Leave a comment with your name underneath this post AND most importantly Join our Facebook Group to register your support before National Conference 2015! PLS Read On!
IMPORTANTLY: 'LIKE' our page at Facebook also to Register your Support: https://www.facebook.com/ALPequalanddemocratic?focus_composer=true
IMPORTANTLY: 'LIKE' our page at Facebook also to Register your Support: https://www.facebook.com/ALPequalanddemocratic?focus_composer=true
Dear Friends and Comrades;
For too long the ALP
has failed to find sufficient inspiration on the ‘big picture’ social welfare,
democratic and nation-building reforms it needs to implement in government as a
genuine movement of democratic socialism and social democracy.
Please find below a
‘minimum program’ I have developed in tandem with other ALP members in the hope of influencing debate leading up to
the July ALP National Conference.
Included are proposals
on tax and welfare reform, social insurance, environmental reform, a
‘democratic mixed economy’ and much, much more.
Not every proposal could be included because of reasons of space.
This ‘Minimum Program’
will be published at the 'For an Equal and Democratic Australia' Facebook-page as well; and there
you should also comment and leave your name in support of it. (see web address above)
Please also propose
motions in support of this program at your local branch, or your ALP student
club. Or you may belong to a ‘third
party organisation’ (eg: a welfare organisation, charity, student union or
other advocacy group). Motions of
support from these organisations are also welcome! If you successfully pass a motion in favour
of this document please leave a comment to that effect at the ALP Socialist
Left Forum Page – this URL particular: (not posted yet)
With enough support and wide enough distribution we may influence debate on the ALP National Platform – to be decided upon in 2015.
If you are a delegate we would especially be interested – pls let us know.
With enough support and wide enough distribution we may influence debate on the ALP National Platform – to be decided upon in 2015.
If you are a delegate we would especially be interested – pls let us know.
But we will keep on
campaigning after that also: to continue to build momentum for a genuinely
progressive Federal Labor Government for 2016 and onwards.
Again: if you support the
goals of this ‘minimum program’ please respond to this paper by ‘liking’ it at
our Facebook group – and that support will be noted for purposes of our campaign.
see: https://www.facebook.com/ALPequalanddemocratic?focus_composer=true
There are some changes
from the earlier version so you may like to read through first
As supporters of this Program we
endorse the incorporation of the following into the ALP Platform for
2015:
a)
ALP Core Mission:
We believe that part of the ALP’s core mission in government is to promote a
progressive accumulation of reforms -
for the purpose of improving fairness, democracy and equity; promotion of a
robust civil society characterised by informed and active citizenship and civil
rights and liberties (speech, association, assembly; continued universal and
equal suffrage; and basic industrial liberties); And preservation of the natural environment
upon which human survival itself depends
b)
Supporting Human Rights: We support the ‘core mission’ of pursuing ‘political’, ‘social’ and ‘economic’
citizenship; That includes the defence
of civil and democratic rights and liberties; the provision of social wage and
welfare rights; and finally the pursuit of a ‘democratic mixed economy’ via a plurality
of strategies –
c)
A Democratic Mixed Economy: We support variety of strategies for a ‘democratic
mixed economy’ - including a mixture of
public and co-operative ownership and control
(including but not necessarily limited to public ownership of critical
infrastructure and natural public monopolies), as well as mutualism,
co-determination and other related strategies; and also crucially including ‘democratic
collective capital formation ‘(that is democratically administered funds such
as superannuation, public pension funds, wage earners or citizens’ funds etc) nb: ‘collective capital formation’ was a
term used by Swedish social democrats) ,
d)
Expansion of social expenditure: We are committed to seeing an incoming ALP Federal
Government implement a progressive expansion of social investment and expenditure
– incorporating the social wage, social welfare state, collective consumption
and social insurance; and state-funded public infrastructure
e)
Expansion of Social Expenditure Detail: Specifically
we aspire for the ALP to increase sustained social expenditure in the realm of 2.5
per cent of GDP – or by approximately $40 billion in today’s terms (as of 2014)
– upon taking government, and more throughout
the following terms. (plus even more still if the Australian economy is in
danger of recession and stimulus is necessary; ) More specifically, we aspire to achieve
a Federal tax to GDP ratio of 30% over several consecutive terms of Labor government,
with a corresponding increase of social expenditure in diverse fields listed
elsewhere in this statement. (ie: see
article ‘g’) We understand the ALP cannot provide real progress regarding
social expenditure on a variety of fronts without such measures. On social welfare, we reject ‘giving with
one hand’ for the needy only to ‘take away with the other’.
