COUNTRY LABOR DIALOGUE CONFERENCE EDITION JULY 2017 Jay Suvaal Fiona Phillips has been renominated for Gilmore and is running a strong grassroots campaign in her area Peter Alley s campaign launch for Lyne in 2016 It has been a busy year for Country Labor. We ve had a federal election, a state byelection, local government elections and a Country Conference. I d like to thank all our dedicated Party Members who have helped us achieve such fantastic results. Mike Kelly campaigning for Eden-Monaro in last year s Federal Election Country Labor has never been more important. Eight of the 14 most marginal electorates at the next state election are in Country Labor areas. Federally, Gilmore and Page are must win seats. Country Labor is critical to the formation of Labor Governments in both Macquarie Street and in Canberra. We will continue to stand up for the bush against the Sydney-centric Liberal National Government. Kaila Murnain, Pat Garcia, and Jenny Aitchison MP with the Wagga Wagga Branch I m looking forward to continuing to travel around the state working with branches as we head towards 2019. If there is anything I can do to assist your branch in campaigning or building local membership please contact me at jay@nswlabor.org.au or 1800 503 035. Pat Garcia and Jay Suvaal with the Queanbeyan Branch Justine Elliot MP campaigning for Richmond Jay Suvaal NSW COUNTRY ORGANISER
OUR COUNTY LABOR 2016 Federal Candidates Country Labor ran an energetic campaign across regional NSW, with some incredible candidates and strong results. Our campaign in Eden-Monaro bucked the trend, ending its status as a bellwether electorate for the first time since 1972. Meryl Swanson and Mike Kelly have joined Joel Fitzgibbon and Justine Elliot in the Federal Country Labor caucus. Kate Stewart PARKES These victories were joined by strong efforts around the country, as Labor candidates received massive swings towards them statewide. Country Labor candidates won these outcomes by campaigning on the issues that matter to country communities: more jobs, better education,better healthcare outcomes, and policies that include: High speed rail connections to rural communities Keeping penalty rates Tim Kurylowicz RIVERINA Making sure Medicare keeps working for us.
Justine Elliot RICHMOND Janelle Saffin PAGE David Ewings NEW ENGLAND Damien Wood COWPER Meryl Swanson PATERSON Jess Jennings CALARE Joel Fitzgibbon HUNTER Peter Alley LYNE Mike Kelly EDEN-MONARO Aoife Champion HUME Fiona Phillips GILMORE
ORANGE BY-ELECTION REPORT The Orange By-election saw the largest swings ever recorded in by-election history - all recorded against the Nationals. Our Country Labor candidate Bernard Fitzsimon did a fantastic job taking the fight up to the Nationals, campaigning on local jobs, local healthcare, stopping council amalgamations and supporting the greyhound industry. Luke Foley was a frequent visitor in the area, even holding a town hall in the small town of Molong, contributing to a massive 34% swing against the Nats. Congratulations and a big thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who helped out during the campaign and on Election Day. Here are some of the biggest swings against the Nationals in booths across Orange, after preferences had been distributed: BOOTH SWING AGAINST THE NATIONALS: Cumnock 60.1% Manildra Hall 58.3% Molong Hall 56.6% Mullion Creek Public 54.1%
2016 Country Labor Council Elections Last year Country Labor candidates across the state were elected to councils that have been conservative strongholds for decades. In a backlash against the Liberal agenda of privatising assets and forcibly amalgamating councils and thanks to the hard work of our candidates - Country Labor received strong swings towards it across the state. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SUCCESSFUL COUNTRY LABOR CANDIDATES COUNCIL Albury Broken Hill Byron Shire Cessnock Lismore Nambucca Port-Macquarie Hastings Shoalhaven Singleton Upper Hunter Wagga Wagga Wingecarribee SUCCESSFUL COUNCILLORS Darren Cameron Darriea Turley (Mayor) + Councillors Marion Browne, Jim Nolan, Branko Licul and Maureen Clark Paul Spooner, Jan Hackett Bob Pynsent (Mayor) + Councillors Mark Lyons, Jay Suvaal, Di Fitzgibbon, Melanie Dagg, Anne Sander, Darrin Gray and Anthony Burke Isaac Smith (Mayor) + Councillors Darlene Cook and Edwina Lloyd Susan Jenvey Peter Alley Annette Alldrick Tony Jarrett Josh Brown Dan Hayes and Vanessa Keenan Graham McLaughlin
Another Successful Country Conference The 2016 Country Labor Conference was a huge success, with hundreds of members and delegates in attendance. activists learned about the campaign strategies used to deliver great results in the last Federal election. State Opposition Leader Luke Foley spoke to conference on the morning of the Saturday, reaffirming State Labor s commitment to regional NSW. On Sunday, Federal frontbencher Anthony Albanese gave a rousing address to conference on the failings of the National Party and the responsibility of the Labor Party to take up the fight in the regions. The three-day conference commenced with a half-day Country Campaign Insight, where Country Labor members and The conference was also addressed by Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey and NSW Labor General Secretary Kaila Murnain.
TOWARDS 2019 On the Trail To win the next State and Federal Elections, we need to focus on our regional representation more than ever. Country Labor will continue to be active in recruiting and campaigning across the state. Country Labor candidates have been preselected in the important seats of Monaro and Gilmore. This has allowed Bryce Wilson and Fiona Phillips as much opportunity as possible to communicate with residents. Over the next two years, Country Labor will host events in every Liberal, National, and Green-held electorate across NSW - focused on recruiting new activists to our movement. Bryce Wilson started doorknocking in March - two years out from the State Election Our Party has always been based on our strong, active rankand-file membership, and Country Labor will be crucial in defeating the Liberals and Nationals. The Bill Bus in Gilmore Jay Suvaal, Kaila Murnain, Jenny Aitchison MP and Tara Moriarty at the New Members night in Broken Hill. Country Labor has committed to holding Recruit To Win events in every Liberal and National electorate Justine Elliot and Jenny Aitchison have collected 10,000 signatures calling on the NSW state government to restore funding to the Tweed Valley women s service. David Keegan with the Country Labor team for MidCoast Council, as part of September s Local Council Elections
2017 Eddie Graham Dinner With Special Guest Speaker Tony Burke MP Shadow minister for Environment and Water Multicultural Australia and the Arts WHEN August 12, 2017 at 6:30pm WHERE Royal Garden Restaurant 174 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga Wagga TICKETS www.trybooking.com/qvgl $75 Waged $55 Unwaged Ticket price includes dinner and a drink ENQUIRIES: 0403 878 442 Light on the Hill JOIN US FOR THE ANNUAL LIGHT ON THE HILL DINNER ON 23 SEPTEMBER 2017 Our special guest this year is the Hon Tanya Plibersek, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Education, Shadow Minster for Women and Member for Sydney. WHERE Bathurst Panthers Leagues Club 132 Piper St Bathurst, NSW 2795 WHEN September 23, 2017 6:30pm - 9:30pm www.countrylabor.com.au/ loth_17 Ask us about our special train package to Bathurst in commemoration of the 1917 Great Strike Do you have a story or a photo for Country Labor Dialogue? Email your story and photos to jay@nswlabor.org.au