection

89 Labor is committed to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of our marine and coastal environment. Labor will work with state, territory and local authorities and agencies to ensure Australia's marine environment is monitored and sustainably managed.

90 The Commonwealth will provide leadership, policies and resources to maintain marine biodiversity through ecosystem-based management.

91 Labor will develop a national coastal policy to respond to population growth in coastal regions and support coastal planning initiatives and consider the impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion on coastal communities, acknowledging that climate change will exacerbate such impacts..

92 Labor will protect our coasts and beaches by investing in high conservation value areas and supporting community Coastcare as well as meeting international obligations, continuing legislative reform and opposing inappropriate development.

93 Labor will work towards reducing the serious threat to water quality from coastal shipping practices, sewage and stormwater disposal, thermal pollution, nutrient sedimentation and the introduction of exotic pests and diseases via ship ballast water.

94 Labor will promote the efficient and sustainable use of Australia's marine resources and will address unsustainable fishing practices.

95 Labor supports meeting Australia's international obligations for marine protection by creating a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of marine reserves, including 'no take' zones, to sustain ecosystem health and fish stocks, commencing with the South West marine bioregion.

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96 Labor will promote the conservation of key ecosystem health indicator species such as whales,

dugongs, turtles and sharks, both in Australian waters and across the world's oceans.

97 Labor will work with Indigenous communities and recreational fishermen to ensure hunting of marine animals is sustainable and humane and that threatened species are protected.

Heritage

98 Where culturally appropriate, Labor will promote and provide access to our built and cultural heritage, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

99 Labor recognises that Indigenous knowledge is a key to an environmentally and socially sustainable Australia. Labor will fund the recording of Indigenous oral histories, stories and languages to minimise the loss of Indigenous knowledge systems.

100 The identification and listing of properties of heritage significance should be carried out by an independent expert body.

101 Labor believes that the Commonwealth government has a responsibility to provide adequate heritage protection for Commonwealth properties of heritage significance.

102 Labor will support the proper funding, protection, management, monitoring and presentation of World Heritage Areas, and will continue to support the investigation and nomination of areas suitable for future listing in cooperation with state and territory governments.

A cleaner environment for living

103 Labor will recognise and support the community's desire to live in a clean and healthy environment, and empower it to achieve that goal.

104 Labor will recognise and support the role of non-government and community organisations in advocacy and taking action for the protection of our environment and heritage.

105 Labor will support the development of industries that minimise resource consumption, waste and pollution generation.

106 Labor will work with state and territory governments to promote a coordinated national approach to waste. This approach will maximise the economic opportunities of a harmonised and strategic national waste policy, and will be informed by the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

107 Labor is committed to the strict control of pollutants and toxins in the environment, including the minimisation of the production, import and use of harmful substances, the development of alternative technologies and, where possible, the elimination of harmful substances.

108 Labor believes nations have a responsibility for the appropriate disposal of hazardous wastes generated within their boundaries. Labor is committed to fulfilling Australia's obligations in the control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous waste.

109 Labor remains strongly opposed to the importation and storage of nuclear waste in Australia that is sourced from overseas, while acknowledging that we have a responsibility to manage nuclear waste that has been produced in Australia.

110 Genetically modified crops will not be released unless they are safe to health, safe to the environment and beneficial to the economy and there has been extensive community consultation.

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Labor will preserve the right of the states to implement and manage moratoria on the commercial

production of GM crops.

111 Labor will support action to improve air quality and avert the serious health risks that air pollution represents, particularly by promoting national air quality standards and monitoring and reporting air pollution.

112 Labor recognises the need to promote more transport choices and will pursue strategies to encourage alternative modes of transport, alternative fuels, greater fuel efficiency and lower average vehicle age.

113 Labor recognises that the Commonwealth government has a role in long-term strategic planning for demographic change and local government priority setting, particularly by supporting infrastructure investment and protecting remnant vegetation and catchment health.

114 Labor is committed to appropriate demographic policies and to ensuring that any population increase is sustainable and does not come at the cost of the environment.

Environmental diplomacy

115 Labor considers the protection of the global environment a vital foreign policy objective, as environmental degradation contributes to social and political conflict and undermines regional and international security.

116 Labor recognises that existing international environmental protection regimes need to be strengthened and new arrangements developed to address emerging issues. Labor will take a leadership role in multilateral forums that consider issues of environmental protection and sustainable development, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the Convention for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species and the International Whaling Commission.

117 Labor will assess all trade agreements to ensure that they are consistent with the principles of sustainable development, and will work to prevent any conflict arising between trade agreements and multilateral environmental agreements and domestic legislation to protect the environment.

118 As a priority, Labor supports cooperation on environmental issues in the Asia Pacific region through APEC and in cooperation with ASEAN. We will seek to upgrade consultation with Japan, the United states, Canada and New Zealand. We will further seek to consolidate and expand dialogues with major developing countries, especially China, Indonesia and India.

119 Labor will increase Australian support for Pacific Island countries, particularly in the areas of sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity, including fisheries.

120 Labor will work to further strengthen the Antarctic Treaty System with particular emphasis on enhancing environmental protection.

121 Labor will work through international forums to address unsustainable fishing practices worldwide with the establishment of high seas, marine protected areas a particular priority. We will energetically seek to combat unsustainable, illegal and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean.

122 Labor will pursue a permanent end to all commercial and scientific whaling and the establishment of a global whale sanctuary. Labor will use all available means to end the slaughter of whales for all time, including the option of legal action against whaling nations before international courts and tribunals.

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World Heritage Listing for Cape York Peninsula

123 Labor will work with the Queensland Government and traditional owners to pursue World Heritage listing for appropriate areas of Cape York, recognising the importance of Commonwealth leadership and the consent of traditional owners.

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Chapter 10: Strengthening Australia in a

changing world 1 Recent events in the global economy have underlined how the world is changing around us. Australia in the 21st century faces new challenges to our economic security, our national security and to the values we seek to secure through international cooperation and engagement.

2 Labor has always been the party to put Australia's interests first, while providing leadership in international forums and working towards universal, global solutions on human rights, trade and dispute resolution.

3 Labor's commitment to Australia's national interest, international cooperation and development continues through our work in government.

4 We remain committed to international organisations such as the United Nations, to our longstanding alliance with the United States and to our comprehensive engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.

5 We will address the widening gaps in our defence capability, guided by the principle of Australia's self reliance.

6 We will increase Australian efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, address climate change and engage more seriously with global efforts to make poverty history.

7 And we will also work through international economic forums to create a more stable global financial system and international trading regime. In a world made more challenging by terrorism and an economic downturn, Labor's broad and ethical approach offers the greatest security for Australia.

The Liberal legacy: Undermining Australia's role in the

international community 8 The Liberal Party weakened Australia's traditional role in the international community as a supporter of multilateral solutions to global challenges, and undermined the respect for Australian foreign policy that had been built through more than half a century of engagement in international fora such

as the United Nations.

9 The Liberals failed to understand the significant strategic, security and economic challenges in the Asia-Pacific region that lie ahead for the 21st century. As a result, Australia lost respect, influence and economic opportunities in our region.

10 The Liberal Party failed to plan for Australia's long-term defence needs, presiding over cost blow- outs and delays in successive major defence equipment projects while neglecting the progressive slide in recruitment and retention in our armed forces.

11 The Liberal Party ignored Australia's role in supporting efforts to reduce global poverty and help the world's poorest nations to achieve economic and social progress. While other nations stepped up to the challenge of the Millennium Development Goals, under the Liberals Australia failed to play its part in supporting development and economic opportunities in these nations.

12 The Liberal Party led Australia into the colossal strategic and humanitarian disaster of the Iraq War, misleading Australians about the reasons for the war and failing to act in Australia's national interest.

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13 The actions of the Liberal Party in government made Australia less safe and less able to confront

the threats to our national security.

Labor's principles: advancing Australia's interests

14 Labor's foreign affairs and national security policy is based on three fundamental pillars: • Our membership of the United Nations.

• Our alliance with the United States.

• Our policy of comprehensive engagement with Asia.

15 This framework has served both the party and successive Labor governments well. It was Labor, under Curtin, that initiated our alliance with the United States fully a decade before the ANZUS Treaty. It was Labor, under Chifley and Foreign Minister Evatt, that helped form the United Nations as the core of the post-war international order. It was also Labor, under Whitlam, Hawke and Keating, that initiated and advanced Australia's policy of comprehensive engagement with Asia.

16 Labor has a proud tradition of activism in international affairs. We are determined to bring to Australia's foreign policy the conviction and commitment which saw previous Labor governments play critical roles in world events, including the formation of the United Nations, the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, establishment of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, the banning of chemical weapons and in the development of Australia's vital engagement with the Asia Pacific region.

17 Labor's effective advocacy and appropriately resourced and targeted diplomacy will ensure Australia plays a significant role in regional and global developments in favour of our own interests and the common good. Labor will pursue Australia's national security, economic and human rights interests with vigour and determination at all levels in the international system, globally, regionally and in our bilateral relations with other countries.

18 Labor will make renewing Australia's tradition of creative, middle power diplomacy a priority. While Australia is not a super-power, it is nonetheless a significant power with a keen interest in shaping the international strategic order. Labor will practice creative and activist diplomacy by building coalitions with like-minded states to create the political momentum necessary to bring about multilateral diplomatic outcomes in the national interest.

Australia's changing strategic environment

19 While Labor's national security policy and foreign policy objectives and values remain constant, the global and regional environment in which we must now operate has been subjected to rapid and recent change.

20 The global financial crisis has highlighted the need for a fundamental re-examination of the institutions that underpin the global financial order. Labor believes that the G-20 should have a central role in reforms required to ensure stability in the global financial system and broader global governance. Financial markets and regulatory systems must be reformed to reduce the vulnerability of the global economy to such events in the future.

21 Terrorism represents a major factor in Australia's strategic environment which requires a comprehensive policy response at home, in the region through cooperative efforts with regional partners, as well as globally. Terrorism continues to represent a significant threat to Australians and Australian interests abroad.

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22 Another major shift in Australia's strategic environment has been the growing arc of instability in

Australia's immediate neighbourhood including Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands which have seen significant deployments of Australian troops.

23 Globalisation, technological advances and increased people-to-people contact and mobility across international borders have given rise to a whole new category of unconventional security threats.

The cross border threats and challenges posed by transnational crime including drug trafficking, environmental disasters, and public health threats such as communicable diseases, are part of Australia's new international security environment.

24 All these factors impact on our current national security and foreign policy environments. Labor's challenge today, as in previous decades, is to apply its continuing policy objectives, values and framework to the new demands of the emerging environment.

The challenge of terrorism

25 Labor led older generations of Australians in successfully defending Australia as a secure, and democratic nation. The growing presence of terrorism in our region poses new and complex security challenges.

26 Labor will increase engagement in our region and cooperation with our neighbours—measures that are fundamental to meeting the new security challenges. Labor will ensure that our defence forces, police and emergency services are equipped to meet the new challenges.

27 Labor's first priority is the defence and security of our nation and its people. However, Labor refuses to manipulate fear or racism for political gain in response to terror. Australia needs tough laws to deal with terrorism but, just as importantly, we need well-balanced laws that target the terrorists, not innocent citizens. We need strong safeguards to protect the civil and human rights that are fundamental to our freedoms.

28 In the past, Australia has not had a properly integrated national security policy. Labor in government has outlined new initiatives to enhance national security, including:

• The appointment of a National Security Adviser.

• The creation of a strategic policy framework for national security.

• A National Intelligence and Coordination Committee.

• Improvements to Australia's national crisis management arrangements.

29 Labor believes that an effective strategy for combating terrorism must promote justice, the rule of law, genuine peace and inclusive development, as well as confront those factors that make it easier for terrorist organisations to recruit within the region. Australia's military/security assistance should promote these objectives. The strategy should include addressing the economic, employment and educational opportunities available to young people across the region. Labor believes this requires an integrated, comprehensive strategy including cooperation with and capacity building for local security forces.

30 Labor believes that the global nature and reach of various terrorist organisations will mean that Australia will rely on global intelligence exchange—as well as support—for an expanding range of UN multilateral measures designed to combat terrorist financing and explicitly to outlaw defined terrorist organisations.

31 Labor believes that addressing terrorism requires a long term commitment to international efforts to stabilise Afghanistan. This requires both a military commitment and an effective strategy to build the capacity of the Afghan Government to manage its own affairs. Labor is also committed to comprehensive engagement with Pakistan to assist that country in tackling its internal security and economic challenges. Labor also remains committed to assisting Iraq to achieve long-term stability.

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Engagement with the United Nations

32 Labor believes global economic and social development, human rights, environmental protection and international security can best be achieved through multilateral diplomacy. Through international organisations we can promote the agreements necessary to build a secure 21st century based on economic justice and development, respect for human rights, environmental sustainability and peaceful means of resolving conflict.

33 The United Nations is the key forum for cooperation on many issues that affect Australia's interests, including our national security, trade and sustainable development and our humanitarian concerns for welfare and human rights. Labor believes in contributing actively and constructively to shape global changes and events through the work of the UN. For this reason, Labor supports Australia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the period 2013-14.

34 Labor is committed to working multilaterally to reform and improve the administrative efficiency, democratic operation and effectiveness of the UN and ensure that it is able to effectively respond to the new international security challenges posed by non-state factors including terrorists, organised crime and environmental disaster. Labor is committed to reforms that enhance the role and standing of the UN as the primary forum for global cooperation and understanding. We are also committed to ensuring continued effective parliamentary and public scrutiny of international treaties prior to final treaty action by government.

35 In line with Labor's strong commitment to human rights, Labor will devote particular attention to strengthening and improving the UN's human rights machinery and processes, and supports the UN Human Rights Council.

36 Labor supports strengthening the UN's capacity, along with Australia's, in the fields of preventive diplomacy and peace building, peace making, peace keeping and peace enforcement in recognition of the significant threats to international security that arise both from longstanding and new conflicts between and within states.

37 Labor strongly supports the UN Security Council's adoption of the doctrine of international humanitarian intervention known as 'The Responsibility to Protect'. The principle recognises the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and provides a firm basis in international law for the international community to step in to intervene to protect civilian populations on humanitarian grounds when, and if, their own governments are unwilling or unable to do so. Labor is committed to working with relevant governments, the UN Security Council, and other UN and regional bodies to ensure that the responsibility to protect doctrine moves from adoption to commitment and consistent implementation.

38 As a middle power with significant experience in peace keeping operations, Australia must be prepared to continue to accept peace keeping responsibilities consistent with our national, regional and global security interests.

The United States alliance

39 The United States remains our closest security ally and a vital global partner. Labor is firmly committed to maintaining and strengthening Australia's close relationship with the United States, a relationship founded on our people's common democratic values and their commitment to fostering international peace and security.

40 Labor believes in the centrality of the alliance to Australia's national security requirements in critical areas such as intelligence on terrorism, defence equipment and broader strategic stabilisation in East Asia, where great power tensions between other regional states remain problematic.

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41 Labor believes that the ANZUS Treaty, which is central to the alliance relationship, is one of

Australia's great national assets. Labor endorsed the invoking of the ANZUS Treaty following the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001.

42 Labor will continue to build on this excellent relationship developed over many years. We will revitalise the consultative mechanisms to facilitate a strong relationship into the future.

43 Labor will continue to promote joint defence exercises and improved interoperability with United States military forces, within the context of Australia's national defence objectives.

44 Labor recognises that the alliance does not meet the totality of Australia's national security requirements and that these must also be met by the other two pillars of Labor's approach, engagement with the United Nations and comprehensive engagement in Asia.

Comprehensive engagement in the Asia-Pacific region

45 The third pillar of Labor's framework for national security policy and foreign policy is comprehensive regional engagement with Asia.

46 Australia is intimately linked with Asia. We contribute to both the prosperity and security of the region, just as the region profoundly contributes to Australia's prosperity and security. Active engagement with Asia is fundamental to our national security and to furthering our national interest.

47 Labor has long recognised that global economic and strategic weight is shifting to Asia. By 2020, Asia will account for around 45 per cent of global GDP, around one-third of global trade and its share of global military spending will have grown to nearly one quarter. The challenges for Asia will be great and we need strong institutions to underpin an open, peaceful, stable, prosperous and sustainable region.

48 Labor supports a vision for an Asia Pacific Community which spans the entire Asia-Pacific region—including the United States, Japan, China, India, Indonesia and the other states of the region—and which is able to engage in the full spectrum of dialogue, cooperation and action on economic and political matters and future challenges related to security.

49 Labor is determined to broaden and deepen our links at all levels in the Asia-Pacific region and will seek to secure full participation in significant regional forums and processes.

50 Labor will consolidate Australia's engagement in the Asia-Pacific region including working through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the East Asian Summit, Pacific Islands Forum, the ASEAN Regional Forum and as an observer to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). We will engage in these forums to produce concrete benefits in terms of Australia's security, economic growth, jobs and our standard of living.

51 Labor will actively encourage the further broadening of regional dialogue and cooperation to include problems of sustainable economic and social development and environmental protection, with the aim of enhancing human security throughout our region.

52 At the bilateral level, Labor will work with vigour in building productive relationships which advance shared political and economic interests. Labor strongly supports enhancing people-to-people contacts between Australia and our East Asian neighbours and will actively pursue the further development of social, cultural and educational ties. Labor will place new emphasis on ensuring that the languages of the region are taught more widely in our schools.

53 Australia's greatest international challenges and opportunities arise from rapid economic change in East Asia and the evolving security environment of the Asia-Pacific region. Economic growth in East

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Asia is again presenting Australia with critical opportunities to advance joint prosperity and

security.

54 While active engagement with Asia is Australia's highest foreign policy priority, Labor is firmly committed to strengthening and broadening our links with other countries and regions.

55 To strengthen our relationship with Pacific Island nations and improve development and regional stability, Labor believes that a more cooperative approach is needed. Labor's Pacific Partnerships for Development, based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility and focussing on economic growth, education, health and strengthening governance, embody this new approach.

56 In the Pacific, Labor will:

• Promote sustainable and equitable development.

• Strengthen regional cooperation in areas including defence and security; climate change; natural disaster planning, response and relief; sustainable agriculture; fisheries research and protection.

• Work to ensure that impacts on the peoples and nations of the Pacific are fully considered in the negotiation of solutions to global problems.

57 Labor's approach will focus on strengthening the economic, social and political institutions of the Pacific. Labor will also encourage the further development of a wide range of institutional and cultural links between Australians and the people of the Pacific nations.

58 Natural disasters throughout the region pose a real threat to regional stability, safety and security.

Such events also highlight the need for improved relief and reconstruction coordination across the region. Labor will work with countries in our region towards improving the effective coordination of regional emergency responses.

Other regional relationships

59 Labor supports the development of a strong political, economic and cultural partnership with Europe. Labor supports the intensification of cooperation with the European Union through the Australia-EU Partnership Framework Agreement launched in 2008.

60 Labor will rectify the pattern of Australian disengagement from the African continent. Africa lies front and centre in the international community's global development challenge. Africa also presents significant opportunities for Australian business. For these reasons, Australia must re-engage with Africa—both its individual nation states and important regional institutions including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.

61 Similarly, Labor supports expanded relations with the Americas, including, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. These regions were neglected by the previous government.

Labor believes that Australia should build on growing people-to-people links between our countries to work together on shared issues including trade and climate change.

Australia's role in arms control and disarmament

62 Labor recognises and deplores the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which are widely recognised as one of the most serious international security issues facing the world community. Labor believes no one should experience the horrors of nuclear, chemical or biological warfare.

