6 years ago
LAUNCH OF LABOR’S FAIR GO ACTION PLAN
THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay respects to their elders past and present and thank Aunty Donna for her acknowledgment
It’s a privilege to be speaking to you at the mighty Revesby Workers Club.
This place started out in the 1960’s as a one room club for the locals - formed partly because women weren’t allowed in pubs at the time.
Today it has grown beyond recognition but continues to put back into the community.
I particularly want to acknowledge my former colleague Daryl Melham for hosting us today; he has been associated with the Club for 40 years starting off as a barman in this very room and is now the President.
Today Bill and I and all our MPs, Senators our candidates, stand before you to talk about our Fair Go Action Plan.
Because in Australia the idea that all of us deserve a fair go – regardless of our background, gender, race, sexuality or religion;
…that idea is woven deeply into the fabric of this nation.
In many ways Sydney – our city - is the birthplace of the struggle for the fair go.
It’s where stonemasons first went on strike to win the 8 hour day, where union members formed the labour leagues that were the forerunner of our Party and where the hungry mile radicalised a generation of wharfies.
It was the launchpad of the struggle for recognition and land rights for First Australians; the place from which activists took off to Canberra to establish the tent embassy.
It was the home of the suffragists and where the 78’ers began their long march for the rights of LGBTIQ Australians.
Sydney has seen rent strikes, green bans and peace marches.
This history of activism and courage is proof of our commitment to the fair go.
Proof that when we fight for the fair go, everyone wins.
For five years Australians have been short changed by a political and economic system that delivers for the top end of town, but not for ordinary working Australians.
Well Labor has a plan to change that.
We have a plan to build a strong economy that works for everyone.
We'll do it by working with unions and employers to create good jobs with decent wages and conditions.
Secure well paid jobs that let you plan for the future, raise a family, buy a home – not as your seventh investment property, but as a place you can call your own
Because we know that when more people have that security and that confidence they can spend more of what they earn and create jobs for others.
We’ll stand up for working people.
We’ll make sure that as businesses thrive, they share their success with their workforce.
Under the Liberals, wages have been stagnant for too long.
Australian workers deserve to have their penalty rates restored.
Australian workers deserve a pay rise.
We’ll rebuild our health system after the years of Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison cuts – so when you’re sick your Medicare card once again counts more than your credit card.
And we’ll invest in the next generation, including preschool for 3 and 4 year olds, so that Australian children get 15 years of world class schooling, and affordable and excellent TAFE and universities at the end of it. We want every child to have every chance to flourish, no matter where they’re born or who their parents are.
And we’ll always back our public schools, and public TAFE.
Because for parents to really have a choice, we need to make sure the public school down the road has the same excellent teaching of reading, maths and science; the same one on one attention for students; the same help for those falling behind; the same challenges for the gifted and talented; the same opportunity to learn arts and languages as the poshest school on Sydney Harbour.
We’ll protect our precious environment, and we’ll lower pollution and power prices by driving investment in renewables.
We cannot have a fair go in this country while our First Australians do not have access to the same opportunities or chances in life as non-Indigenous Australians.
So we’ll close the gap – and we’ll also respect the request of First Nations people in the Uluru Statement from the Heart for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a Makaratta Commission.
And we’ll do all that, with the MPs and candidates behind me – and with the support of all of you in this room.
In particular Chris Gambian who we’ve already heard from and Sam Crosby who will speak later – two terrific additions to our team in Canberra.
I see this week that the Libs are trying to attract new members by offering discounts on chocolate, beer and boots.
Well you know what motivated me to join the Labor party – not discounts on beer – but the same thing that motivated all of you: a deep and abiding belief in fairness and justice for all.
It’s that passion and that desire that will carry us forward, because we’re not just grabbing at a little more for ourselves: we’re fighting for our friends and workmates, our partners and children, our parents and grandparents; and the strangers we’ll never know who need our help.
Fixing the damage of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison years is going to take a lot of work but only Labor has the plan and the commitment to return the fair go to the heart of our nation.
And only Labor has a leader who has spent his entire working life standing up for working people.
I’ve had the privilege to serve as Bill’s Deputy for five years.
For five years he has led a united and stable team.
He is out there every day making the case for the fair go.
We’re now going to see a short video with Bill introducing our Fair Go Action Plan.
