Dear Fellow ALP member,
The purpose
of this ‘letter’ is to seek your support of my candidacy in the forthcoming elections for members of the NSW ALP Policy
Forum.
My
name is Ross Smith. I submitted a nomination for the NSW Policy Forum which has been
accepted. My policy statement submitted
as part of my nomination was –
“I believe:
-
Policy should be developed
in accordance with traditional Labor values to promote
Social Inclusion, equity of application, and universality of benefit to the Australian community. -
The function of Policy is to enhance the quality of life experienced by the Australian community and thus ensure the community’s well-being.
-
The focus of policy should be derived from the community’s knowledge
of unmet and emerging need within the community. -
The spirit of policy should not be influenced by fear, favour, personal allegiance, or vested interest.
-
Secure supply and access to food and housing, plus sanctity of life,
should underwrite all policy.”
I
actively believe in the Pledge on my ALP Ticket,
and its content. Without restricting its generality, my particular area of interest
is the pursuit of social justice and equality
in all areas of human endeavour.
My
nomination form was signed by ALP members
from the seats of Sydney, Willoughby, Wyong, The Entrance, Parramatta, Marrickville, Heffron, Oatley, Londonderry and Mt Druitt. My
nominators were drawn from the membership of both major factions within the NSW ALP.
I believe that advancement of the Aims and Objectives of the ALP should be of prime
importance to
the ALP membership, and should
not be endangered by the promotion
of factional interests.
I am a member of the Redfern Branch of the ALP, where
I have held the office of President and am currently the Treasurer. I am a longstanding Branch delegate to the Heffron State
Electorate Committee and the City of Sydney Local Government Committee.
I have served multiple terms as President of the City of Sydney Local Government
Committee.
I
am fully supportive
of the current expressed desire on the part of the NSW ALP to re-engage
with the Rank and File Branch membership. If achieved it can only serve to strengthen the Party.
I support
the drive to re-engage with the broader
community of NSW. Successful
re-engagement with the Community
would provide a means of enhancing the achievement of the ALP’s Aims
and Objectives, whilst enabling access to the community’s knowledge and concerns.
I
have served multiple
terms on the Boards of various Community
organisations in a variety of roles including Secretary, President and Treasurer over the last thirty years, and continue to do so. The areas of the comnunity served by these organisations include the Children,
Youth, Disabled, Aged and
Mental Health sectors,
plus the general
community. I continue to remain engaged with these
organisations.
I
have a particular interest in the Housing
sector. I was a founding member of the ginger group Labor
for Affordable Housing which was active prior to the Federal
Parliamentary Party creating the first shadow Ministry
for Housing, a position filled by Kim Carr.
I have been
involved .in the Public Housing sector for many years [I hold the belief that government
ownership of Housing stock is a legitimate
form of infrastructure investment that has the capacity to deliver benefit to all sectors of the community]. As part of this involvement I held one of the twelve seats
on the former NSW Public Housing Customer Council and hold a seat on the
current twelve member NSW Social Housing Tenant Advisory Committee resourced by
the NSW Government. I was involved in the conception and subsequent delivery of
the Anti-Privatisation campaign around Electricity and other government owned
infrastructure that culminated in a historic vote of support by the NSW ALP
membership at the State Conference. I still hold the belief that it is fit and
proper for the state to own and operate infrastructure that supplies benefit to
the people and community of NSW for the purposes of enhancing their quality of
life and wellbeing.
My
personal networks, both within the ALP and the Community sectors extend across
NSW. This keeps me in touch with the concerns of the community and the ALP
membership in the rural, regional and metropolitan areas of NSW.
I
respectfully ask that you support my candidacy in the forthcoming ballot for
the membership of the NSW ALP Policy Forum.
Ross
Smith