63 The international environment in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War allowed important gains in nuclear arms control and disarmament. In recent years, however, progress in nuclear disarmament had faltered and there have been concerning developments in the area of

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proliferation. The nuclear activities and ambitions of Iran and North Korea in defiance of the

international community pose a major threat to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

64 Labor welcomes the formation of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and supports the Commission's mandate to reinvigorate the global debate on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and to seek a global consensus in the lead up to the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Labor also supports the Commission's efforts to examine the ways in which the non-NPT nuclear armed states can be brought into the global non-proliferation and disarmament system as well the challenges of the expanded use of civil nuclear energy due to climate change and energy security on non-proliferation.

65 Australia has a strong interest in preventing the spread of WMD, particularly in our region.

66 Labor will continue to give strong support to strengthening safeguards against further horizontal nuclear proliferation, to negotiating a convention banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons and to the earliest possible entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Labor will continue support for nuclear weapon free zones.

67 Labor will actively encourage the pursuit of further substantial reductions of nuclear arsenals and the development of processes for bringing all nuclear weapon states into the disarmament process as steps toward the ultimate objective of a nuclear weapon free world. In this regard, Labor considers it very important to protect the integrity of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Labor affirms its unequivocal commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons, and to work for its achievement as quickly as possible.

68 Labor supports exploration of potential legal frameworks for the abolition of nuclear weapons, including negotiation of a Nuclear Weapons Convention that would ban nuclear weapons and provide a global framework for the elimination of existing arsenals.

69 Labor will continue Australia's strong support for the Chemical Weapons Convention and pursue the earliest possible completion of negotiations for a robust and effective verification protocol for the Biological Weapons Convention. Labor is committed to continued support for the Missile Technology Control Regime and explore the possibilities of negotiating more effective multilateral constraints on ballistic missiles.

70 In response to the global humanitarian crisis produced by anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, Labor will campaign to encourage universal adherence to the Ottawa Convention and the Cluster Munition Convention and continue to give high priority in Australia's overseas aid programs to de-mining activities and assistance to victims of landmines and other explosive remnants of war in afflicted countries.

71 Labor strongly supports international efforts to address the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons across the globe, and particularly in the South Pacific. We are committed to work in both global and regional forums to stop illegal trafficking and limit destabilising accumulations and transfers of small arms. Labor will ratify the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.

Human rights and global issues

72 Labor considers the promotion of universal human rights to be a core foreign policy objective that cannot be traded off against other diplomatic and economic goals. Support for an active and consistent pro-human rights stand is firmly grounded in Australian values. Respect for human rights brings benefits in higher standards of international behaviour. Domestic peace and stability, which stems from respect for human rights, contributes to international security. Effective human rights diplomacy supports international and regional security and is in Australia's national interest.

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73 Labor considers all human rights to be universal, equal and indivisible. There is no hierarchy of

human rights. The basic human rights to food, shelter, health care, economic security and education are preconditions for human survival, dignity and the enjoyment of civil and political rights. Equally, respect for civil and political rights is critical to advancing economic and other rights. Each group of rights underpins the other.

74 Labor believes all states have a duty to protect and promote universal human rights. This obligation is grounded in the principles contained within the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international covenants. It is an obligation also based on the consistency of experience across diverse cultures and societies in which ideals of popular sovereignty, equality of treatment, fairness and freedom are enduring themes.

75 Labor considers human rights to be a subject of legitimate international concern and rejects attempts to portray this concern as interference in the internal affairs of other states. International dialogue on universal human rights issues must be based on the concept of mutual respect.

Australia must respect the political, economic, social, religious and cultural differences between other countries and us.

76 Labor will be forthright in raising concerns over human rights violations with relevant governments in our region and beyond. This includes the mandatory imposition of the death penalty. Similarly, we expect and welcome the prospect of international scrutiny of Australia's domestic human rights record.

77 Labor is determined to further strengthen international mechanisms and processes for monitoring human rights violations, especially those monitored under the auspices of the United Nations, and to encourage the development of regional dialogue on human rights issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Cooperation between national human rights institutions is an important foundation for regional understandings and arrangements to advance human rights in our region. Labor will work to further develop the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.

78 Labor strongly supports the development of bilateral human rights dialogues as an integral element of Australia's relations with our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region, including with China and Vietnam. These should supplement, but not replace, multilateral monitoring mechanisms and processes and not constrain Australia's ability to speak out strongly against violations of human rights.

79 Where appropriate, Labor supports the imposition of targeted sanctions against governments that violate human rights. Such sanctions will not be to the detriment of the general population.

80 Labor is gravely concerned about the continuing human rights abuses in North Korea. The North Korean regime is one of the most repressive in the world with a horrific record of human rights abuses. Regrettably, there is little room for optimism that the humanitarian and human rights situation in North Korea will improve in the near future.

81 Labor deplores the continued denial of democratic process in Burma and the well-documented human rights abuses that have caused so many citizens to leave Burma. Labor strongly supports efforts by the United Nations for a political solution in Burma that will end years of suffering, denial and decline.

82 Beyond the Asia-Pacific region, Labor is concerned about human rights violations wherever they occur and will continue to raise human rights concerns with the governments concerned. In particular, Labor is very concerned about ongoing and systematic human rights abuses which continue to occur in Zimbabwe, the Sudan and Iran.

83 Labor will actively campaign to focus world attention on governments that persist with forms of repression against the development of free trade unionism. Labor reaffirms that issues of core labour standards relate to fundamental human rights and will pursue, as appropriate, through

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international treaties, guaranteed respect for those rights. Labor reaffirms its support for programs

designed to address abuse of labour rights in the Asia-Pacific region through support to neighbouring countries for the development of national labour legislation, helping partner countries to ratify ILO conventions, and regional trade union cooperation. Labor will restore and strengthen Australia's participation and support for these vital activities. Labor will also give high priority to supporting international efforts to eradicate the exploitation of child labour.

84 Labor will play an active role in encouraging Australian companies operating overseas to adopt public codes which commit them to observe international human rights standards, including core labour standards, and ensure that their operations do not directly or indirectly violate human rights or inflict unacceptable impacts on local communities and the environment.

85 Labor abhors the increasing levels of repression against women in some countries. Labor will vigorously support international campaigns to end:

• Sexual exploitation of women and children, including sex tourism and trafficking.

• Prohibitions on education and paid employment and restriction to access to medical services for women.

• The denial of equal property rights for women.

• The unequal standing of women in judicial systems.

• The persecution of rape victims.

• The systematic use of rape and sexual torture in war.

86 Labor opposes the death penalty, and believes it is inhumane, no matter what the crime. Labor will strongly and clearly state its opposition to the death penalty, whenever and wherever it arises and will use its position internationally and in the region to advocate for the universal abolition of the death penalty. Labor supports the introduction into Australian domestic law of the second optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights so as to prevent the reintroduction of the death penalty into any Australian jurisdiction.

87 The establishment of an International Criminal Court has been an important step in efforts to deter the perpetrators of crimes against humanity and to ensure justice is done when atrocities have been committed. Labor will actively encourage ratification by other countries to broaden the court's jurisdiction to punish crimes against humanity. Labor believes the negotiation of bilateral agreements to grant immunity to citizens of particular countries from the jurisdiction of the Court undermines the operation of the International Criminal Court and should not be supported.

88 Labor is committed to meeting Australia's international obligations and will ensure that Australia is not a safe haven for war criminals. Labor supports the detection, investigation and prosecution of accused war criminals in accordance with our legislation and international obligations.

89 Support for universal human rights and democratic processes will continue to be an integral part of Australia's engagement with Indonesia. In the context of a broadly based and multifaceted relationship, Australia will maintain contact with all elements of the political process in Indonesia and our dialogue will give expression to the Australian people's fundamental concern with human rights and democratic freedoms. Labor strongly supports the full implementation of the Special Autonomy Act of 2001 for West Papua.

90 Labor is committed to supporting an enduring and just two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the right of Israel to live in peace within secure borders internationally recognised and agreed by the parties, and reflecting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to also live in peace and security within their own state.

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Development assistance responsibilities

91 The fight against global poverty will be one of the great challenges of the 21st Century. It is a fundamental role of any modern, progressive society to assist the advancement of the poorest people, communities and nations. It is demonstrably in Australia's interest to foster stability and prosperity in developing countries.

92 To that end, Labor believes the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), global goals to halve global poverty by 2015, should constitute the framework for Australia's international development assistance. Specifically, this involves commitments to:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

• Achieve universal primary education.

• Promote gender equality and empower women.

• Reduce child mortality.

• Improve maternal health and family planning.

• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

• Ensure environmental sustainability.

• Develop a global partnership for development.

93 Labor is committed to increasing official development assistance (ODA) to 0.5 per cent of gross national income (GNI) by 2015. Labor acknowledges the internationally agreed aid volume target of 0.7 per cent of GNI for official development assistance. The goal of 0.7 per cent remains our aspiration.

94 Labor will return Australia to a place of leadership in international development assistance and will continue progress towards a partnership approach in working with developing countries, with effective multilateral organisations and civil society organisations.

95 Labor believes Australia's overseas aid efforts must advance the full range of human rights, must promote access to basic rights to health, shelter, education, clean water and sanitation.

96 The geographical focus of Australia's aid program will remain on our Asia-Pacific region but Labor is also committed to greater engagement in Africa and South Asia where many of the development challenges are greatest.

97 Labor remains committed to economic growth as the most powerful long term solution to poverty.

98 An important driver of economic and social progress in developing countries is education, particularly for girls and young women. Labor will increase the focus on learning opportunities for girls and young women under Australia's aid program.

99 Increased delivery of basic health services will be critical to achievement of the MDGs relating to maternal and child health and HIV, malaria and other diseases.

100 Labor remains committed to the importance of fostering good governance and accountability through the development assistance program particular given our high level of engagement with fragile states.

101 Labor will address the neglect of food security, water and sanitation, climate change and disability within the aid program with increased commitment to these critical development issues.

102 Labor is committed to delivering more of its official development assistance through non government organisations and to finding new ways of working with NGOs and civil society to ensure the assistance is efficient and effective.

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103 Recognising that persons with a disability in developing countries are amongst the poorest of the

poor, Labor will ensure its aid program has an increased focus on disability and preventable blindness. Labor will play a leadership role in encouraging international organisations and other countries to do the same.

104 Labor will work actively with multilateral agencies to deliver assistance effectively and will work to strengthen and reform multilateral agencies and international financial institutions.

Security of Australians at home

105 Labor is committed to an effective and comprehensive plan for domestic security that ensures our security and law enforcement agencies, defence forces, and emergency services are properly equipped and co-ordinated to protect Australians from terrorism, including through the newly created Office of National Security.

106 Labor will ensure Australia has tough anti-terrorism laws that target terrorists not innocent civilians and which provide the accused with appropriate rights to legal representation and a fair trial.

107 Labor is committed to developing a national strategy to counter violent extremism. Labor believes a national approach involving engagement with local communities and a strong partnership between Australian governments will be essential to the development of a coordinated and effective approach to address this complex problem.

108 Labor is also committed to ensuring Australia's e-security arrangements are able to meet the challenges presented by the electronic environment, which has become increasingly hostile, with sophisticated attacks coming from criminal groups and foreign governments.

Maintaining Australia's territorial and border security

109 Labor will continue to work with our partners in the region to shut down the illegal operations of people smugglers and to prosecute those who make a business out of the vulnerability and desperation of others.

110 Labor will continue to take action against illegal fishing, including through laws to give the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service further powers to enforce the law both offshore and onshore.

111 Port and maritime security are a high priority of Labor. We will increase the capacity of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to inspect shipping containers for illicit and dangerous goods and other border risks.

112 Labor is committed to ensuring the security of Australia's aviation industry and will act to increase the capacity of Customs and Border Protection Service to survey and protect our international airports by increasing closed circuit television (CCTV) operations.

Protecting essential services

113 Labor will remain strongly committed to working with the private sector to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure—90 percent of which is privately owned—including through the Trusted Information Sharing Network.

114 In cooperation with other tiers of government, utility providers and owners of critical infrastructure, Labor will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to limit threats and ensure rapid recovery from incidents.

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Emergency management

115 Labor will ensure that the Commonwealth promotes a national all-hazards approach to disaster resilience, addressing mitigation, response and recovery.

116 Labor will work to encourage the adoption of overseas and domestic best practice in all jurisdictions, consistent with specific variations to account for local circumstances.

117 Labor will work with other levels of government to ensure local resources are capable of addressing anticipated threats. Labor believes that adequate mitigation activities are the best way of avoiding loss of life and property caused by natural disasters. As such, Labor will work with states and territories to ensure that national disaster plans, strategies and program funding reflects these goals.

Strength, sustainability and self reliance in defence

118 The foundation of Labor's defence policy is the principle of Australian self reliance. Labor considers that Australia's armed forces need to be able to defend Australia without relying on the combat forces of other countries. Labor believes that the principle of self reliance reflects, fundamentally, Australia's sense of itself as an independent nation.

119 Notwithstanding its commitment to a self reliant defence policy, Labor recognises the importance of strong bilateral and multilateral defence relationships in providing for Australia's defence. Where appropriate, Labor will both strengthen existing defence ties through the United Nations, with our key allies, and by building new relationships within the Asia-Pacific region.

120 Labor believes that the ADF needs to possess the capability to make contributions to international operations led by the United Nations and Australia's key allies in the pursuit of broader national strategic objectives. Those contingents will be drawn from the forces and capabilities that are developed for the defence of Australia and for operations in our region.

121 Labor will ensure that ADF capability development is directly related to Australia's strategic interests and that appropriately regular strategic reviews are undertaken with public reports published.

122 Labor is committed to maintaining a strong and efficiently managed Defence organisation that possesses the equipment, personnel and skills that are needed to meet the demands placed upon it by the Australian Government. .

International and regional defence relationships

123 Labor recognises the importance of both bilateral and multilateral defence relationships in achieving security for Australia and creating and maintaining stability in Australia's strategic environment. Defence cooperation with Australia's neighbours is important for building regional security.

124 Labor will ensure that Defence cooperation does not contribute to any suppression or violation of human rights or democratic freedoms. Labor will closely monitor the human rights performance of foreign military forces with which Australia engages in defence cooperation. If necessary, Australia will work with regional military forces to increase respect for human rights and democratic processes.

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Pine Gap

125 The Pine Gap Joint Facility makes an important contribution to the Australia-US Alliance as well as to the deterrence and avoidance of conflict. Labor will require that this facility continue to be managed and operated on a joint basis and only with the Australian Government's full knowledge of and concurrence with the facility's activities. Labor will ensure the operations of the Joint Facility are consistent with Australia's national security, disarmament and non-proliferation objectives. Labor will require that this facility continue to be managed and operated as a joint Australian-US facility within Full Knowledge and Concurrence arrangements to ensure the protection of Australian sovereignty.

Ballistic missile defence

126 Labor considers that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile delivery systems is one of the most serious international security issues confronting the world today. Labor considers effective efforts to combat these developments require sustained multilateral, diplomatic and defence cooperation and action.

127 Labor is concerned that as a unilateral response to the problem of ballistic missile proliferation, national missile defence is disproportionate, technically questionable, costly and likely to be counter-productive. It also has the potential to undermine non-proliferation and derail world progress towards nuclear disarmament. Labor also notes that national missile defence would impact on the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and that this could have serious consequences for Australia's strategic circumstances and national security.

Defence relationships in the Asia-Pacific region

128 Labor is committed to Australia comprehensively engaging with other nations in the Asia Pacific region, as part of its efforts to foster and preserve peace, stability and security in this region. Labor recognises that these efforts are increasingly fundamental to Australia's own national security.

Australia's participation in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) will remain an important aspect of regional policy under Labor.

129 The continued development of Indonesia's democracy and joint cooperation against terrorism, is allowing Australia to build on the strength of its relationship with that country. Labor will ensure that any defence relationship between Australia and Indonesia will be as equal partners, to the benefit of both countries and that of our broader region while ensuring that Labor's commitment to liberal democratic and human rights values is not compromised.

130 Australia has an ongoing relationship with New Zealand, based on historical and close ties..

131 Practical and mutually beneficial defence and security cooperation with Japan and the Republic of Korea reinforces the stability and security currently present in the Asia-Pacific region.

132 Australia has a special role and responsibility in its relations with Papua New Guinea. Labor in government will assist Papua New Guinea to develop an effective and disciplined defence force, while encouraging non-military solutions to problems of internal security and order.

133 Security of the Pacific nations is essential for regional security and Australia's own defence. Labor will increase Australia's efforts to engage in supporting sustainable development of the Pacific nations through the creation of democratic institutions, effective law enforcement and modern defence forces. Labor understands that this is a long-term process that must not be prematurely disengaged from. The improved ADF Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) capability represented by

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the Asia Pacific Civil Military—Centre of Excellence will provide much needed support to these

efforts.

Allied use of Australian facilities

134 Labor will support the use of facilities in Australia by the armed forces of friendly countries for combined exercises, training and goodwill visits, provided that in times of peace:

• Use of Australian ports by foreign warships does not extend to the home porting of any of those vessels in Australia.

• Staging of military aircraft through Australian airfields or airspace shall only be for such purposes as may be agreed beforehand by the Australian Government.

• No nuclear, biological or chemical weapons may be stored or stationed in Australia.

• Nuclear powered vessels visit only those ports which, have been determined as being suitable for those vessels, and provided also that all other safety precautions and conditions that are deemed necessary by the relevant Australian authorities are complied with by the vessels concerned.

• Appropriate environmental safeguards are in place.

Defence personnel and training

135 Labor is committed to an ADF which is made up of highly motivated, skilled, well trained and well equipped personnel who volunteer for service

136 Labor is committed to ensuring female military personnel have equal opportunities for career progression and development within the ADF. Labor believes that employment categories within the ADF should be kept under close scrutiny.

137 Labor will ensure that ADF pay and conditions continue to be fixed in a fair and transparent manner by an independent tribunal, and will review pay and conditions to ensure that recruitment attractions match those more broadly available in the labour market. Labor believes that ADF personnel have the right to form, and be members of, associations in respect of their pay and conditions. Labor will allow associations that can demonstrate a substantial membership to have the right to appear before the independent tribunal to present the views of serving members.

138 Labor will develop a better program of career planning, invest in better training programs providing marketable skills on discharge and has revised the approach to overseas deployments to ensure longer periods of rest and recuperation which is a more manageable result for families.

139 New incentives will also be developed to improve retention rates and reduce wastage caused by lack of direction, poor career planning opportunities and improper use of medical discharge processes.

140 Labor believes it is important that the nation's defence force be representative of the community it serves. Defence's recruitment policies should ensure that the ethnic composition of the ADF better reflects the cross section of Australian people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

141 Labor believes that the Reserves are a critical component of Australia's defence capability that need to be able to contribute to any sort of operation in which Australia might participate. Labor is committed to integrating full-time ADF and Reserve elements in a total force structure where the different role of all components is properly understood, valued and utilised effectively.

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Occupational health and safety and workers'

compensation 142 Labor will continue to support a modern, dedicated occupational health and safety regime for all personnel, supported by a fair and supportive military rehabilitation and compensation scheme.

Labor believes that these arrangements should reflect the unique employment circumstances of the ADF, the need to respect the historical approach to injury and illness incurred overseas and the need for firm policies of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, return to work and income maintenance measures.