It’s my pleasure to introduce the next Labor Prime Minister: Bill Shorten.
ENDS
It’s a privilege to be speaking to you at the mighty Revesby Workers Club.
This place started out in the 1960’s as a one room club for the locals - formed partly because women weren’t allowed in pubs at the time.
Today it has grown beyond recognition but continues to put back into the community.
I particularly want to acknowledge my former colleague Daryl Melham for hosting us today; he has been associated with the Club for 40 years starting off as a barman in this very room and is now the President.
Today Bill and I and all our MPs, Senators our candidates, stand before you to talk about our Fair Go Action Plan.
Because in Australia the idea that all of us deserve a fair go – regardless of our background, gender, race, sexuality or religion;
…that idea is woven deeply into the fabric of this nation.
In many ways Sydney – our city - is the birthplace of the struggle for the fair go.
It’s where stonemasons first went on strike to win the 8 hour day, where union members formed the labour leagues that were the forerunner of our Party and where the hungry mile radicalised a generation of wharfies.
It was the launchpad of the struggle for recognition and land rights for First Australians; the place from which activists took off to Canberra to establish the tent embassy.
It was the home of the suffragists and where the 78’ers began their long march for the rights of LGBTIQ Australians.
Sydney has seen rent strikes, green bans and peace marches.
This history of activism and courage is proof of our commitment to the fair go.
Proof that when we fight for the fair go, everyone wins.
For five years Australians have been short changed by a political and economic system that delivers for the top end of town, but not for ordinary working Australians.
Well Labor has a plan to change that.
We have a plan to build a strong economy that works for everyone.
We'll do it by working with unions and employers to create good jobs with decent wages and conditions.
Secure well paid jobs that let you plan for the future, raise a family, buy a home – not as your seventh investment property, but as a place you can call your own
Because we know that when more people have that security and that confidence they can spend more of what they earn and create jobs for others.
We’ll stand up for working people.
We’ll make sure that as businesses thrive, they share their success with their workforce.
Under the Liberals, wages have been stagnant for too long.
Australian workers deserve to have their penalty rates restored.
Australian workers deserve a pay rise.
We’ll rebuild our health system after the years of Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison cuts – so when you’re sick your Medicare card once again counts more than your credit card.
And we’ll invest in the next generation, including preschool for 3 and 4 year olds, so that Australian children get 15 years of world class schooling, and affordable and excellent TAFE and universities at the end of it. We want every child to have every chance to flourish, no matter where they’re born or who their parents are.
And we’ll always back our public schools, and public TAFE.
Because for parents to really have a choice, we need to make sure the public school down the road has the same excellent teaching of reading, maths and science; the same one on one attention for students; the same help for those falling behind; the same challenges for the gifted and talented; the same opportunity to learn arts and languages as the poshest school on Sydney Harbour.
We’ll protect our precious environment, and we’ll lower pollution and power prices by driving investment in renewables.
We cannot have a fair go in this country while our First Australians do not have access to the same opportunities or chances in life as non-Indigenous Australians.
So we’ll close the gap – and we’ll also respect the request of First Nations people in the Uluru Statement from the Heart for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a Makaratta Commission.
And we’ll do all that, with the MPs and candidates behind me – and with the support of all of you in this room.
In particular Chris Gambian who we’ve already heard from and Sam Crosby who will speak later – two terrific additions to our team in Canberra.
I see this week that the Libs are trying to attract new members by offering discounts on chocolate, beer and boots.
Well you know what motivated me to join the Labor party – not discounts on beer – but the same thing that motivated all of you: a deep and abiding belief in fairness and justice for all.
It’s that passion and that desire that will carry us forward, because we’re not just grabbing at a little more for ourselves: we’re fighting for our friends and workmates, our partners and children, our parents and grandparents; and the strangers we’ll never know who need our help.
Fixing the damage of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison years is going to take a lot of work but only Labor has the plan and the commitment to return the fair go to the heart of our nation.
And only Labor has a leader who has spent his entire working life standing up for working people.
I’ve had the privilege to serve as Bill’s Deputy for five years.
For five years he has led a united and stable team.
He is out there every day making the case for the fair go.
We’re now going to see a short video with Bill introducing our Fair Go Action Plan.
It’s my pleasure to introduce the next Labor Prime Minister: Bill Shorten.
ENDS