143 Labor is acutely aware of the stresses of military duty on active service overseas and the need to ensure that ADF members receive full support and treatment in the event of the debilitating and career threatening risks associated with mental health disorders. Labor will review the adequacy of current mental health screening and assessments processes and ensure early intervention and treatment in every case. This will also extend to include cases where there is abuse of processes of military justice, harassment, or discrimination, likely to result in stress affecting duties and career potential.

Military justice

144 As part of its commitment to lift the standard of military justice in the ADF, Labor is committed to making improvements to the system of military justice.

145 Labor will not hesitate to further improve the system if the problems of harassment and breaches of natural justice continue to pass untreated. Labor will not tolerate failure to investigate complaints, cover up, or inadequate investigation. Labor will ensure that all allegations of sexual assault involving members of the ADF are referred immediately to the civilian police for investigation with total cooperation from the ADF command.

146 Labor will ensure impartial, rigorous and fair outcomes for all affected parties in any complaint lodged for redress. Labor is committed to the introduction of a strict accountability system to improve the transparency and public accountability of all military justice investigations.

Defence administration, industry and procurement

147 Labor is committed to fostering a strong and viable, long-term domestic Defence industry and will ensure that government policy reflects that commitment.

148 Labor recognises that Defence acquisition plays a significant role in the modernisation of Australian industry and the development of a skills base. Labor will optimise Australian Defence industry involvement while maintaining a high level of marketplace competition and value for money for the Australian taxpayer. Consistent with Australia’s international obligations, Labor will maximise the participation of Australian companies, particularly SMEs, and as a consequence of Australian jobs, in Defence procurement contracts, and ensure that Australian supply capabilities are maintained and enhanced through the application of Australian Industry Capability Plans. Labor will ensure that contractual obligations arising from such arrangements are enforced.

149 Labor will ensure that Defence procurement decisions will be taken on a ‘whole-of-life’ cost basis, and will take full account of strategic considerations and the need to maintain and develop critical supply capabilities. Given the importance to the security and safety of our armed forces of the best quality and highest technical standard defence uniforms, Labor will, consistent with Australia’s international obligations, maximise the participation of Australian textile garment and footwear

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suppliers in defence procurement, and ensure that ADF textile garment and footwear suppliers fully

comply with the Government’s ethical procurement principles set out in Chapters 3, 4 and 11.

150 Labor will ensure that future outsourcing only occurs in areas where real long-term savings can be generated without compromising the operational capability of the Australian Defence Force.

151 Labor is committed to reforming Defence acquisition policy to ensure that the Defence procurement process delivers better outcomes for the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Government, Australian industry and the Australian community, informed by the findings of the Mortimer Review.

152 Labor recognises the cultural, heritage and environmental significance of many surplus Defence properties around Australia. As part of the new Defence White Paper, Labor will review the future of all sites identified as being surplus to Defence needs, before deciding whether to sell or transfer these properties to the community. Labor will ensure that Defence consults with all affected parties, including local communities, local and state government agencies, and private interests before determining the future of individual sites.

Defence industry sectoral plans

153 Labor supports the development of Defence industry sectoral plans for shipbuilding, aerospace, electronics, land and weapons.

154 Labor believes that the sectoral plans represent a more strategic approach to Defence industry policy that will enable Australia to sustain key industry capabilities necessary to meet our long-term national security needs.

155 Labor supports a defence shipbuilding sector plan that maintains a viable defence shipbuilding and repair capability in Australia. Labor will ensure that the ship building and repair industry is based on a competitive private sector model in such a way as to ensure continuity of work through prime and sub contractors, recognising the need for flexibility in the national heavy engineering sector.

156 Labor recognises that a viable and competitive naval ship building industry is strategically vital for Australia's defence, as well as for the continuing health of the heavy engineering and high tech industries involved in modern weaponry.

157 Labor is committed to the regular publication of a Defence Capability Plan to ensure that the Defence industry sector remains informed about future acquisition projects, particularly the proposed timing, cost and level of capability associated with such projects.

158 Labor believes that the Defence Science and Technology Organisation has an impressive record of research and development of Defence-related technologies. Labor will further expand and encourage the links between Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the Australian Defence industry, including technology transfer to Australian industry. As far as possible, Labor will foster the retention of intellectual property ownership in Australia, including where appropriate ownership of intellectual property by Defence.

Defence exports

159 Labor will ensure government control over the manufacture and export of arms, munitions and military goods and services.

160 Labor supports the export of Australian Defence equipment within strict guidelines. Labor will not permit Defence exports to countries where those exports would:

• Have an adverse impact on Australia's security interests.

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• Contravene United Nations embargoes.

• Pose a clear, identifiable risk of being used for the major suppression or violation of human rights or fundamental freedoms.

161 Defence exports are important in maintaining local industry support for the Australian Defence Force and in contributing to Australia's own Defence capability. Accordingly, Labor will review the Defence export facilitation program in consultation with industry to ensure maximum opportunities for the Australian Defence industry, within the strict guidelines required for Defence exports.

Meeting the needs of Australia's veterans

162 Labor respects the tradition of special care for Australia's service men and women who serve overseas, within the modern context. Labor will continue to care for and honour veterans for their service to the maintenance of world peace and domestic security through dedicated programs of support, care and commemoration.

163 Labor notes that these traditional policies and programs have evolved slowly over almost a century and, that in some instances, may no longer be consistent with the needs of veterans and their families in a modern society.

164 Labor will not tolerate any further erosion of the traditional distinction accorded to those with warlike service as appropriate in a modern service context.

165 Labor, recognises that inconsistencies have arisen in the approach taken by government to the management of veterans' and war widows' entitlements.

166 Labor also recognises that many of these inconsistencies result from different judgements and perceptions in the past and cannot be remedied without considerable cost, as well as the risk of creating further inconsistencies.

167 Consistent with the philosophy of benefits being relevant to contemporary needs and with the principles of fairness, equity and transparency, Labor will continue to review policies to ensure that they adapted to and are appropriate for the current needs of our veteran community. Veterans' needs

168 Labor's policy for veterans will be structured to respond to the differing needs of veterans according to their stage of life, with flexible programs based on meeting contemporary needs:

• Veterans who served in World War II, Korea and subsequent deployments in South East Asia who are now largely retired and whose issues are now predominantly ones of health and aged care.

• Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, whose immediate needs are those of income security for their future retirement, support for the raising of families and programs of support for families suffering from the effects of substance abuse, gambling and acts of violence.

• Those who have served in peace keeping missions, and deployments such as the Gulf, Timor Leste, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands, most of whom are yet to become veterans, but whose needs at present seem likely to emulate those of the Vietnam generation.

Veterans' families

169 Labor is committed to the care and welfare of veterans' partners and families who may have suffered as a result of the veteran's service, particularly from the ill health of a veteran, as part of a policy of lifelong care for those injured or affected by their service.

170 Labor will work to address the health and welfare needs of younger veterans' families, particularly those of Vietnam veterans, but also those of former peace keepers and subsequent deployments.

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Labor will ensure there are adequate programs to assist these families to meet the pressures and

demands of modern society.

171 Labor will also undertake health studies into the health and welfare of children of younger veterans, to better establish whether there are any intergenerational health effects flowing from their service.

Programs of income support

172 Consistent with general policies which have seen the provision of safety nets for those disadvantaged in society and unable to take their place in the workforce due to disability or age, special provision has always been made for veterans and their dependants. This uniquely includes the effects of service which impact on veterans' employability within the labour market.

173 Recognising the principle of entitlements based on need, and consistent with the current principles governing the provision of income support, Labor will continue to provide programs of income support for veterans, their partners and widows, when as the result of service in the Australian Defence Force, they have been unable to provide for themselves and their families due to loss of work capacity, death, or age.

Disability compensation

174 Injuries and illness resulting from veterans' service overseas have traditionally been compensated in a separate scheme in recognition of the different circumstances and status of that service. This is reflected in some circumstances by a more generous standard of proof, the lack of any onus of proof and a longstanding commitment to the benefit of the doubt operating in the veteran's favour.

175 Labor will honour these commitments and the values on which they are based.

176 Labor will seek to ensure that the operation of income and assets tests applied to veterans, other than under the Veterans' Entitlements Act, is applied fairly and takes account of veterans' service to our nation.

177 Labor will continue to support the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) and Training & Information Program (TIP) programs which are of immense value in assisting ex-service organisations to prepare compensation claims for their members.

War widows

178 Australians have always cared and provided for those whose partners were lost in action or who died as the result of their war-caused injuries or illness. Labor recognises that the traditional programs of support for war widows as provided for in the Veterans' Entitlement Act may no longer be relevant and that there are strong perceptions in the community of unfairness with respect to eligibility.

179 Labor also clearly recognises there are some widows in need of greater support, especially those in private rental accommodation, and younger widows without children whose entitlements have been reduced in the past.

Health care

180 Health care policy for veterans has, from the time of Federation, provided for free treatment of all service-related injury and illness. This is now denoted by provision of a White Card.

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181 In more recent times, free private health care for all health conditions has been provided by the

Gold Card to a range of veterans and widows. Eligibility is automatic for some classes of veterans and widows but generally requires warlike (qualifying) service and an age of 70 or above.

182 Assistance in the home, aimed at keeping ageing veterans and widows out of costly institutionalised care is also provided under the Homecare Program, consistent with the Home and Community Care (HACC) program available to the community at large. This forms part of the traditional approach of lifelong care to those who served Australia abroad.

183 Labor will retain the current programs of health care for veterans and honour the historic commitment to free treatment for all service-related injuries and disease. The Gold, White and Orange cards will be retained with existing entitlements.

184 Labor will expedite the current program of mortality and health studies and research into past deployments, as well as ensuring that the current processes for future deployments properly deal with health risks in advance, and after return to Australia—particularly with respect to record keeping.

185 Labor recognises that mental health issues arising from service, such as post traumatic stress disorder, have affected veterans from all conflicts. Labor encourages and supports measures designed to ensure that existing programs take account of the mental health needs and requirements of veterans.

Commemoration

186 Commemoration of veterans, their commitment and sacrifice has historically been restricted to the observance of Anzac Day and Remembrance Day by the public, with little government involvement.

Labor introduced the current program of commemoration in 1992 and has continued to support that effort.

187 Labor will restore a bipartisan approach to commemorative activity, with a concentration on educative programs under the aegis of the Australian War Memorial. Anzac Day will continue to be the central focus of commemorative commitments.

188 Labor recognises the significance, importance and sacred nature of battlefields where our troops have lost their lives. Where possible, Labor will actively work with foreign governments and other parties to protect and preserve the integrity of significant battlefields where Australian troops have served. These locations include, but are not limited to, the Gallipoli Peninsula and the Kokoda Track.

189 Labor will implement education and information campaigns to ensure all Australians, especially the young, develop a full appreciation of the sacrifice and service of our veterans and current servicemen and women.

Administration

190 Currently administration of veterans' and ex-service personnel matters are concentrated within the Department of Veterans' Affairs, recognising the need for better continuity of specialised client service around Australia. Recognising that the administration of veterans' policy and ex-service personnel matters will continue to merge in the future as the nature of defence service evolves and the older veteran cohort diminishes in number, Labor will continue with a dedicated and properly funded agency for veterans within the Defence portfolio.

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Chapter 11: New ways of governing for a

stronger democracy 1 The Labor Party is committed to strengthening our democracy and giving Australians a real say in shaping our future.

2 As the only Australian political party that pre-dates Federation, Labor has a long history of support and respect for Australia's democratic institutions and values and the Westminster parliamentary tradition they are derived from.

3 Since its earliest days, Labor has fought to strengthen our democracy. Our vision today includes our commitment to create a modern federation and to take to a national referendum a vote on Australia becoming a republic.

4 Labor has also been the party that has invested in our nation's public services and public institutions, to serve the common good and give individuals access to the support they need to fully participate in their community. Labor has always had a vision of government as an enabler:

providing the necessary regulation and opportunities for achieving our broader social-democratic goals.

5 Our public services and institutions have a critical role to play in building the Australia of the 21st century. As communication technology improves, our national broadcasters will provide more content to more diverse audiences. As technology increases access to government, our public services and elected representatives should become more accountable. This will require long-term planning by government around funding for public services, workforce development and building a better coordinated public service.

6 Our democracy depends on robust electoral laws that prevent hidden power and influence from distorting the vote. It was Labor that legislated away the gerrymander of years past, and that created the modern system of transparent public funding for political parties. These reforms have served Australia well, but now there are new challenges in the management of election financing, funding and transparency that must be addressed.

7 Labor will do all it can to maintain and restore the integrity of government—much damaged in recent years—through increased transparency and accountability.

8 And we will ensure that the constitution, public services, parliament and new forms of democracy enhance the participation of Australians in national decision making.

The Liberal legacy: Undermining our democratic

institutions 9 The Liberal Party in government undermined the integrity and institutions of Australian democracy. Independent institutions were attacked and undermined, ministers became less accountable and government became a vehicle for advancing partisan interests.

10 In office, the Liberal Party used its majority in the House of Representatives and Senate to force through successive bills with little or no scrutiny, undermining the traditional role of Parliament in scrutinising legislation and holding governments to account. Major legislative changes such as the WorkChoices legislation were rushed through Parliament, with debates shut down and the Senate treated as little more than a rubber stamp for executive government.

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11 The Liberal Party in government attacked the integrity of the Australian Public Service, politicising

appointments and weakening the impartiality of the service.

12 The Liberal Party used the resources of government to advance its own partisan political interests, spending more than $1 billion on government advertising without any supervision of its legitimacy.

13 The Liberal Party in office waged a 12 year long culture war, politicising the boards of key public institutions such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, attacking independent institutions such as the judiciary and universities, and sabotaging progress towards an Australian republic.

14 The Liberals changed our electoral laws to disenfranchise thousands of voters for their partisan political interests, while widening loopholes to allow secret donations to be made to political parties without disclosure.

Labor's principles: a strong public service and

transparent government 15 Labor in government is taking a different approach. We believe in new ways of governing for a better, stronger democracy:

• Labor is committed to modernising our Constitution and Federation to resolve the funding and administrative problems that have prevented government effectively dealing with the challenges of today. This includes ensuring that our constitutional framework recognises our role as an independent nation but also that our federal funding and administrative structures reflect our status as a nation, not as a number of colonies.

• We believe that Parliament should always be accountable to voters, because effective oversight and scrutiny deepens our democracy, allowing policies to be properly evaluated, and judged at subsequent elections and providing a more informed and active polity.

• We support Australia's public services to provide essential services for the entire community, while also providing long-term policy advice for government which serves the national interest.

Public services should be efficient and accountable and they should also be protected from interference from government, the private sector or political parties.

• Government should be open to increased citizen participation in decision making, particularly in light of increased opportunities provided by technology and communications.

• Government should be transparent and be driven by electoral mandate, not by hidden and unaccountable power. Whether through donations to political parties, lobbying activities or restrictions on freedom of information, government should be free of the vested and sectional interests that undermine the ability of government to act in the national interest.

• Elections and voting are at the heart of a functioning democracy, and ensuring that the democratic franchise is able to be exercised by all Australians regardless of social class, race or background is an enduring Labor value.

• A nation as large and diverse as ours needs national broadcasting institutions that are publicly owned and run in the national interest. These institutions are central to building national unity, and to recognising the diversity that makes us a strong community.

Constitutional reform underpinning our agenda for

change 16 Labor has a long-standing commitment to Constitutional reform to modernise our democratic structures and make our public administration more effective, efficient and prepared to deal with the challenges of the 21st century.

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17 Labor believes that first and foremost our Constitution should reflect Australia's status as a

parliamentary democracy and an independent nation.

18 Labor believes that the preamble to the Constitution should explicitly recognise Indigenous Australians and the core elements of Australia's history and democracy and appropriately expresses the values, aspirations and ideals of the Australian people.

19 Labor believes that modernising Australia's Constitution also entails a transition to an Australian Republic, with an Australian head of state, who can fully represent our traditions, values and aspirations as a nation.

20 Labor is committed to consulting with the Australian people, other political parties, the states and the territories as to the form that the Republic should take. Labor will promote community debate about the advantages and disadvantages of the various republican models.

21 Labor will conduct plebiscites to establish support for an Australian head of state and the preference for different forms of a Republic. When a preference has emerged Labor will initiate an appropriate referendum under section 128 of the Constitution.

22 Labor remains committed to constitutional reform that:

• Entrenches the principle of one vote, one value for all elections, to ensure equal participation for all regardless of place of residence.

• Allows simultaneous, fixed four-year terms for the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Prevents the Senate rejecting, deferring or blocking appropriation bills.

• Removes the barrier on election to parliament of a person holding an office of profit under the Crown, provided that office is relinquished on election.

• Allows all Australian citizens to contest Commonwealth elections.

• Removes racially discriminatory provisions from the Constitution, in particular by amending or removing section 25 and section 51(xxvi) to ensure they cannot be used to discriminate against Indigenous Australians.

• Makes clear the capacity of the Commonwealth and the States to work together using the full range of cooperative schemes to achieve harmonised laws and national enforcement regimes.

23 Labor recognises that constitutional reform must be underpinned by popular ownership of the reform agenda, broad political support and effective community education.

Modernising our federation for better service delivery

24 Labor is committed to far-reaching reform of the federation through a new era of national cooperation.

25 Labor in government will continue using the COAG process to modernise our federation and improve the delivery of important services in areas like health, education, transport, water and Indigenous equality.

26 Labor will ensure that COAG outcomes are transparent and publicly available to the community and stakeholders.

27 Labor will ensure that COAG investment is used to leverage Indigenous employment and business outcomes.

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Simplifying and harmonising legislation

28 Labor will take appropriate steps to ensure that legislation and legislative instruments are accessible to all Australians. In particular, Labor will ensure that all legislation and legislative instruments are:

• Drafted in clear, simple and non-discriminatory language.

• Readily available to the public at the time of proclamation.

• Consolidated in an accessible, appropriate and reasonably priced form.

• Regularly reviewed, simplified and if necessary, repealed.

29 Substantive rights should be enshrined in legislation and delegated legislation will be confined exclusively to administrative matters. All legislative instruments should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny to check for consistency with Australia's human rights obligations.

30 Labor will establish a mechanism for ongoing legal harmonisation across Australia. Labor will further work with the states and territories on a long-term solution to ensure that the Commonwealth and state governments can put in place joint legislation to address issues of national importance for which neither government has complete responsibility.

Human rights and responsibilities

31 Labor has established a national consultation process to ensure all Australians can have their say on how best to recognise and protect human rights.

32 Through this process, Labor will engage with Australians in deciding how democratic, industrial and community rights recognised in international treaties and conventions ratified by Australia should be protected. Labor will consider and act on the views of the Australian people as expressed through this process of consultation.

33 Labor recognises that human rights also carry with them a responsibility to respect the individual and collective rights enjoyed by others and the need to protect and promote institutions and practices fundamental to an equal, just, democratic and tolerant society.

34 Any proposal for legislative change in this area must maintain the sovereignty of the Parliament and will not be based on the United States Bill of Rights.

Ensuring women's equal place in a stronger democracy

35 Labor is committed to promoting the equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes.

36 Labor is committed to promoting and supporting women's leadership in Australia's parliaments, governments, senior levels in the private sectors and communities throughout Australia.

37 Labor will work to ensure women's equal place in the world by:

• Maintaining an active role in international forums to promote the rights of women including institutions formed under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

• Ensuring the Sex Discrimination Act and the powers of the commissioner are adequately protecting women against discrimination on the basis of gender and family responsibility.

• Supporting women's representative organisations to participate in policy development.

• Applying sophisticated gender policy advice and analysis to policy development of the government.

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• Supporting and promoting women's leaders in all facets of Australian society through a range of

regulatory and educative measures.

• Supporting the greater representation of women in all of Australia's parliaments.

• Supporting diversity in corporate Australia, including in appointments to boards and at the executive level.

• Recognising the particular issues faced by Indigenous women, women of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women with disabilities, rural women and young women and ensure that government policies and programs are funded, accessible and appropriate to their needs.

A dynamic, effective and modern public sector

38 Labor believes that the Australian Public Service (APS) and the wider public sector have a crucial role to play in nation building. Public services should be funded to deliver quality public policy, foster innovation, achieve best practice and create quality jobs.

39 We believe the APS should be:

• Professional and apolitical.

• Strong, independent and well-resourced.

• Committed to equality and social cohesion as well as economic efficiency.

• Accountable for meeting high standards of service delivery.

• Recruited from the brightest and best in the Australian community.

• A model employer in terms of the conditions of employment and opportunities for advancement for its staff, including through continuous education and lifelong learning.

• Subject to democratic oversight through parliament and relevant bodies including the Auditor- General, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC).

• Subject to independent administrative review of its actions.

• A leader in environmental best practice.

40 Labor has always been a strong advocate and protector of the professionalism and integrity of the public service. We will ensure the public service is efficient, effective and responsive to the changing requirements of the Australian people.

41 Labor recognises that:

• Australian's want a career public service without partisanship; • public service employment must be fair and equitable; • there is necessarily a limit on, and need for public scrutiny of, top public service remuneration; • there must be an ethos of public service; and • outcomes are funded by public money.

42 Labor will ensure that these special elements are reflected in public service industrial relations arrangements by:

• supporting the role of unions in the workplace; • ensuring secure, comprehensive, service-wide standards and classifications; • ensuring secure superannuation arrangements in industrial instruments; • emphasising training and career development; • enabling public servants to balance work and family responsibilities; • ensuring appeal and review rights; • ensuring that contracting-out is not used as a vehicle to cut wages and working conditions for

public sector employees; and • establishing staffing levels commensurate with work loads.

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43 Labor will build on the measures it has taken in office:

• Introducing merit-based selection procedures to the appointment of agency heads—other than departmental secretaries—and statutory offices working within or closely with APS agencies.

• Establishing a career transition and support centre in the APSC to provide redeployment opportunities for public servants where required.

• Continuing to support special programs aimed at increasing the proportion of indigenous employees in the APS.

• Attaching renewed priority to the employment of people with disabilities in the APS.

• Establishing an Ethics Advisory Service in the APSC.

• Introducing a Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff with a focus on ensuring productive and respectful working relationships between ministers, their staff and public servants.

• Introducing a Register and Code of Conduct for Lobbyists to ensure transparency in the dealings between private and commercial interests, the government and the public service.

Making government more accountable through

community cabinets 44 Labor supports innovative measures to make government more open and accountable, including the holding of community cabinets in locations across the nation. Labor's Community Cabinet meetings ensure close consultation with the community on national and local matters.

45 Labor is committed to continuing Community Cabinet meetings across Australia and will ensure that Ministers at the highest levels are made available through these public forums.

Enhancing our democracy with real electoral law reform

46 Labor is committed to the fair, open and transparent operation of our electoral system and to the essential democratic principle that every person should have the right to full participation in it.

47 Labor will ensure that all Australians, and particularly first-time voters, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, indigenous people, people in remote locations and young people are not excluded from the electoral system.

48 Labor will improve the integrity of the electoral system and, most urgently, restore transparency, openness and accountability to the funding and disclosure regime.

49 Building on the improvements made to date, Labor will:

• Encourage public debate about reform of our electoral laws including enrolment and electoral participation.

• Ensure that disadvantaged groups are not excluded from the democratic process.

• Introduce a new scheme for the regulation of political financing, including donations, other revenues, expenditures, and record keeping.

• Ensure maximum opportunities for enrolment and involvement in our electoral process.

• As a minimum, restore the 7-day enrolment period after the issuing of election writs.

• Should the Commonwealth establishes fixed four year terms, Labor will amend subsection 394(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to allow the states and territories to move their electoral systems into line with the Commonwealth,

Extending Freedom of Information (FOI)

50 Labor has been a strong and vocal opponent of the increased secrecy which developed under the Howard Government, and is committed to introducing major reforms to freedom of information to

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strengthen citizens' rights of access to government material, bring down the costs of FOI, and

removes the power of Ministers to issue conclusive certificates denying access to documents.

51 Labor will promote transparency and accountability by strengthening FOI and promoting a pro- disclosure culture across Australian Government agencies.

52 Labor has:

• Introduced legislation abolishing the power to issue conclusive certificates under the FOI Act and the Archives Act, restoring the role of the AAT and the courts in determining disputes over FOI requests.

• Moved to encourage extensive pro-active release and reporting of information by agencies on their operations and policies.

53 Labor is committed to further reforms, including:

• Strengthening the public's rights to access documents under FOI by minimising exemptions and broadening the application of public interest tests under the Act.

• Streamlining and improving review processes.

• Extending FOI to information held by other entities delivering government services.

• Establishing an FOI Commissioner.

• Implementing key recommendations of the 1996 joint Australian Law Reform Commission and Administrative Review Council 'Open government' report.

• Bringing down the costs of FOI requests.

Protecting privacy

54 Labor believes the individual's right to privacy is a fundamental political, civil and human right that must be protected.

55 We believe it is the responsibility of government to provide a strong regulatory framework to protect people's right to privacy and ensure the security of their personal information, whether held in the public sector or the private sector. To this end, Labor introduced the first Commonwealth Privacy Act in 1988.

56 Labor is committed to:

• Progressing policy changes based on the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission in its 2008 report on Privacy.

• Introducing privacy reform legislation into Parliament in two stages —the first dealing with new uniform privacy principles, credit and health information, and the second dealing with privacy laws relating to new technologies.

57 To strengthen existing privacy laws, Labor will:

• Improve privacy principles at the federal level governing both the public and private sectors.

• Work to educate Australians, particularly Australian youth, about the impact on privacy of new technologies.

• Develop appropriate frameworks for the protection of privacy in the workplace.

• Ensure that personal information of Australians transferred overseas is protected.

• Work with state and territory governments to achieve greater national uniformity in privacy laws.

Defending free speech

58 All Australians enjoy the right to exercise their freedom of speech in a manner that respects the individual and collective rights enjoyed by other Australians and allows others to live free from

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violence, the fear of violence or the threat of violence. To protect freedom of speech further, Labor

will:

• Legislate for proper freedom of information laws that enable Australians to access appropriate information about government activities.

• Move to implement the ALRC recommendations on sedition laws.

• Provide shield laws to protect confidential sources and recognise the public interest in giving the community appropriate access to information.

• Review secrecy laws and laws that criminalise disclosure of matters of public interest.

59 Labor supports uniform national defamation laws that provide a proper balance between freedom of expression, public debate and the protection of the reputation of others.

60 Labor believes that adults should be entitled to read, hear and see what they wish in private and in public, subject to adequate protection against persons being exposed to unsolicited material offensive to them and preventing conduct exploiting, or detrimental to the rights of others, particularly women and children.

61 Labor is concerned about the portrayal of violence and inappropriate content in all forms of media.

Labor will ensure that appropriate controls which reflect community standards are in place to classify and protect all Australians, particularly children and young people.

Eliminating the political abuse of government advertising

62 Labor has a long standing commitment to remove partisan politics from government advertising, and end the waste of taxpayer money on government advertising for political purposes.

63 Labor believes that government advertising should be governed by strict guidelines that ensure the need for government communication campaigns is assessed by public servants rather than politicians, that politicians are not involved in the development of advertising campaigns, and that the Auditor-General provides an opinion on whether each campaign meets the guidelines.

64 Labor has developed and introduced new guidelines for government advertising which take the politics out of government communications, consistent with the above principles.

Regulating political lobbying in the public interest

65 Labor has a long standing commitment to promoting trust in the integrity of government processes, particularly concerning contacts between and lobbyists.

66 Labor has established the first Federal Lobbying Code of Conduct, and a Register of Lobbyists. For the first time, over 500 lobbyists who represent third parties have publicly registered.

67 Labor is committed to:

• Ensuring the ongoing use of the Lobbying Code of Conduct and Lobbyist Register.

• Maintaining adherence to the requirements of the code by public officials.

• Reviewing the operations of the Lobbying Code of Conduct and the Lobbyist Register after an appropriate period of operation.

Protection for whistleblowers

68 Access to government information and decision-making facilitate the workings of our democratic system, allowing the public and community to obtain reasonable access to government records and documents that affect their lives.

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69 Labor has a long standing commitment to the creation of more comprehensive and effective public

interest disclosure laws, to enhance the openness and transparency of public administration.

70 Consistent with the commitments we gave in the 2007 election campaign, Labor will create new arrangements for the handling of public interest disclosures within the federal public sector. The legislation will include:

• Clearer procedures governing how agencies deal with public interest disclosures.

• Protections extending beyond current public servants, and applying to the full range of government services.

• Greater clarity and flexibility in reporting procedures and requirements.

• Central monitoring, oversight and reporting to government on public interest disclosures.

• Enhanced protections for whistleblowers.

Increasing trust in government

71 Labor believes that the public has a right to expect high standards of ethical behaviour from their elected representatives, their advisors and staff.

72 Ministers, staff and all members of Parliament should follow clear standards relating to their behaviour, contact with lobbyists, receipt of any gifts, and disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest which may affect them carrying out their public duty.

73 Labor already has:

• Introduced a revised code setting out new Standards of Ministerial Ethics, requiring ministers to act with integrity and fairness.

• Required ministers to divest themselves of all shareholdings other than through broadly diversified investment vehicles, managed funds or trust arrangements.

• Introduced a 'cooling-off' period of 18 months before former ministers can take up jobs with lobbying and other private sector companies in their previous areas of responsibilities; and 12 months before advisers can work as third party Lobbyists in their former areas of expertise.

• Introduced the first Code of Conduct for Ministerial Staff.

• Prohibited electoral fundraising at the Lodge or Kirribilli House.

• Introduced and published the first Annual Report on Ministerial and Parliamentary Staff.

74 To build on these reforms, Labor will:

• Make government operations more transparent by releasing information about the costs of government advertising, the costs of ministerial and parliamentary travel and related matters.

• Ensuring parliamentary entitlements are efficiently used and properly monitored with a high degree of transparency.

Enhancing the work of government through e-

governance 75 Labor is committed to enhancing information and e-governance on a whole-of-government basis. Our focus will be to ensure that a whole-of-government approach is taken to information policy, including new publishing.

76 Labor will develop appropriate e-governance systems to increase the opportunities for public involvement in government decision-making.

77 Labor will review copyright issues surrounding government information, and, where feasible, publish more public information online.

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Government procurement

78 Labor will promote a procurement strategy that safeguards skills and jobs, under existing international obligations, to ensure that Australian businesses can compete locally and internationally.

79 Labor will take into account a range of considerations when determining what constitutes good value for money, not just purchase price. Government agencies will not be forced to choose the cheapest supplier when that choice would cost taxpayers more in the long run because the products or services on offer are inferior in quality or have high ongoing costs. Agencies will also not be forced to choose the cheapest supplier when this would have detrimental social or environmental effects. Agencies will be required to consider all direct and indirect benefits and costs over the whole life of each product and service, along with the performance history of each prospective supplier.

80 Labor is committed to:

• Ensuring that government procurement delivers world-class public services, through fair and open procurement processes free of corruption and discrimination.

• Providing leadership on sustainability and ethical procurement practices.

81 Labor recognises that:

• In its role as a major purchaser of goods and services, government has a crucial role to play in fostering Australia's manufacturing, service and information industries, particularly for emerging industries or companies.

• For goods or services to be ethically sourced, suppliers must be good corporate citizens who comply with the law in all matters, most notably laws regarding taxation, trade practices, corporations, industrial relations, consumer affairs, environment and immigration.

82 Labor will continue to require that:

• Commonwealth procurement guidelines and codes reflect government policy on ethical procurement • Principal suppliers to the Commonwealth comply with procurement policies by requiring all sub- contractors involved in the principal's supply chain to the Commonwealth to comply with all

materially relevant laws • Agencies should not to enter into contracts with suppliers who have had a judicial decision against them (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and have

not paid the claim.

• Agencies seek to confirm a tenderer has no such unsettled judgements by seeking a declaration on the matter from all tenderers.

83 To further enhance transparency, Labor in government is ensuring agencies keep records of, and make available on request, the details of any sub contractor engaged by a contractor in respect of a Commonwealth contract for procurement.

84 Labor is establishing coordinated procurement contracts for goods and services where appropriate. When established, government agencies must use the contracts established for those goods or services unless an exemption has been provided. Exemptions may only be provided where an agency can demonstrate a special need for alternate supply. These arrangements will reduce duplication between agencies when meeting common procurement requirements and allow the government to use its combined purchasing power to improve value for money and open up new opportunities for business.

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85 Labor will better coordinate Commonwealth procurement and where it is sensible to do so,

consider options to utilise model terms and conditions to assist business and contractors.

86 Labor is committed to maximising opportunities for Australian companies to compete for business by establishing a Procurement Coordinator. The Procurement Coordinator will review and advise on practices across government; handle and review complaints; aggregate procurement information and submit an annual report to the Government.

87 Labor is ensuring that SMEs are able to engage in fair competition for government business.

Government officials undertaking procurement are required to ensure that procurement methods do not unfairly discriminate against SMEs.

88 The Labor Government requires written contracts for procurements by an agency from a small business to specify payment within 30 days. This applies to payments valued up to and including A$5 million (GST inclusive). Labor has required all contracts up to a value of $1 million (GST inclusive) with small businesses to include the right to charge interest for late payments.

89 Labor is increasing the transparency of government contracts by limiting the use of commercial-in- confidence exclusions in public documents. All government agencies are required to maintain a register of commercial-in-confidence exclusions, to be periodically tabled in parliament and subject to scrutiny by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.

Communications and electronic media

90 The media, particularly broadcasting, are undergoing a process of major change, driven by digitisation, convergence of technology and the globalisation of broadcasting, communications and information technologies.

91 Labor remains strongly committed to longstanding national and public interest objectives, including:

• High-quality and informative media which contributes to the advancement of Australian society.

• Genuine diversity of sources of information, opinion, education and entertainment.

• Diversity of ownership, operation and control of Australia's media.

• Greater choice and accessibility for consumers.

• The development and reflection of a distinctly Australian national identity.

• A vibrant competitive industry of international standard.

• The development of, and equitable access to, new technologies.

92 Labor supports the National Classification Code which classifies content against the standards of morality, decency and propriety accepted by reasonable adults. The principles of classification should apply on a platform neutral basis. Labor recognises the necessity of an independent and accountable review process for the list of URLs to be blocked by mandatory filtering. Labor believes mandatory ISP level filtering should be limited to Refused Classification content according to the National Classification Code. Labor does not support the introduction of mandatory ISP filtering that would lead to significant degradation of network speeds.

Diversity and content

93 Labor will pursue policies that ensure that Australians have access to a diverse range of information and opinion in Australia's media.

94 Labor is committed to maintaining appropriate Australian content quotas in the broadcasting sector.

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95 Labor will ensure that television and radio advertising are properly regulated and that community

standards are reflected in the regulatory approach.

96 Labor will ensure that Australians will continue to enjoy coverage of premium sporting events on free-to-air television.

97 Labor is committed to ensuring that the Australian Communications and Media Authority is adequately resourced and has sufficient regulatory powers to ensure the maintenance of appropriate community standards in broadcasting material.

Public broadcasting

98 The ABC and SBS are two of Australia's most important public institutions. Labor is committed to ensuring adequate funding and support for Australia's public broadcasters, to enable them to continue to provide Australians with high quality broadcasting services, free from political and commercial interference.

99 Labor recognises the importance of the ABC being maintained as an independent and comprehensive national public broadcaster, catering for a diversity of interests in the Australian community.

100 Labor recognises that the SBS provides a unique national broadcasting service that promotes a multicultural Australia, and provides services to Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds which are not delivered by the ABC or the commercial broadcasting sector.

101 Labor will:

• Ensure public broadcasters cater to the needs of urban, regional and rural Australia, providing coverage of local news, current affairs and community activities.

• Provide programs and services relevant to young Australians, including specialist children's programming available on digital channel ABC3.

• Work with Indigenous people to provide services and programs relevant to them and their communities.

• Provide comprehensive coverage of a broad range of sporting and artistic activities.

• Ensure board members are appointed on the basis of merit.

• Restore a staff-elected commissioner position on the ABC board, by introducing the necessary legislation before the end of the current term of parliament.

• Continue to invest in youth-accessible current affairs, and look to establish new services using new media.

• Support and promote Australia's external broadcasters in radio, television and digital platforms, which encourage awareness of Australian values around the world and build closer ties in our region.

102 Labor will also ensure that the ban on ABC advertising and sponsorship remains in place. Labor will also ensure that advertising is not permitted on ABC branded websites.

103 Labor will provide adequate funding on a triennial basis to the ABC and SBS to ensure they can deliver quality public broadcasting services. Labor will ensure that the national broadcasters are able to exploit the potential of new technology to deliver attractive and innovative content over digital television and the internet including regional broadband hubs on ABC websites.

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Community broadcasting

104 Labor regards community and Indigenous broadcasting, including radio and television, as an essential component of Australian broadcasting, and will continue to encourage its maintenance, growth and development.

105 Labor supports diversity in community and Indigenous broadcasting recognising that it meets the needs of many communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, ethnic communities, and Australians with a print disability; and addresses developing Australian media needs with services for youth, mature age, religious, specialist music and other emerging communities of interest.

106 Labor will investigate the need for administrative arrangements to assist the training, support and regulatory compliance needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander broadcasters.

107 Labor believes that adequate public funding must be provided to community and Indigenous radio and television for their effective ongoing operation. Labor seeks to improve the capacity of community and Indigenous stations to serve their communities by providing support to the sector for content production, improving skills, technical infrastructure, new digital broadcasting, and sector coordination and planning. Labor accepts that appropriate funding must be provided to the community and Indigenous broadcasting sector.

108 Labor acknowledges the importance of community broadcasting organisations in providing opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander produced content.

109 Labor remains committed to supporting an Indigenous, nation-wide free to air television channel through National Indigenous Television.

Keeping Australia Post public

110 Labor will: • Maintain Australia Post in full public ownership.

• Maintain Australia Post as the sole carrier of the standard-size, letter service and the sole issuer of postage stamps. Cross-subsidy arrangements between metropolitan and regional Australia will remain to ensure an equitable, flat-rate postal charging arrangement for the standard letter.

• Encourage the growth of Australia Post's services and ensure that Australia Post's community service obligations provide equitable access to a full range of postal services for all Australians.

• Ensure that Australia Post continues to maintain appropriate coverage of post office and post box outlets throughout Australia. Labor will ensure that the present Australia Post corporate retail outlets remain publicly owned and operated and that the current ownership mix will be maintained.

• Promote greater social responsibility by Australia Post towards its employees and the communities in which it operates, particularly those communities within regional Australia.

• Encourage Australia Post to continue to use its network to provide public access to new communications options and essential community information. Labor envisages Australia Post playing a key role as a platform for the delivery of digital services, particularly to regional Australia.

• Strongly encourage Australia Post toward direct full time employment of staff rather than on a contract basis, where possible, to limit the use of the "out-working" or "remote commencement and cessation".

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National Constitution of the ALP

National Constitution Contents A 153 Objectives and Principles 1. 153 Origins 2&3. 153 Objectives

4. 154 Principles of Action

5-7. 155 Membership and Organisation

B 156 Rules

1. 156 Name 2. 156 Objectives

3. 156 Head Office

4. 156 Composition

5. 156 Structure of Party Organisation

6. 157 National Conference

7. 159 National Executive

8. 160 National Executive Committee

9&10. 161 National President and National Vice-Presidents

11. 163 National Labor Women's Network

12. 164 Finance

13. 165 National Policy Committee

14. 166 Federal Parliamentary Labor Party

15. 166 Membership Recruitment

16. 168 National Life Membership

17. 168 Australian Labor Advisory Council

18. 168 National Appeals Tribunal

19. 169 National Constitution Not Enforceable in Law

C 170 National Principles of Organisation

4. 170 Election of Delegates to National Conference 5. 170 Composition of State Conferences

6. 170 Membership

7. 170 Affiliation of Unions

9. 171 Union Delegations

10. 171 State and Territory Labor Advisory Councils

11. 171 Dialogue with Local Union Activists

12. 172 Members' Rights

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13. 172 Organisation and Training

14. 173 State and Territory Policy Committees

15. 173 Preselections

16. 174 Australian Young Labor

17. 174 Indigenous Labor Network

18. 174 Implementation of National Principles of Organisation

19. 174 State and Territory Branch Rule Changes

D 175 Resolutions to Implement National Principles of Organisation

1. 175 General Membership System 2. 175 Party Communications

3. 175 Responsibilities of National Executive

4. 175 Review of Campaign Techniques

5&6. 176 National Organisation - Ongoing Review

7-9. 176 Internal Party Relationships

10. 177 National Public Office Training Program

E 178 Register of Conference Decisions

1. 178 Members Initiating Legal Proceedings (decision of the 1955 Conference) 2. 178 Union Elections (decision of the 1963 Conference)

3. 178 Grievance Procedures (decision of the 1979 Conference)

4. 178 Affirmative Action (decision of the 1981 Conference)

5. 179 Abortion (decision of the 1984 Conference)

6. 179 Conduct of Ballots (decision of the 1994 Conference)

7&8. 179 ALP Code of Conduct for Fundraising (decision of the 1994 Conference)

9. 180 National Conference Decisions

F 181 National Conference Standing Orders

1. 181 Chair of Conference 2. 181 Credentials

3. 181 Session Times

4-7. 181 Order of Business

8-17. 182 Amendments

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Part A: Objectives and Principles

Origins 1 The Australian Labor Party had its origins in: • the aspirations of the Australian people for a decent, secure, dignified and constructive way of life;

• the recognition by the trade union movement of the necessity for a political voice to take forward the struggle of the working class against the excesses, injustices and inequalities of capitalism; and

• the commitment by the Australian people to the creation of an independent, free and enlightened Australia.

Objectives

2 The Australian Labor Party is a democratic socialist party and has the objective of the democratic socialisation of industry, production, distribution and exchange, to the extent necessary to eliminate exploitation and other anti-social features in these fields.

3 To achieve the political and social values of equality, democracy, liberty and social cooperation inherent in this objective, the Australian Labor Party stands for:

(a) redistribution of political and economic power so that all members of society have the opportunity to participate in the shaping and control of the institutions and relationships which determine their lives;

(b) establishment and development of public enterprises, based upon federal, State and other forms of social ownership, in appropriate sectors of the economy;

(c) democratic control and strategic social ownership of Australian natural resources for the benefit of all Australians;

(d) maintenance of and support for a competitive non-monopolistic private sector, including small business and farming, controlled and owned by Australians, operating within clear social guidelines and objectives;

(e) the right to own private property;

(f) recognition and encouragement of the right of labour to organise for the protection and advancement of its interests;

(g) the application of democracy in industry to increase the opportunities for people to work in satisfying, healthy and humane conditions; and to participate in and to increase their control over the decision making processes affecting them;

(h) the promotion of socially appropriate technology and the monitoring of its introduction to ensure that the needs and interests of labour, as well as the requirements of competitive industry and consumer demand, are taken into consideration;

(i) the restoration and maintenance of full employment;

(j) the abolition of poverty, and the achievement of greater equality in the distribution of income, wealth and opportunity;

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(k) social justice and equality for individuals, the family and all social units, and the

elimination of exploitation in the home;

(l) equal access and rights to employment, education, information, technology, housing, health and welfare services, cultural and leisure activities and the law;

(m) reform of the Australian Constitution and other political institutions to ensure that they reflect the will of the majority of Australian citizens and the existence of Australia as an independent republic;

(n) recognition and protection of fundamental political and civil rights, including freedom of expression, the press, assembly, association, conscience and religion; the right to privacy; the protection of the individual from oppression by the state; and democratic reform of the Australian legal system;

(o) the development of a democratic communications system, as an integral part of a free society, to which all citizens have opportunities for free access;

(p) elimination of discrimination and exploitation on the grounds of class, race, sex, sexuality, religion, political affiliation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, regional location, economic or household status;

(q) recognition of the prior ownership of Australian land by Aborigines and Islanders; recognition of their special and essential relationship with the land as the basis of their culture; and a commitment to the return of established traditional lands to the ownership of Aboriginal and Islander communities;

(r) recognition and encouragement of diversity of cultural expression and lifestyle within the Australian community;

(s) the use, conservation and enhancement of Australia's natural resources and environment so that the community's total quality of life, both now and into the future, is maintained and improved;

(t) recognition of the need to work towards achieving ecologically sustainable development;

(u) maintenance of world peace; an independent Australian position in world affairs; the recognition of the right of all nations to self determination and independence; regional and international agreement for arms control and disarmament; the provision of economic and social aid to developing nations; a commitment to resolve international conflicts through the UN; and a recognition of the inalienable right of all people to liberty, equality, democracy and social justice;

(v) commitment to and participation in the international democratic socialist movement as represented by the Socialist International; and

(w) recognition of the right of citizens to work for progressive changes consistent with the broad principles of democratic socialism.

Principles of Action

4 The Australian Labor Party believes that the task of building democratic socialism is a cooperative process that requires:

• constitutional action through the federal and State Parliaments, municipal and other statutory authorities;

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• union action; and

• ongoing action by organised community groups.

Membership and Organisation

5 Membership of the Australian Labor Party is open to all residents of Australia who are prepared to accept its objectives and who have associations with no other political party.

6 Australian Labor Party policy is made by National Conferences comprising the federal and State parliamentary leadership of the Party, together with elected delegates from all States, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Australian Young Labor.

7 Party policy within the States and Territories is framed by conferences of delegates elected by constituent branches and affiliated unions. Policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directives from the leadership, but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual Party members.

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Part B: Rules

Name 1 The name of the Party shall be "The Australian Labor Party".

Objectives

2 The objectives of the Party are set out in the Basic Principles as determined by the National Conference. To achieve these objectives the ALP will act in accordance with the Principles of Action and Progressive Reforms set out in the Party Platform from time to time.

Head Office

3 The Head Office of the Party shall be known as the National Secretariat and shall be established in Centenary House, Barton, ACT or any other place determined by the National Executive from time to time.

Composition

4 The Party shall consist of branches in each State, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (hereinafter referred to as State Branches).

Structure of Party Organisation

5 (a) The Party shall function upon the following basis: (i) National Conference,

(ii) National Executive,

(iii) Federal Parliamentary Labor Party (FPLP), and

(iv) Australian Young Labor.

(b) The National Conference shall be the supreme governing authority of the Party and its decisions shall be binding upon every member and every section of the Party.

(c) The National Executive shall be the chief administrative authority of the Party, subject only to the National Conference.

(d) The Federal Parliamentary Labor Party shall have authority in properly constituted Caucus meetings to make decisions directed towards establishing the collective attitude of the Parliamentary Party to any question or matter in the Federal Parliament, subject to:

(i) at all times taking such action which may be possible to implement the Party's Platform and Conference decisions;

(ii) on questions or matters which are not subject to National Platform or Conference or Executive decisions, the majority decision of Caucus being binding upon all members in the parliament; and

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(iii) no attitude being expressed which is contrary to the provisions of the Party

Platform or any other decision of National Conference or National Executive.

(e) Australian Young Labor shall function in accordance with the rules that may be approved from time to time by the National Executive and subject to its control and jurisdiction.

(f) The National Labor Women's Network shall function in accordance with the rules that may be approved from time to time by the National Executive and subject to its control and jurisdiction.

(g) That a National Indigenous Labor Network be formed from the State Networks with appropriate support from the National Office. The Network's goals will be to: (i) attract and support Indigenous ALP members;

(ii) increase the involvement of Indigenous people at all levels of the ALP;

(iii) provide a focus for the identification, training and support of Indigenous candidates;

(iv) increase awareness of Indigenous issues throughout the ALP;

(v) increase commitment of Party members to greater representation of Indigenous people throughout the Party; and

(vi) encourage the employment of Indigenous people in staff and Party positions.

National Conference

6 (a) National Conference shall consist of 400 delegates, comprising: (i) three delegates being the National President and National Vice-Presidents elected under rule 9(a);

(ii) four delegates being the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Party in the Senate;

(iii) six delegates elected from and by the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party;

(iv) delegations from each State consisting of:

(a) the State Parliamentary Leader,

(b) a base component of 12 persons, and

(c) a supplementary component of a number of persons equal to twice the number of House of Representatives electorates in that State as at the previous 31 December;

(v) delegations from each Territory consisting of:

(a) the Territory Parliamentary Leader,

(b) a base component of 2 persons, and

(c) a supplementary component of a number of persons equal to twice the number of House of Representatives electorates in that Territory as at the previous 31 December; and

(vi) three delegates from Australian Young Labor.

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(b) State Secretaries and members of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party who are not

delegates to National Conference shall be able to attend National Conference with the rights of delegates except that of voting.

(c) All members of the State or Territory Branch shall be eligible to be elected as delegates from that State or Territory.

Proxy Delegates

(d) (i) Each State shall be entitled to a minimum of two proxies up to a maximum equal to half the State's delegation.

(ii) The credentials for State Branch proxies shall be circulated in advance and accepted at the commencement of the Conference and no other proxies may be admitted.

(iii) It is the responsibility of each State delegation to ensure that the Chair is advised of all changes of delegation during the Conference. No proxy shall participate in the debate of a report in which the delegate he/she is replacing has participated.

(iv) State and federal Leaders may each nominate one proxy subject to paragraph (ii) above. Such proxies must be a member of the relevant parliamentary party.

(e) All delegates must be elected by a system of proportional representation in a single ballot with affirmative action in accordance with rule 10.

(f) Delegates shall be elected within 12 months prior to the date of National Conference.

(g) State Branches cannot bind delegates with regard to their vote on any issue before the National Conference.

(h) National Conference shall be held every three years in a location determined by the National Executive which shall have the responsibility for determining the time of the National Conference.

(i) Special National Conferences may be held for specially stated purposes and shall be called in the manner prescribed by these Rules.

(j) (i) The National President and National Vice-Presidents need not be delegates to National Conference, but have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting.

(ii) The National Secretary shall not be a delegate to National Conference, but shall have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting.

(k) The National Secretary, after receiving instructions from the convening authority, shall observe the following procedure for the purpose of establishing the Conference agenda: (i) give the following bodies three months notice to send items to the National Policy

Committee: State Branches, Australian Young Labor, and Federal Electorate Councils, and trade unions whose State branches are affiliated with the Party in a majority of States in which they operate, all of which shall have the right to submit items to the National Policy Committee. Bodies so submitting items to the National Policy Committee shall be notified in writing of the Committee's views on such items; and

(ii) send to State Branches and other bodies represented at National Conference, agenda and any other documents related thereto at least one month before Conference meets.

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National Executive

7 (a) The National Executive of the Party, which shall be the chief administrative authority subject only to National Conference, shall be constituted in the following manner: (i) the National President and National Vice-Presidents, who are directly elected by Party members in accordance with rule 9(a), have the full rights of a delegate

except that of voting, unless elected as a delegate in their own right;

(ii) 20 executive members elected by the National Conference;

(iii) the National Secretary, who shall be elected by the National Conference, shall not be a delegate but shall have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting;

(iv) the Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party or proxy nominated by the Leader. Such proxy must be a member of the Federal Parliamentary Party;

(v) State Secretaries who are not delegates to the National Executive shall be able to attend National Executive meetings with the rights of delegates except that of voting; and

(vi) Delegates shall be entitled to nominate their proxy for any meeting or part of a meeting that they are unable to attend and for any ballot in which they are unable to vote.

(b) (i) The terms of all those elected by the National Conference shall commence at the conclusion of the National Conference at which they are elected. They shall be subject to re-election at each Conference except the National Secretary who shall be subject to re-election at every second Conference.

(ii) Casual vacancies will be filled by the National Executive in accordance with the principles of proportional representation.

(iii) Casual vacancies for the positions of National President, National Vice-Presidents and National Secretary shall be filled by a ballot of the National Executive and the National Executive Committee shall institute procedures to hold a ballot.

Powers and Duties of the National Executive

(c) Decisions of the National Executive are binding on all sections and members of the ALP subject only to appeal to National Conference. Pending the hearing of any appeal, the decision of the National Executive continues to operate.

(d) Subject only to National Conference, the National Executive may exercise all powers of the Party on its behalf without limitation, including in relation to the State Branches and other sections of the Party.

(e) Without limiting the plenary powers of the National Executive under rule 7(d), the National Executive: (i) is the administrative authority of the Party responsible for: (a) carrying out the decisions of National Conference;

(b) interpreting the National Constitution, the National Platform and decisions of National Conference; and

(c) directing federal members;

(ii) must convene triennial National Conferences in accordance with these Rules;

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(iii) may convene Special National Conferences for specified purposes;

(iv) must convene a Special National Conference for a specified purpose when requested by a majority of State Branches;

(v) must elect a National Executive Committee and a National Policy Committee;

(vi) may elect such other committees as it may determine from time to time;

(vii) must consider any matter submitted to it by a State Branch, Australian Young Labor, the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party or a trade union whose State branches are affiliated with the Party in a majority of States in which it operates (in this rule "affiliated organisation");

(viii) may hear and decide appeals from any affiliated organisation or individual member against a decision of a State Branch alleged to be inconsistent with any national decision or matter; and

(ix) may hear and decide appeals by any person seeking to be a candidate for a federal election against a decision of a State Branch affecting that person's preselection.

(f) Without limiting the plenary powers of the National Executive under rule 7(d), if in the opinion of the National Executive any State Branch or section of the Party is acting or has acted in a manner contrary to the National Constitution, the National Platform or a decision of National Conference, as interpreted by the National Executive, the National Executive may:

(i) overrule the State Branch or section;

(ii) intervene in the State Branch or section, and take over and direct the conduct of its affairs; and

(iii) conduct any preselection that would otherwise have been decided by the State Branch or section.

(g) The National Executive must meet at least three times each year. Subject to the National Executive, the National Executive Committee is responsible for convening meetings of the National Executive.

(h) (i) The National Executive may meet by telephone and other electronic means provided each member who wishes to participate in the meeting is able to clearly and simultaneously communicate with every other such member.

(ii) A resolution agreed to in writing by all voting members of the National Executive has the same effect as a resolution passed at a meeting of the National Executive.

In this rule "writing" includes emails, faxes and other electronic means of representing or reproducing words in a visible form.

(iii) The National Executive may conduct elections by postal vote.

National Executive Committee

8 (a) The National Executive Committee (NEC) shall consist of the National Secretary and such other members of the National Executive as may be elected by the National Executive.

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(b) The National Executive Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the

Party between meetings of the National Executive.

(c) They shall meet at least once between each two meetings of the National Executive for the purpose of preparing the agenda and making recommendations to expedite the business of the National Executive.

(d) Other than in urgent situations which preclude either a special meeting or a resolution without meeting of the National Executive, the NEC shall not have the power to make decisions on behalf of the National Executive.

(e) Any actions taken by the NEC between Executive meetings shall be reported to the next meeting of the Executive for endorsement.

(f) The non-parliamentary members of the NEC shall also be members of the companies John Curtin House Limited and ALP Legacies and Gifts.

(g) Rules 7(d)(i) and (ii) apply to the NEC in the same way as the National Executive.

National President and National Vice-Presidents

9 (a) The National President and 2 National Vice-Presidents must be directly elected from and by Party members in the 12 months before each triennial National Conference in a single ballot by proportional representation with affirmative action in accordance with rule 10.

(b) (i) The candidate first elected holds office in turn as National President, National Junior Vice-President and National Senior Vice-President.

(ii) The candidate second elected holds office in turn as National Senior Vice- President, National President and National Junior Vice-President.

(iii) The candidate third elected holds office in turn as National Junior Vice-President, National Senior Vice-President and National President.

(iv) The term of office in each position is 12 months, beginning at the commencement of National Conference or on the anniversary of that date, except that the term of office in the third position ends at the commencement of the next triennial National Conference.

(c) The National President, when available, will chair National Conference and meetings of the National Executive, and conduct such meetings in accordance with the National Conference Standing Orders. The National President will carry out any other duties referred by the National Executive.

(d) The National Vice-Presidents in order of seniority will take the Chair in the absence of the National President, and carry out any other duties referred by the National Executive.

10 Affirmative Action

The ALP is committed to men and women in the Party working in equal partnership. It is our objective to have equal numbers of men and women at all levels in the Party organisation, and in public office positions the Party holds. To achieve this the Party adopts a comprehensive affirmative action model of 40:40:20, as set out below, whereby a minimum of 40% of relevant positions shall be held by either gender.

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Party Positions

(a) All elections, other than public office preselections conducted by national and State level Party units for three or more positions, shall comply with the affirmative action model. Not less than 40% of such positions shall be held by women, and not less than 40% by men, provided that sufficient candidates of the relevant gender nominate ("the basic entitlement"). If the calculation to determine the basic entitlement results in a fraction of one half or more then the basic entitlement shall be the next higher whole number, and where it results in a fraction of less than one half it shall be the next lower number.

Union Delegations

(b) Union delegations to Party conferences and forums shall comply with the affirmative action model. Not less than 40% of a union's delegation shall be women, and not less than 40% shall be men ("the minimum representation"). Provided that if the level of male or female membership of a union is less than 40%, the minimum representation shall be set at that level.

Public Office Preselection

(c) Preselections for public office positions at a State and federal level shall comply with the affirmative action model in this rule 10(c). PRINCIPLES (i) The intention of this rule is to produce an outcome where not less than 40% of seats held by Labor will be filled by women, and not less than 40% by men ("the

minimum target").

(ii) This minimum target shall apply to any preselection round taking place after 1 January 2012.

(iii) The remaining 20% of the seats held by Labor may be filled by candidates of either gender.

IMPLEMENTATION (i) State and Territory Branches shall be required to amend their rules so as to achieve the minimum target by applying these principles to the relevant seats.

(ii) For the purposes of paragraph (iv), the relevant seats shall include:

(a) in relation to lower houses, those seats needed to form government, or those seats held by Labor, whichever is the greater; and

(b) in relation to upper houses, at least 50% of seats in the upper house, or those seats held by Labor, whichever is the greater.

(d) The National Executive shall have the responsibility and the power to enforce rules 10(a)-(c) generally and specifically to determine the outcome in any public office preselection progressively between now and the year 2012 in order to ensure that this rule is complied with.

(e) Each State and Territory Branch must no later than 1 November each year provide a report to its Administrative Committee or State Executive and to the National Executive on the implementation of rules 10(a)-(c).

(f) Each State and Territory Branch must ensure that its rules are consistent with this rule, and are submitted to the National Executive for approval by 1 November 2003.

Transitional Provisions - Former Rule 12 to Continue to Apply

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(g) Any preselection round held after the date this rule is adopted by National

Conference, but prior to 1 January 2012, shall comply with the provisions of rule 12 as it was immediately prior to the adoption of this rule ("the former rule"), except that the references in the former rule to the year 2002 shall be read as references to the year 2011.

National Labor Women's Network

Membership 11 (a) (i) There will be a National Labor Women's Network.

(ii) Every woman member of the Party is automatically a member of the National Labor Women's Network.

(iii) There will be no membership fee at the national level

Role of the NLWN

(b) The role of the National Labor Women's Network is: (i) to encourage women to join and participate in the Australian Labor Party;

(ii) to increase the numbers of women in the Party;

(iii) to maintain and expand e-communication between Labor women;

(iv) to devise and promote training programs to improve the skills, confidence and participation of Labor women throughout the ALP;

(v) to sponsor and expand the NLWN political work experience program;

(vi) to develop and promote women within branches and other structures of the ALP as well as to elected office;

(vii) to organise, in conjunction with the host State or Territory, the National Labor Women's Conferences;

(viii) to administer travel subsidy to the National Labor Women's Conferences;

(ix) to promote contact between the ALP and women's organisations in the community;

(x) to assist in the development of policy and ensure women participate in policy making; and

(xi) to nominate representatives to women's forums, including international women's forums.

National Executive

(c) (i) The NLWN Executive will consist of 15 women members of the ALP elected by each triennial National Conference in a single ballot by proportional representation, but so that at least one candidate elected is from each State and Territory (in so far as there are nominations from each State and Territory).

(ii) At its first meeting after each triennial National Conference, the NLWN Executive will elect from its members a Convenor, Deputy Convenor, Secretary and any other officers it thinks appropriate. The Convenor and Deputy Convenor will be

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elected in a single ballot. The NLWN Executive may fill vacancies in officer

positions from its members.

(iii) The National Executive may fill vacancies in the membership of the NLWN Executive in accordance with the principles of proportional representation and State and Territory representation in rule 11(c)(i).

(iv) Women members of the ALP National Executive and the Federal Minister or Shadow Minister for the Status of Women shall be ex-officio members of the NLWN Executive.

(v) Nominees for the NLWN Executive do not have to be delegates to the National Conference at which they are elected.

(vi) Members of the NLWN Executive shall be able to nominate their proxy for NLWN Executive meetings.

(vii) The NLWN Executive will provide an annual report of its activities to the National Executive, State and Territory Branches and State and Territory women's organisations.

(viii) The NLWN Executive will meet monthly by telephone and twice a year, face to face, with travel funded through the National Secretariat.

(ix) Accounts and financing will be run through the National Secretariat, within an annual budget, allocated by the National Executive.

State Women 's Groups and Interaction

(d) (i) The NLWN will coordinate contact with State and Territory branches of the Labor Women's Network , other Labor women's organisations and women's contact officers.

(ii) The NLWN will regularly meet with State and Territory representatives of the LWN by telephone conference.

(iii) The structure of State and Territory Labor Women's Networks will be determined by each State and Territory although uniformity is desirable.

(iv) The NLWN will continue to develop materials, share programs and information to assist and support State LWNs. Transitional Provision(e) That the current term of the LWN Executive be extended to the next National Conference, and the Executive expanded to 10 members to ensure representation by all States and Territories.

Finance

12 (a) To meet the general expenses of the Party, each State Branch shall pay each year, to the National Executive through the National Secretary, a sum representing a rate per thousand adult members, and a rate per thousand pensioner and student/junior members. The total due shall be paid in four quarterly instalments on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. The National Executive shall have the power to fix sustentation fees.

(b) In the event of a State Branch being six months in arrears in its contributions to the Party, the National Executive may decide that such Branch shall not be entitled to be represented at any meeting of the National Executive or National Conference, or be

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consulted on any question that may be subject to a ballot of State Branches, until

such arrears are paid.

(c) Upon request, State and Territory Branches shall report financial information to the National Secretary in a standard format determined by the National Executive.

(d) The National Executive shall determine an annual budget for travel costs and administer an equalisation pool for such costs associated with National Conferences and the National Executive.

(e) The National Executive shall meet the expenses of the National President attending National Conference and the expenses of any officers associated with any duty being carried out on behalf of the National Executive.

(f) Each Branch shall pay to the National Executive not later than 31 December of each year the appropriate fee, to be determined by the National Executive, for international affiliations or activities associated therewith.

(g) The National Executive shall authorise the National Secretary to negotiate banking facilities on behalf of the National Executive of the Party and determine the manner in which the Party's accounts shall be operated including the signatories to the Party's bank accounts.

(h) Fundraising by the Labor Party at State, Territory and national levels and by the Labor Party candidates for public office shall be governed by the ALP Code of Conduct for Fundraising as approved by the National Executive.

(i) All accounts conducted for candidates whether at Commonwealth, State or municipal elections shall include the Australian Labor Party in their title. Furthermore, they shall be controlled by that level of Party organisation with the identical relevant signatories, be audited at the July meeting of such Party organisations and such annual accounts shall be forwarded to the Party State Branch for inclusion in the Party's annual account reporting process to the Australian Electoral Commission.

National Policy Committee

13 (a) At its first meeting after each triennial National Conference, the National Executive must appoint a National Policy Committee consisting of a Chair, Deputy Chair and seven other members, all of whom have considerable experience in policy development.

(b) The Committee will be responsible for: (i) coordinating development of the Party Platform;

(ii) conducting ongoing reviews of the Platform;

(iii) preparing the draft Platform for consideration by National Conference;

(iv) actively participating in the formulation of policy at National Conference;

(v) taking into account all policy resolutions passed by State and Territory Conferences;

(vi) considering all policy resolutions sent to it by State and Territory Policy Committees and other constituent units; and

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(vii) in conjunction with State and Territory Policy Committees, conducting regular

policy forums in which rank and file participation is encouraged.

(c) The Committee has power to co-opt non-voting members with particular expertise to the Committee when examining specific policy areas.

(d) The Committee will work closely with the convenors of the State and Territory Policy Committees, and will be resourced by the National Secretariat.

Federal Parliamentary Labor Party

14 (a) No State Branch may direct or discipline members of the FPLP in regard to matters affecting the National Platform or policy or upon legislation before the parliament or any matters the subject of consideration by the FPLP.

(b) The power of direction, advice and/or guidance is reserved for the National Conference and between Conferences, the National Executive.

Membership Recruitment

15 (a) It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual or group/s to fund Party membership for other individuals or groups of individuals who would otherwise be unwilling to pay their own subscriptions.

(b) It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual or group/s to encourage reduced-rate membership to people that may not be eligible for that category of membership.

(c) It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual or group/s to recruit members who do not live at the claimed addresses in an attempt to gain advantage at local Party meetings or the outcome of Party ballots.

(d) It is a requirement of Party rules for members, where eligible, to join or transfer to the branch or sub-branch which has geographical coverage, in accordance with State or Territory Branch rules, of the address at which the member is enrolled to vote. Members must, at the time of joining or transferring to the branch or sub-branch, either be correctly enrolled with the Australian Electoral Commission to vote in a federal election at their stated address or not be so entitled because they are under 18 years of age or not an Australian citizen.

(e) It is a requirement of the Party rules for members to personally apply for membership and renew membership by signing their own membership application or renewal form and either: (i) organising to post the form back to State Branch office with an appropriate fee;

(ii) by personally attending the State Branch office or arranging a person to attend on their behalf and paying their membership fees (identification shall be necessary); or

(iii) subject to the rules of a State Branch, by personally attending their local branch meeting and paying their fees to the Secretary during the meeting. In this regard, the money shall be receipted to the member and the member's attendance recorded in any attendance book. The Secretary shall forward such moneys to the State Branch office along with the signed membership renewal forms.

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(f) A Party member may also renew their membership by phone or the internet using their

personal credit card or by signing a standing authority for the renewal of membership via their personal credit card or bank account.

(g) Notwithstanding the above, a Party member's membership may also be renewed by a family member resident in the same household.

(h) All records associated with the payment of membership fees shall be available to any full-time officer of the State Branch upon request.

(i) In order to prevent the "bulk renewal" of other members, the National Executive must prescribe membership application and renewal forms for use by all State and Territory Branches that: (i) require the signature of the applicant or member authorising the application or

renewal; and

(ii) contain a declaration by any applicant or member paying a reduced-rate subscription that they are entitled to that reduced rate. The declaration must also indicate the basis on which the member is claiming this entitlement. State or Territory Branches may also set standard requirements of evidence to be met by members claiming this entitlement.

(j) All State and Territory Branches must implement an appropriate cap or limitation/ review procedure relating to the number of members that may validly apply to join the ALP at a local branch or sub-branch meeting. Members who seek to transfer into a branch or sub-branch shall be included/counted for the purposes of determining the number of members to which the cap or limitation applies.

(k) Involvement in such abuses will be considered as behaviour likely to bring the Party into disrepute and will result in disciplinary action which may include expulsion under the rules of the Party.

(l) All State and Territory Branch rules must, where necessary, establish a tribunal to effectively resolve disputes concerning membership. All State dispute tribunals will operate according to due process and according to the national membership principles and rules.

(m) All State and Territory Branch rules must contain a procedure that permits a decision to admit a person as a Party member to be reviewed, where there is an allegation that the person was ineligible to become a Party member.

(n) All State and Territory Branch rules must permit 50 members or 25% of the members in a federal electorate, whichever is the lesser, to petition the Administrative Committee or State Executive to investigate any allegations of breaches of this rule in that electorate.

(o) In order to ensure that these rules are given effect, the State and Territory Branches of ALP be required to amend, where necessary, their rules to reflect these National Rules. Such amended rules will be presented to the National Executive no later than 1 November 2003.

(p) The National Executive must continue: (i) to monitor and enforce compliance with this rule; and (ii) to review the operation of this rule to ensure the integrity of the Party's membership processes.

(q) All States and Territory Branches must provide to the National Executive a complete current Branch membership list by no later than 31 July of each year.

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National Life Membership

16 (a) The National Executive can award national life membership of the Australian Labor Party.

(b) Nominees for national life membership must be longstanding members of the Party and have provided distinguished service to the Party at a national level.

(c) Only the National Executive, State Branches, federal electorate bodies and nationally affiliated unions can make nominations for national life membership. Nominations should describe the background and history of service of the nominee particularly their contribution at a national level.

(d) Nominations for national life membership must be forwarded to the National Secretary at least one month prior to a meeting of the National Executive.

(e) National life membership shall only be awarded with the unanimous support of the National Executive.

Australian Labor Advisory Council

17 (a) There will be an Australian Labor Advisory Council (ALAC), consisting of the Leader and senior members of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, the National President and National Secretary or their nominees, and representatives of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

(b) The role of ALAC will be to provide a formal consultative mechanism between the Party and the union movement.

(c) The National Policy Committee must consult with ALAC in relation to Party policy relevant to ALAC's role, and resolutions of ALAC relevant to Party policy must be considered by the National Policy Committee.

(d) ALAC must meet at least twice each year, the meetings to be resourced by the National Secretariat.

National Appeals Tribunal

18 (a) The National Executive must: (i) at its first meeting after each triennial National Conference; and

(ii) whenever there is a vacancy in a position; by a three-quarters majority of all voting members appoint three persons to form the panel for the National Appeals Tribunal.

(b) A member of the panel may only be removed by a three-quarters majority of all voting members of the National Executive.

(c) In respect of each appeal, the Tribunal is constituted by a member of the panel determined by lot under the supervision of the National Secretary.

(d) The Tribunal is responsible on behalf of the National Executive for hearing all appeals by members, affiliated unions and constituent units of the Party that relate to: (i) compliance with the National Constitution; or

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(ii) enforcement of the rights and obligations of members, affiliated unions and

constituent units under the National Constitution; and making recommendations to the National Executive in relation to those appeals.

(e) No appeal may be heard by the Tribunal until all practicable avenues of appeal have been exhausted under the rules of the relevant State or Territory Branch.

(f) The Tribunal must: (i) comply with the rules of procedural fairness in conducting hearings;

(ii) (subject to paragraph (i)) conduct its hearings as expeditiously as possible; and

(iii) give the National Executive and all parties to the appeal written reasons for its recommendations.

(g) The National Executive: (i) must promptly consider all recommendations of the Tribunal; and

(ii) may make any decision in relation to the appeal it thinks fit.

(h) The Tribunal: (i) must prescribe guidelines for the conduct of appeals, including the granting of leave by the Tribunal to hear appeals; and

(ii) may otherwise regulate its own procedure; subject to these Rules and any direction of the National Executive.

(i) In this rule "National Constitution" has the same meaning as in rule 19. (j) The powers of the National Executive under this rule are in addition to, and not in derogation from, those contained in rule 7(c).

National Constitution Not Enforceable in Law

19 (a) In this rule "National Constitution" means all national constituent instruments of the Party, and includes the national Objectives and Principles, the national Rules, the National Principles of Organisation, and all resolutions of National Conference and the National Executive relating to the structure and organisation of the Party.

(b) It is intended that the National Constitution and everything done in connection with it, all arrangements relating to it (whether express or implied) and any agreement or business entered into or payment made or under the National Constitution, will not bring about any legal relationship, rights, duties or outcome of any kind, or be enforceable by law, or be the subject of legal proceedings. Instead all arrangements, agreements and business are only binding in honour.

(c) Without limiting rule 19(b), it is further expressly intended that all disputes within the Party, or between one member and another that relate to the Party be resolved in accordance with the National Constitution and the rules of the State and Territory Branches and not through legal proceedings.

(d) By joining the Party and remaining members, all members of the Party consent to be bound by this rule.

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Part C: National Principles of Organisation

1 Policy at the national, State and Territory level shall be determined by the national, State and Territory conferences respectively. Such decisions shall be binding on every member and every section of the Party, or of the relevant State or Territory Branch.

2 On matters that are not subject to National Platform or Conference or Executive decisions, or their State and Territory equivalents, the majority decision of the relevant Parliamentary Labor Party shall be binding upon all members of the parliament.

3 In all parliaments, the parliamentary leadership, the Ministry and Shadow Ministry shall be elected by the Parliamentary Labor Party.

Election of Delegates to National Conference

4 State and Territory Branch delegates to National Conference (including proxy delegates) must be elected in accordance with the rules of that State or Territory Branch, subject to rule 6.

Composition of State Conferences

5 (a) In all States the State Conference shall comprise 50 percent union representatives and 50 percent constituency Party representatives. (This shall not bind Territory Branches until the proportion of unions affiliated is equivalent to that in the States. This principle shall apply to all State level Party units comprised of direct representatives of unions and constituency units.)

(b) State Branches should increase or maintain the size of State Conferences, which should have greater rank and file involvement.

Membership

6 (a) Membership of the ALP is open to all residents of Australia who are prepared to accept its objectives and who have associations with no other political party or proscribed organisation. This right to join shall not be impaired other than in circumstances in which it can be demonstrated clearly that an individual cannot meet the requirement outlined above.

(b) Members of the Party are encouraged to be members of a union or to employ union labour. State and Territory Branch rules should require members of the Party to be members of a union or to employ union labour to the maximum extent permitted by law.

(c) To further encourage union members to join the Party, State and Territory Branches should offer discounts in membership subscriptions for members of affiliated unions.

Affiliation of Unions

7 (a) All bona fide unions shall have the right to affiliate to the ALP. This right to affiliate shall not be impaired unless it can be demonstrated clearly that the relevant organisation is not a bona fide union or that the organisation has engaged in conduct that renders it unsuitable to be affiliated.

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(b) For the purposes of calculating union delegation sizes and affiliation fees, the number

of members of each affiliated union must be determined each year by an independent audit by a registered auditor of: (i) the number of members eligible to vote in a ballot for an office in that union at 30 June as conducted by the appropriate Electoral Commission/s, and

(ii) the number of members identified in paragraph (i) above for whom the union received an amount of dues in relation to the period between 1 April and 30 June inclusive for that year.

(c) Each affiliated union must by 4.00 p.m. on the last Friday in February each year provide to the State or Territory Branch in a sealed envelope: (i) the independent audit report for the previous year, and

(ii) advice on the number of members that union will affiliate on for the current year, and all such sealed envelopes must be opened at the same time in the presence of scrutineers appointed by affiliated unions.

(d) Union delegation sizes must be based on the three year rolling average of that union's affiliation for the current and two preceding years (except that affiliation figures before 2002 must not be used to determine a union's rolling average).

(e) Each State and Territory Branch (other than the Queensland Branch) must amend its rules to implement clauses 7(b)-(d) above in accordance with the model adopted by the National Executive for the Queensland Branch on 12 April 2002.

8 Each State and Territory Branch should develop an equitable basis of determining union entitlement for representation at relevant State level Party units. This shall not prevent State Branches making reasonable special arrangements for the representation of small unions.

Union Delegations

9 Subject to rule 10(b), it shall be the right of each union to determine the criteria and procedures for selection of its delegates, subject to those delegates being members of that union and financial members of the Party.

State and Territory Labor Advisory Councils

10 (a) Labor Advisory Council (LAC), consisting of the Leader and senior members of the State or Territory Parliamentary Labor Party, the State or Territory President and Secretary or their nominees, and representatives of the Trades and Labour Council or equivalent body in that State or Territory.

(b) The role of the LAC will be to provide a formal consultative mechanism between the Party and the union movement in that State or Territory.

Dialogue with Local Union Activists

11 All Labor MPs must establish dialogue with local union activists in their electorates, including frequent meetings with those union activists who work in their area. Senators and MLCs must be invited to attend such meetings.

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Members' Rights

12 The following are to be established as minimum standards: (a) The process of joining the Party shall be simplified and all unnecessary impediments to that process shall be removed from State and Territory Branch rules.

(b) Subject to any attendance requirements in the State or Territory, full membership rights in all States and Territories shall begin to accrue in accordance with the relevant State or Territory requirements and those rights shall accumulate, to a maximum, following two years consecutive membership. These rights include: being eligible for preselection; standing and voting for or standing on, the various Party bodies and executives.

(c) Each State and Territory Branch must adopt rules that establish an appeals process in relation to compliance with and enforcement of Branch Rules by members, affiliated unions and constituent units of the Branch, such rules to be submitted to the National Executive for approval by 1 November 2003. The appeals process must include compliance with the rules of procedural fairness, expedited hearings and written reasons for decision.

Organisation and Training

13 (a) In addition to geographically based local branches within State and federal electorates, State and Territory Branches should consider different forms of rank and file organisation, such as: (i) occupation, workplace and employment related branches,

(ii) university and TAFE campus branches, and

(iii) policy forums (including online forums).

However, any attendance requirements in State and Territory Branch rules will continue only to be met through attendance at geographically based local branches.

(b) The number of local branches in metropolitan areas should be consolidated to provide for larger meetings and better branch organisation.

(c) Branches should be involved in local community activities, and should provide regular updates and suggestions of events in which members might participate.

(d) Local branches and MPs should institute, and participate in, regular joint community consultation processes in their electorates to raise the profile of the ALP and provide feedback on policy and Party initiatives.

(e) MPs and State and Territory Branches should respond to branch correspondence promptly so that branch members know their contribution has been considered.

(f) State and Territory Branches should ask branches to nominate either a women's officer or contact person to assist the development of equitable participation for women in the Party.

(g) State and Territory Branch rules should provide for a forum of all members within each federal electorate to be held at least once each year.

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(h) The Federal Electorate Council (FEC), or combinations thereof, shall be encouraged to

appoint a Women's Contact Officer, Community Activities Officer and a Policy Development Officer when electing or appointing its executive.

(i) The Community Activities Officer and Women's Contact Officer shall assist the local branches to identify the major issues within the community, within which they should be active and assist in the development of either endorsed or unendorsed (depending on the State Branches) candidates for local government or other community bodies.

(j) The State Branches shall assume within their organisational structure the responsibilities of coordinating the Women's Contact Officers, Community Activities Officers and the Policy Development Officers.

(k) The Policy Development Officer at a State Office level and at State and federal electorate level shall be responsible for coordinating policy input on local, State or federal matters, as appropriate, and work within a defined relationship between those electorate based Policy Committees and State and Territory Policy Committees and/or the National Policy Committee.

(l) Each State Branch shall develop training programs for Branch executives, candidates and activists, as well as introductory programs for new Party members and mentoring and development programs targeting women. The National Secretariat shall assist in the development of such programs.

(m) State and Territory Branches should form supporters clubs, and explore the possibility of the creation of an associate class of membership as a way of broadening involvement in the Party.

State and Territory Policy Committees

14 (a) State and Territory Branches should expand and improve the system of State and Territory Policy Committees, which should be linked to any policy forums that have been established.

(b) All Party members should be eligible to attend State and Territory Policy Committee meetings to contribute specialised knowledge and expertise on policy issues. However, final decisions on policy documents should continue to be taken by elected Committee members. Committees should, where feasible, conduct forums and consultations in regional centres.

(c) Resolutions passed by Party units should be circulated to the relevant Ministers and Shadow Ministers, State and Territory Policy Committees and the National Policy Committee for consideration and response.

Preselections

15 (a) Any member who meets the membership eligibility requirements shall be entitled to participate in voting for a candidate in any preselection covered by the applicable boundaries within which they reside, subject to clause 15(c).

(b) The only residential boundaries that can affect that right are those devised by either federal, State or municipal electoral commissions. That is, the entitlement is guaranteed by the publicly known and independently drawn boundaries of respective electoral commissions. Therefore, if you live within the respective electorate and meet other criteria within the rules you are eligible to vote in the preselection.

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(c) To ensure the integrity of preselection ballots, no member shall receive a vote in any

preselection unless that member is correctly enrolled with the Australian Electoral Commission to vote in a federal election. The member's address for the purposes of preselection will be their enrolled address.

(d) In order to ensure that MPs are fulfilling local responsibilities, State and Territory Branches must: (i) introduce a system of compulsory candidate forums during preselection processes; and

(ii) develop a system of reporting to federal electorate bodies the activities of their MP.

Australian Young Labor

16 Every State and Territory Administrative Committee or State Executive should consider co-opting a non-voting member or members of Young Labor.

Indigenous Labor Network

17 That each State and Territory Branch form an Indigenous Labor Network. Membership should be open to all Indigenous people who are members of the ALP. Non-Indigenous ALP members can nominate to be associate members.

Implementation of National Principles of Organisation

18 The National Executive will monitor the implementation of these National Principles of Organisation in consultation with the State and Territory Branches. These Principles will apply equally to all State and Territory Branches unless otherwise stated.

State and Territory Branch Rule Changes

19 All State and Territory Branch rules must be revised in accordance with these National Principles of Organisation as amended at the Special Rules National Conference held in October 2002, and be submitted to the National Executive for endorsement no later than 1 November 2003.

20 That, pursuant to rule 7(c)(i), the National Executive be empowered to amend the rules of any State Branch as required to implement the National Principles of Organisation.

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Part D: Resolutions to Implement National

Principles of Organisation General Membership System 1 (a) Each State should adopt a system to allow applications to be processed and accepted by the head office thus allowing potential expansion of a general

membership system.

(b) A general member initially has only the right to take up at their initiative the process of becoming a full member through the Branch membership system. The general members are to be encouraged to contribute to the Party in whatever way they can and they are bound to assume the responsibilities of supporting the Party both privately and publicly.

(c) Any general member of five years or more standing could be considered for preselection provided the majority request of all Party members in their respective electorate was made and/or the majority request of that State Branch Administrative Committee or Executive was made. (for guidance to the State Branches)

Party Communications

2 The National Secretary shall be requested to prepare an annual budget for internal Party communications, to include methods of financing, as well as expenditure. The National Executive shall liaise with the State and Territory Branches with the objective of improving internal Party communications. (for direction to the National Secretariat)

Responsibilities of National Executive

3 That the responsibilities of National Executive be clarified to ensure appropriate powers to manage the Party's:

(a) finances,

(b) education and training for memberships,

(c) liaison with the trade union movement,

(d) liaison with community organisations,

(e) campaign technique development for Party members and constituent units, and

(f) Party communication; and to organise the Manning Clark Labor History Memorial Lecture at each National Conference of the Party.

Review of Campaign Techniques

4 That National Conference instructs the National Executive and State Administrative Committees to undertake a review of campaign techniques to ensure continued electoral success. The following principles are central to such a review:

(a) the need for redevelopment of campaign skills within safe Labor seats;

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(b) the need for continuous workplace campaigns to be developed in consultation with

the trade union movement;

(c) improved liaison with community organisations; and (d) continued development of ministerial involvement at the local level.

National Organisation - Ongoing Review

5 (a) That the National Executive take responsibility for an ongoing process of organisational review. The National Executive should establish a Standing Committee to initiate proposals, or receive submissions from members and affiliates, on the Party's rules, structures and political effectiveness.

(b) That an ongoing National Organisational Review Committee (ORC) be established with appropriate delegated powers under the guidance of the National Executive to continue the process of improving the effectiveness, participation and accountability of the Party's organisation.

(c) That the ORC undergo a consultative process with State Branches, union affiliates, Party units and members on strategies to achieve the following objectives: (i) strategies to increase the level of ALP branch membership;

(ii) strategies to encourage more trade unions to affiliate to the ALP and to involve unions more effectively in the Party's decision-making processes;

(iii) strategies the ALP should consider in order to defeat coalition party proposals to undermine the existing arrangements for trade union affiliation; and

(iv) strategies to increase the participation of women at all levels within the ALP.

(d) That the National Secretariat provide adequate resources for the Committee to meet its objectives.

6 Preselections

That the matter of preselections be referred to the ongoing organisational review process.

Internal Party Relationships

7 (a) The National Secretariat shall coordinate a regular program of ministerial visits to FEC meetings, coordinated through the State Branch offices, to report on the work of the Government and then receive views of Party members. Such FEC meetings to be open to all Party members.

(b) That a representative delegation from the State Administrative Committee shall combine with the parliamentary leadership and Caucus representatives to form a State political coordination committee. Such a committee shall meet regularly, to discuss key strategic issues facing the Parliamentary Party. (for guidance to the National Secretariat and State Branches)

8 Basic Principles

(a) The National Executive establish a Committee for the purpose of revising the Basic Principles of the Party including its objectives.

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(b) The Committee, in conducting its revision, should invite submissions from any

interested Party member or interested unit and conduct appropriate seminars on the subject, prior to finalising any recommendations on changes.

9 Preselections

State and Territory Campaign Directors should consult the Leader and the National Campaign Director before the selection of candidates in both target and safe Labor seats to discuss quality potential candidates. This process should begin at least 18 months prior to the next election. It is the responsibility and obligation of Party officers and other influential figures within the Party to ensure that quality candidates are preselected in all seats. The Party must also actively identify and encourage candidates from a wide range of occupations and life experiences.

National Public Office Training Program

10 The National Secretariat, in conjunction with State and Territory Secretaries, should conduct a pilot National Public Office Training Program and report to the National Executive by 1 July 2003. The NPOTP would involve former Labor leaders and ministers and would be responsible for: running training schools for candidates, those who aspire to be candidates, and younger Party members; overseeing mentoring programs; and running skills workshops. Better training and professional development should also be examined for elected members.

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Part E: Register of Conference Decisions

Members Initiating Legal Proceedings (decision of the 1955 Conference) 1 This Conference resolves that as a general principle it cannot concede the right of any member of the Party to initiate legal proceedings for the purpose of establishing the constitutional behaviour of

the Labor Movement. We emphasise that, with a few isolated exceptions, the history of our Party discloses we have functioned on a basis of complete determination in accordance with our own rules and our own interpretation of them. We insist we must continue to create our own procedures, taking care of our own business without the introduction of lawyers and law courts.

Union Elections (decision of the 1963 Conference)

2 Conference believes that industrial legislation should provide for trade unions to properly determine their own internal policies in accordance with their rules and constitutions and deplores interference in trade unions activities by any government, outside individuals or organisations. Conference accordingly calls upon all trade unionists to refrain from interference in the internal affairs of another trade union.

Grievance Procedures (decision of the 1979 Conference)

3 That Conference believes that the procedures of the Party at State and national level provide adequate opportunity for people who are dissatisfied to seek redress of grievance and calls upon all members of the Party in respect of matters in dispute to refrain from making comment outside the Party.

Affirmative Action (decision of the 1981 Conference)

4 (a) That Conference:

(i) asserts its support for affirmative action to ensure greater representation of women in the Party structures and amongst its representatives at all levels of government;

(ii) endorses the Guidelines for Implementation of an Affirmative Action Programme in the ALP, June 1981, produced by the Working Party on Affirmative Action, drawn from the State Women's Groups and requests each State and Territory Branch to implement an affirmative action programme in keeping with these guidelines; and

(iii) requests the National Executive to monitor regularly progress in each State Branch and to report to each National Conference.

(b) That all Party publications and Party ballot papers be given an indication of sex by use of given names.

(c) That it be the policy of the ALP to investigate, instigate, and fund the provision of childcare facilities at all conferences and large assembly meetings of the Party.

(d) That it be the policy of the ALP that all Party literature and publications should be free of sexist terms and sexist overtones; similarly all Party conferences, meetings etc.

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should be free of sexist comments, terms and overtones of any kind and all officers,

MPs and members of the Party should be advised accordingly.

Abortion (decision of the 1984 Conference)

5 Conference resolves that the matter of abortion can be freely debated at any State or federal forum of the Australian Labor Party, but any decision reached is not binding on any member of the Party.

Conduct of Ballots (decision of the 1994 Conference)

6 Procedures for conduct of ballots if required: (a) that ballots for multiple vacancies be conducted in accordance with the rules of the Victorian Branch;

(b) that ballots for single vacancies be conducted under the optional preferential system; and

(c) that ballots for multiple vacancies be conducted in accordance with rule 10(a).

ALP Code of Conduct for Fundraising (decision of the

1994 Conference)

7 Preamble Australia's political and economic stability is dependent on the strength of our democracy. The Labor Party believes that democracy in Australia will be strengthened by moderate and equal financial contributions from corporate Australia to both sides of politics.

8 • This code of conduct establishes the conditions that govern fundraising by the Labor Party at State, Territory and National levels. It is binding on all Labor Party branches, units and candidates for public office.

• Funds are raised by the Organisational wing of the Labor Party to assist candidates for public office to gain and/or maintain office.

• Funds are needed for policy development, Party administration and, most importantly, campaigning. All these political tasks must be carried out Federally and in each State and Territory.

• Each State, Territory and National Secretary of the Labor Party has a responsibility to raise funds.

• Campaign responsibilities can overshadow the need for adequate funds to support a strong and effective party organisation. Lack of funding for party maintenance and administration not only drains the Party's ability to develop policy and membership, but also undermines Labor's ability to campaign effectively and therefore undermines the stability of Australia's political system.

Organisation of Fundraising

• The Party's National Director of Fundraising is the National Secretary. State and Territory Directors of Fundraising are the relevant State or Territory Secretary.

• Each State and Territory Branch and the National Secretariat raise funds cooperatively but separately.

• Each State and Territory Branch and the National Secretariat has a Finance Committee and a Fundraising Director. These individuals and their committees and/or donation collectors have sole responsibility for fund raising for their respective Branches. Each Branch organises its efforts independently and according to its own methods.

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• State and Territory Finance Committees, all of whose members act in a voluntary capacity,

collect funds from individual unions and corporations. Such funds supplement the Party's income from normal membership dues and affiliation fees.

• The National Secretariat collects funds for national campaigning, maintenance of the National Secretariat and the support of various State Branches. These funds support the National Secretariat's role of national policy development, assistance to the Federal Parliamentary Party and maintenance of the Party's professional and voluntary organisation throughout Australia.

• State, Territory and National offices shall operate systems of "centralised banking".

• All local campaign and other party accounts will be held under the relevant State or Territory central banking system with the relevant Tax File Number.

Conditions

• The Labor Party observes a fundraising code of conduct. This code is fundamental to the integrity of the Party and its organisational and Parliamentary members.

▪ Parliamentarians can, and should, voice the Party's needs for funds or services and on occasions sign appeal letters.

▪ on reasonable request, Parliamentarians can, and should, speak or appear at Labor Party fundraising events.

▪ Members of the Parliament or candidates should not accept money or services on the Party's or their own behalf, above the amount of $3000 from any one source. Donations that are accepted must be held in appropriate Labor Party central banking accounts styled in the form: Australian Labor Party Campaign Account.

▪ Any funds held in accounts, or otherwise not under a State or Territory central banking system with the relevant Tax File Number, will be regarded by the Australian Labor Party and any other interested party as "personal accounts".

▪ Cheques should be made payable to the Australian Labor Party named account, not individuals.

▪ It is the legitimate responsibility of the relevant Fundraising Director, Finance Committee members and/or collectors to accept money on behalf of the Party.

▪ On the written authority of the relevant State, Territory or National Secretary, Parliamentarians or Candidates may act as fundraising agents for the Labor Party.

▪ Members of parliamentary executives may not be asked to act as fundraising agents or collectors.

▪ The detail of donations shall be publicly disclosed as per the requirements of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 191 - The Labor Party does not accept funds that are subject to conditions of any kind.

▪ Under no circumstances will the Labor Party accept funds which, even if only by inference, are intended to obtain the Party's support for specific actions, attitudes or public statements.

▪ Donors have a right to put views to the Party-but a right to no more than that.

▪ The Labor Party never raises funds on behalf of any other Party or Organisation.

▪ Candidates for public office who act outside these guidelines will be liable to sanctions by the relevant Labor Party Caucus or State or Territory Administrative Committee or other interested parties.

National Conference Decisions

9 That decisions of National Conference are equally binding on all members of the Party whether determined as Platform or as a decision of Conference. However, decisions of Conference which relate to matters of policy lapse if they are not reaffirmed by the subsequent Conference. Decisions of Conference which relate to organisational, administrative or rules matters continue in force until a subsequent Conference otherwise determines.

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Part F: National Conference Standing

Orders Chair of Conference 1 The National President shall preside over Conference. In the President's absence the senior officer present shall preside. If no officers are present a delegate shall be appointed by Conference to

preside.

Credentials

2 (a) Each body represented at National Conference or National Executive shall lodge with the National Secretary the names and addresses of its delegates as early as practicable before the meeting. These names and addresses shall be sent by the National Secretary to all members of the National Executive and other bodies represented at the National Conference as soon as possible.

(b) Any body or delegate may challenge the credentials of any delegate by lodging with the National Secretary the grounds of objection in writing within 14 days of being notified of the nomination of that delegate.

(c) The grounds of the objection shall be conveyed to the delegate challenged and to the body nominating the delegate by the quickest possible means. The National Executive shall hear and determine the challenge. An appeal shall lie to the National Conference. Pending the outcome of any such appeal, the decision of the National Executive shall stand.

Session Times

3 Conference shall meet each day from 9.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., and 2.15 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., subject to Conference at any time, determining on motion or amendment without debate, and without rescission of any previous decisions as to meeting times, to meet at any other times.

Order of Business

4 The agenda of the National Conference shall be as distributed by the National Executive pursuant to rule 6(j)(ii). The order of business shall be as determined by Conference from time to time.

5 No discussion shall be allowed except on motion or amendment duly proposed and seconded.

6 Any member desiring to propose a motion or amendment, or to discuss any matter under consideration, must address the Chair. No member shall address the Conference unless called by the Chair of Conference.

7 All questions shall be determined in the following manner:

(a) the mover of the motion shall have seven minutes to present argument in support of the motion and five minutes to reply;

(b) the seconder of such motion, and all other speakers, shall be limited to five minutes;

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(c) the movers and seconders of motions and amendments must exercise the right to

speak at the time of moving and not subsequently, subject to the right of reply by the mover of the motion;

(d) Conference on motion without debate may extend the time of any speaker; such extension of time shall not exceed five minutes. Conference may agree to further extensions on the same basis;

(e) the Chair shall call attention to the time of all speakers one minute before such time expires. Motions for extensions may be made when the Chair so calls, but no later;

(f) after the motion has been moved and seconded, and no speaker rises to oppose or move an amendment, the Chair shall proceed to put such motion to a vote of Conference;

(g) all votes of Conference shall be subject to the following procedure: (i) the Chair shall call upon those who support the question to say "Aye" and those who are opposed to say "No"; and

(ii) the Chair shall then declare the question carried or lost;

(h) any delegate not satisfied with the Chair's decision may, by standing in their place, call for a show of hands. The Chair shall proceed to determine the question by calling upon those who support the motion to raise their hands, and those opposed to act similarly. The Chair shall appoint two tellers to take the count and they shall be representative of the opposing viewpoints. When the tellers are agreed upon their count the Chair shall declare the result by quoting the figures for and against;

(i) when any question voted upon by Conference results in equal numbers for and against, the Chair shall declare such question lost; and

(j) any motion or amendment affecting the Pledge, Platform or Constitution of the Party shall be declared lost if less than a majority of delegates credentialled to the Conference vote for it.

Amendments

8 (a) At any time during debate on any motion it shall be competent for any delegate to move an amendment. All amendments must be seconded. Motions may be amended by adding words, by deleting words, or by deleting words and inserting others in their place, providing that the effect of any proposed amendment is not to establish a direct negative to the question contained in the motion.

(b) Any number of amendments may be proposed and discussed simultaneously with the original motion, notwithstanding standing order 14. At the close of debate amendments shall be put in the order they have been moved.

9 No member shall speak more than once to any question before the Chair, unless by way of personal explanation or with the consent of the Conference. Such consent shall not be given unless by a majority of those present.

10 At any time during debate on any question it shall be competent for the Chair to accept a motion "that the question be adjourned," "that the question be put", or "that the next business be proceeded with", provided at least two speakers have spoken for and against. A member having spoken to the question shall not be competent so to move. Such motions shall be immediately put without debate,

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provided that in the event of Conference agreeing "that the question be now put" the mover of the

original motion shall have the right of reply.

11 On Conference agreeing "that the question be now put" it shall mean not only the question contained in the motion, but in any and all amendments.

12 No question shall be debated for a longer period than one and a half hours, subject to Conference agreeing on motion or amendment put without debate to extend such time. A two-thirds majority of those present shall be required to approve any such extension.

13 Motions directed towards the re-consideration of any decision reached by Conference shall fail unless carried by a three-fourths majority of the delegates credentialled to Conference.

14 Not more than two delegates in succession shall speak for or against any question.

15 All questions involving an interpretation of policy on any section of the Platform or the direction of members of the parliament in accordance with the principles and methods of the Party, shall be subject to decision by Conference on the basis of these Standing Orders and not by ruling of the President.

16 Questions other than those contained on the Agenda shall not be discussed unless agreed to by two-thirds of the delegates credentialled to Conference, and no delegate shall canvass the subject matter of the proposed new business when seeking Conference approval for discussion of same.

17 Rulings given by the Chair on any question shall be subject to a motion calling upon Conference to disagree with any ruling. In the event of such motion, the mover shall be permitted not more than five minutes to support the motion and the Chair shall be permitted not more than five minutes to defend the Chair's ruling. There shall be no other speakers. The Vice-President or any other delegate appointed by Conference shall occupy the Chair during the currency of such motion.

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Conference Resolutions

The following resolutions were carried at the 45th National Conference of the Australian Labor Party

Chapter 2: Securing our future with responsible

economic management

Responding to the Global Recession National Conference recognises the urgent situation facing the global economy caused by the worst global recession since the Great Depression of 75 years ago. Conference notes the cuts to global production, declining profitability, collapse of major banking and financial institutions, and rising unemployment which have now struck all countries and local communities across the world. No country has been immune from this crisis, including Australia, but the worst impacts are falling on poor nations and in Australia, the poorest and most vulnerable.

National Conference believes the current global economic crisis has arisen because of the dominance of a culture of greed and short-termism that rewarded speculation over long-term investment, and enriched a few at the expense of the many. This culture was nurtured and advanced by an extreme capitalist ideology of neoliberalism and free-market fundamentalism. The events of the past two years have demonstrated that without ethical values and appropriate government regulation, markets are incapable of building a fair, equitable and sustainable global economy. It has been demonstrated that financial markets are not always self-correcting and the government must never abdicate responsibility for maintaining economic stability and building a good society.

Conference supports the global response to the current economic crisis, led by social-democratic governments around the world. These responses have provided investment in nation building infrastructure, economic stimulus and have secured the banking and financial sector from further economic shockwaves, while minimising the worst impacts of the global recession on working people.

Conference applauds the Federal Labor Government for its early, decisive and effective action to protect the Australian economy, employment and communities from the worst effects of the crisis. In particular, Conference congratulates the Government for focusing its stimulus measures on investment in education infrastructure, social housing, home insulation, transport and the establishment of a National Broadband Network. These investments will generate employment opportunities, and social and economic benefits for many years to come.

Furthermore, this Conference welcomes Labor taking a leading role in international economic forums to promote reform of global financial regulation to ensure that financial markets play a constructive role in serving the long-term interests of societies, instead of undermining them.

Labor believes that:

• governments have a responsibility to intervene in the economy to address market failure; • government must assert its role as a market regulator on behalf of all citizens as the funder and provider of public goods; • governments must take responsibility for reform of the global financial system to strengthen supervision

and disclosure standards, and ensure that financial markets serve the long-term interests of societies;

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• governments of industrialised nations have a special responsibility to assist developing nations in coping

with the impact of the global financial crisis and continuing to work towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Review of Taxation Policy

Conference notes the ongoing analysis of taxation policy being undertaken by the Henry Review.

Our tax system belongs to the whole community. It must therefore embody the values and aspirations of the whole community.

Australia's global competitiveness depends on the skills and capacities of our workforce, and on the incentives for all Australians to participate in decent work and to undertake productive enterprise.

The Henry review must be judged on the capacity of government to implement progressive taxation policies based on a proper balance between business taxation, indirect taxation and personal tax while ensuring government has sufficient resources to build a good society.

Conference notes that Australia's tax to GDP ratio is low by international standards. In 2006 (Australia's 2006-07 financial year), the latest year for which comparable international data are available, Australia had the eighth lowest tax burden of the OECD countries.

Australia has typically ranked in the bottom third of countries since 1965. In 2006, Australia's tax to GDP ratio was 30.6% - below the OECD average of 35.9%.

Australia's taxes have consistently been about 5% of GDP less than the OECD average over the last 25 years

Given the need to ensure a strong emphasis on income redistribution, an effective social safety net and a broad provision of social services including the public provision of infrastructure, health care and education services, conference believes that any review must meet the needs of society and not the ideologically based demands for lower business taxation.

Labor is committed to sound public finances under a medium-term fiscal strategy.

There should be no reduction in company income tax revenues as the consequence of this would be cuts to public services, or higher tax payments by individuals.

Cuts to services - including to health services, education services, skills programs, and programs affecting public safety - would harm Australia's international competitiveness by reducing the current and future productivity of working Australians.

Conference opposes Australia joining an international "race to the bottom" on corporate tax.

Higher tax payments by individuals achieved by an increase in the GST would be regressive, with the biggest impact on those with no capacity for discretionary saving.

Under the present personal income tax schedule, the biggest disincentives to participate in productive employment fall on unemployed and under employed individuals seeking to make the transition into decent work. This is because withdrawal of social security payments combines with the income tax system, producing prohibitively high effective marginal tax rates over a wide range of low incomes. This is a first- order priority for reform.

Conference notes that significant challenges face future Labor governments following the Global Financial Crisis. Taxation policy must play a role to ensure that all parts of society, including business, contribute fairly to long-term economic recovery.

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Accordingly, in the event The Henry Review recommends a cut in company tax rates the government

response will be at least revenue neutral, i.e. any reduction in rates will only occur if fully offset by a broadening of the company tax base.

Australia-China Free Trade Agreement

Conference supports and values the continued deepening of the links between Australia and China and the expansion of a mutually beneficial trading relationship between our two countries.

Conference notes that China is faced with the challenge of balancing economic growth, social progress and environmental protection. Labor recognises that China's rise as a global economic power has seen the emergence of significant challenges that need to be addressed including adherence to ILO Core labour standards, human rights, health and safety standards and environmental concerns.

Labor will only pursue bilateral trade agreements, including with China, where they deliver real benefits to the Australian economy including increased employment opportunities and where they are consistent with the conference platform.

Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER)

Labor welcomes the promotion of regional cooperation among Pacific island states, in partnership with Australia and New Zealand. The promotion of sustainable and equitable development in the Pacific is the benchmark on which any future Pacific trade agreements will be measured. Before any future trade agreement is concluded with Pacific island states, a Labor Government will undertake, in consultation with New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Forum, a detailed study of the social, cultural, and environmental effects of that proposed agreement.

Labor sees the proposed PACER Plus agreement as an important component of our renewed commitment to partnership with the Pacific region. Labor acknowledges that wide consultation with stakeholders within the Pacific region will inform the substance of the proposed negotiations. In negotiating a PACER Plus agreement, Labor will seek an outcome that is in the best interests of both Australia and the people and countries of the Pacific. With this in mind, Labor endorses the strong capacity building measures and approach of the Government in developing the economic resilience of the Pacific.

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Chapter 3: Building a 21st century economy

The Future of Australian Manufacturing Conference recognises that manufacturing is critical to Australia. It accounts for 9 per cent of all jobs, 11 per cent of full-time jobs, 13 per cent of private sector jobs and 20 per cent of jobs held by blue collar workers.

It generates two-fifths of our exports and performs a third of our business R&D.

Conference acknowledges the efforts Labor in government has made to strengthen the sector. Conference recognises the value of initiatives such as Enterprise Connect, A New Car Plan for a Greener Future, the TCF innovation package, industry innovation councils, the Future Industries component of the Super Science Initiative, and programs to promote collaboration between researchers and industry.

Conference applauds the government's readiness to involve the labour movement in developing and implementing industry policy. Conference also acknowledges the efforts the government has made to stimulate economic activity and support jobs through the global recession.

Nevertheless, Conference notes that the manufacturing sector has been particularly hard hit by the downturn.

In the last twelve months, Australia has lost 77,000 manufacturing jobs. Core industries like steel and auto saw production fell by 50 per cent and 40 per cent respectively in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Many manufacturing workers have been forced to work shorter hours and use up their leave entitlements.

Conference therefore resolves to further develop Labor's strategy for manufacturing and its key sectors.

Labor will work with union and industry leaders to build a stronger, more prosperous manufacturing sector for the second decade of the twenty-first century. This will involve increasing the innovation capacity of firms and industries to lift productivity and build competitive advantage.

The manufacturing strategy will include:

• A renegotiation of the 2001 Australian Industry Participation National Framework with the states and territory governments to ensure Australian industry gets a fair go in tendering for work in both the public and private sector (this includes nation building infrastructure projects) and wins the contracts that maximises opportunity and supports jobs both at home and offshore

• working to increase funding for the Industry Capability Network and make sure the ICN, Austrade and Enterprise Connect cooperate to help Australian firms improve their capabilities and win business • ensuring that manufacturing firms working a four-day week have an incentive to retain rather then retrench their employees, and using training during downtime to help prepare for the recovery • recognising the importance the steel industry, with new Australian industry participation arrangements to

maximise the use of local steel in Australian projects, and a sectoral strategy to create new opportunities.

Labor is committed to a dialogue with stakeholders including industry and unions. That the centre of that dialogue will be an examination of how we answer a number of specific questions. How do we add more value to our natural resources before they leave our shores? How do we make manufacturing careers more attractive to bright young Australians? How do we improve training and work organisation to harness the creativity of the entire workforce? How do we nurture a new generation of high-tech, globally-focused manufacturing firms anchored here and winning international business in a wide range of industries including clean technology? And how do we prepare for the next boom and the competitive pressures created by an appreciating dollar?

National Platform and

Constitution 2009

Chapter 3: Building a 21st century economy Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 187

Australian Shipping

Conference notes the detrimental consequences that the lack of a positive Australian shipping policy has had on the Australian shipping industry over the last 13 years. The failure of Coalition Government Transport policy, which excluded shipping, ignored maritime infrastructure spending and failed to realise the benefits of an efficient and integrated freight transport market that takes advantage of Australia's large shipping volumes has led to a crisis in Australian shipping.

As the largest island nation in the world, with the 5th largest shipping task, this crisis is manifested in the continuing decline in the Australian merchant fleet, the over exploitation of the use of foreign ships and foreign crews in the Australian domestic shipping, and the failure to leverage any national interest benefit from our huge international commodity shipping task.

Conference notes and welcomes the initiatives of the Rudd Government that have the potential to revitalise Australian shipping, both its domestic and international dimensions. These initiatives include: establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry into Australian coastal shipping policy and regulation which has recommended a package of fiscal and regulatory reforms; the extension of the Fair Work Act to cover all shipping in Australian waters; gaining COAG support for creation of a single national safety regulator for the maritime sector; announcing a review of the Navigation Act; announcing work on a National Ports Strategy; and progress towards ratification of the International Labour Organisation Maritime Labour Convention.

The stage reached in the global economic cycle provides a window of opportunity for a nationally significant rebound of investment in shipping and related maritime infrastructure under modified policy and regulatory settings. The global availability of suitable shipping hardware, the bottoming of international freight rates and the re-emergence of global growth creates the ideal conditions for Government to act without delay to reform the policy environment to attract that investment in shipping.

Conference therefore urges the Government to respond to the Recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into shipping as an urgent priority and to ensure that any legislative change is expeditiously introduced into the Parliament. Conference also urges the Government to consider complementary workforce development measures and industry policy support measures in its shipping reform package aimed at maximising Australian employment and in ensuring domestic innovation and capital sources are properly focussed to underpin shipping business success. The ongoing threats for a further reduction to Australian coastal shipping underlies the urgency of this comprehensive Government response.

Conference notes that a revitalised Australian shipping industry has significant potential benefits in the areas such as employment, taxation, balance of payments benefits, Asia-Pacific regional development objectives, national security and naval defence capability, reduced freight transport contributions to greenhouse emissions, and to develop the maritime skills workforce that is essential to Australia's future operational port capacity, maritime safety and marine environment protection needs.

Transport Industry

Consistent with Labor's commitment to take an integrated, cross-modal approach to infrastructure development, Labor recognises the national economic and strategic significance of a nationally integrated freight transport system and integrated public transport systems involving all transport modes.

Labor particularly recognises the significance of integrating national transport infrastructure into global supply chains to create the basis for the seamless movement of imports and exports from point of origin to final destination, to support the nation's consumption, production and supply requirements. Labor recognises the necessity of having both shared and dedicated freight and public transport corridors, and accordingly, acknowledges the need for integrated planning, regulatory and infrastructure funding mechanisms to ensure that the demands of both the freight sector and public transport requirements are simultaneously met.

National Platform and

Constitution 2009

Chapter 3: Building a 21st century economy Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 188

Labor recognises that to meet the future freight task of the nation there will be increase in all forms of freight

transportation. This will continue to place pressure on urban and non-urban transport corridors. Labor recognises the challenge this creates in meeting its carbon pollution reduction targets, given that freight transport already contributes some 6% of the nation's greenhouse gases and accordingly, Labor commits to expedite efforts to encourage adoption of carbon reduction technologies in all transport modes as well as encourage adoption of modal mixes in freight transport sectors that deliver the best carbon pollution reduction outcomes and supports the implementation of sustainable and safe rates for workers in this sector.

Similarly, Labor recognises the importance of reducing emissions from private vehicle usage, and accordingly recognises the benefits that efficient and flexible public transport options provide, particularly for working people seeking to contribute to positive environmental goals and requiring effective alternatives to move to and from work with ease and at the same time reduce their vehicle/fuel usage and hence their carbon footprint. Labor recognises that provision of efficient public transport has significant equity implications by helping avoid social exclusion. Labor accepts that accessible, safe and affordable public transport system helps reduce inequality and disadvantage by improving health, economic and social opportunities and outcomes.

Labor undertakes to continue to further develop and implement the National Transport Plan utilising the work of Infrastructure Australia and the National Transport Commission in transparent processes providing for the participation of key stakeholders and which works closely with the industry superannuation funds and sovereign wealth funds to identify ways to harness the necessary capital resources to implement a nationally integrated transport plan for the nation.

We congratulate the National Transport Commission (NTC) for its work on the Safe Rates Inquiry and we support the NTC continuing to play a leadership role in the Australian transport industry.

Manufacturing for Export - Generic Medicines

This Conference calls on the Prime Minister and Cabinet to take all steps necessary to allow Australian based pharmaceutical companies to potentially employ thousands of workers in well paid, high skilled jobs manufacturing generic medicines for export.

Australian pharmaceutical companies are being prevented by Australian patent laws from bidding for $140 billion worth of global exports of medicines that come off patent in the next six years.

This Conference calls on the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party to provide the generic pharmaceutical industry the opportunity to bid for the $140 billion worth of manufacturing exports over the next six years - not with government subsidies but with Australian ingenuity, hard work and the potential of thousands of high skilled, high paying jobs of the future.

This Conference notes that the Draft National Platform specifically at Chapter 3, Building a 21st Century Economy and Chapter 6, Preparing Australia for the Health Needs of the Future, support the manufacture of generic medicines for export.

Book Industry

Labor believes that the Government should give priority to encouraging Australians to keep on buying Australian books and to maximising the economic, cultural and creative viability of Australian literature and Australian book industries.

Labor notes the Productivity Commission’s report, Parallel Imports of Books.

National Platform and

Constitution 2009

Chapter 3: Building a 21st century economy Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 189

Labor acknowledges the matters considered in the report include territorial copyright, arrangements in

comparable countries, consumer choice, pricing, education, the creative rights of authors and the jobs and economic wellbeing of Australians engaged in book industries.

Labor agrees to establish an ALP Working Group to consider the matters raised in the Productivity Commission’s report and ensure consistency with the priority expressed by this Conference..

The Working Group will provide a report to the National Executive for circulation to relevant Ministers within one month. The report will assist Ministers in the Government’s consideration of the Productivity Commission’s report.

Environment and labour standards in accommodation hotels

National Conference notes that the tourism industry and its employees face challenges from the combined effects of the Global Recession and dangerous climate change.

Employees in the tourism industry already experience low wages and poor career paths, and are now being asked by many employers in the industry to carry the costs of downturns in tourism through lower wages and "WorkChoices" agreements.

This National Conference believes workers in these jobs need the protections provided by Labor's Forward with Fairness policy. Labor's new laws offer hope for these workers to bargain for higher productivity and better jobs.

Additionally, the tourism industry and accommodation hotels in particular have significant exposure to risks associated with climate change, including:

• reliance on international travel which will increase in cost as fossil fuels become scarcer; • reliance on natural assets which may be threatened by climate change, including The Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu; and • exposure in coastal and low-lying areas to erosion, rising sea levels and increases in dramatic weather

events.

National Conference also notes that while some in the tourism industry have adopted "towel recycling" programs and self-accredited themselves as "green", there is not currently widespread adoption of practices to reduce the environmental impact of their activities.

This National Conference calls on the tourism industry to adopt more ethical approaches to its environmental and labour standards. Labor believes the Australian community expects corporate citizens to treat their workers fairly and to do everything reasonably possible to minimise their impact on the environment. Labor supports efforts to inform consumers about the labour and environment standards of accommodation hotels, including through the "First Star" initiative which encourages businesses to better reflect community expectations in relation to fair employment and action on climate change.

National Platform and

Constitution 2009

Chapter 3: Building a 21st century economy Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 190

Chapter 4: Delivering fairness for working families

Industrial awards Conference notes that Labor's new workplace system requires that modern awards be relevant and adjust to reflect community standards.

Conference also notes that there has been substantial workplace bargaining to achieve the adult rate of pay for 20 year old employees, wherever this did not already exist.

Conference acknowledges that as a result it is appropriate for Fair Work Australia to consider whether the adult rate of pay should to apply to 20 year olds and notes that this issue will be raised in a forthcoming test case.

Conference notes that the Labor Government will consult on the test case to be run before Fair Work Australia.

Workplace Death

In Australia the rate of work related deaths shows the enormity of the challenge to Australian Governments, industry and the community.

In Western Australia for example, it is currently estimated that a worker is killed at their workplace every 17 days, or around 21 work related deaths annually.

The family left behind often suffers silently with little or no practical support outside direct family units. This is particularly so for people whose extended family lives interstate or overseas and for those whose parent or partner worked in low income, low insured industries.

Labor will develop policies and programs to:

• offer timely practical advocacy and counselling assistance to families through bereavement; • ensure individuals and/or their family's basic needs are met; • supply advocacy services between third parties such as insurers, employers, coroners, and lawyers etc; • provide financial hardship relief; • give financial and practical educational support for children till they finish their education; and • assist surviving parent/partner to retrain or complete further studies.

WA mining sector

In Western Australia it is currently estimated that a worker is killed at their workplace every 17 days, or around 21 work related deaths annually. In the Western Australian resource sector there have been, in one company alone, 9 fatalities over 5 years, 5 of which have occurred in the past year. Numerous close calls and incidents show that many in the industry have not learned the lessons required to ensure workers are able to come home from work alive and uninjured.

Labor will establish a process of enquiry into the WA mining sector to ensure that the risks posed by working in the resource sector are mitigated and that adequate legislation and inspectorates are in place to ensure workers' safety is the paramount consideration for mining companies.

National Platform and

Constitution 2009

Chapter 4: Delivering fairness for working families Authorised by Karl Bitar, 5/9 Sydney Ave, Barton, ACT 2600 191

Workplace safety

Labor believes that all Australians have the right to go to work and come home safely. Yet around 8,000 Australians die and almost 700,000 Australians suffer serious injury, illness or disease each year as a consequence of their employment.

Labor believes that the health and safety and workers' compensation laws must deliver the highest standards of protection for all workers, and that the new national legislative framework must not leave any worker worse off.