f)
Specific Revenue Measures: To fund these new commitments we support the
following:
·
very significant
strategic and equitable rescission of superannuation concessions
·
expansion of the
Medicare Levy,
·
restoration of a
robust Mining Super Profits Tax
·
the
establishment of a progressively structured Aged Care Levy.
·
progressively-structured
tax reform elsewhere
Additional
measures might include crack-downs on corporate tax avoidance, taxes on ‘super
profits’ in areas like the banking sector, and a reduction in the rate of
dividend imputation.. A Federal Land Tax should
be considered but might infringe upon the revenue options for the States.
We also ask the Party to consider a moderate increase in Company Tax and
actions to ‘end the race to the bottom’ in corporate taxation which is leading
to greater and greater ‘corporate welfare’ globally. Other taxation measures
will be decided upon by any incoming Labor government – but the ‘bottom line’ is that
the total measures implemented must provide for the aforementioned increases in
social expenditure, and very significantly
add to rather than detract from the progressive nature of the overall tax and
spending mix.
g)
Specific social expenditure/infrastructure measures we support for implementation in the first term of
an incoming Federal Labor Government include:
·
Disability
Insurance,
·
a
progressively-funded National Aged Care
Insurance Scheme providing a broad range of high quality aged care services
for all those aged 65 and over with the need – and without forcing
disadvantaged and working class families to sell or take equity against the
family home to achieve the highest quality care;
·
Robust and
progressively applied increases in state school funding; including improvements
in funding formulae as proposed in Gonski;
·
provision of
comprehensive Medicare Dental – with a wide array of dental services provided
at minimal cost and promptly for pensioners and low income groups;
·
Completion of
the National Broadband Network – publicly owned and with Fibre to the Home
technology; as well as other public-funded and owned infrastructure in areas
such as transport, communications, water and energy;
·
full implementation
of ‘GP Super Clinics’;
·
greater public
support and funding for pure and applied scientific research via the CSIRO.
·
A review of
existing job network services; considering the possibility of re-consolidation
of a single provider in the public sector; And regardless of this ensuring an
emphasis on a more compassionate, patient and understanding approach to case
management; especially considering the special needs of the long term
unemployed, the under-employed, disability pensioners, those with differing
skill types and levels; and for older
job-seekers,
h)
Welfare Reform:
We are committed to the ALP increasing welfare payments in real terms across
the board upon re-taking government through more generous welfare
formulae. We reject the ‘blame the
victim’ and ‘blame the vulnerable’ mentality apparently promoted by the Abbott
government.
i)
Retirement Age:
We are committed to maintaining a retirement age of 65 instead of raising it to
67 or 70 as proposed by Abbott and previous Labor Governments. Indeed we are also open to the possibility of
reducing the retirement age below 65 into the future. Specifically we support reducing the
retirement age for those who have suffered physical debilitation as a
consequence of demanding work. (eg: manual labourers)
j)
More Welfare Reform: Again in the sphere of welfare in particular: we support an incoming ALP Federal
Government providing substantial
positive incentives and support for pensioners – including disability
and aged pensioners – to ‘return to work’ via community programs (eg: in aged
care, helping provide company and care for the vulnerable – unless
professionally deemed psychologically unsuited to such work) But we do not support ‘negative incentives’
or labour conscription of any kind for these people. We understand that many such people – for
instance the disabled – require flexibility which existing labour markets do
not provide. Again: we support
‘positive incentives’ and ‘flexible work’ without loss of pensions.
k)
Industrial/labour rights: We support a legislated real increase in the
minimum wage as well as pattern bargaining rights for unions. And we support effective subsidies for some
of the most exploited and underpaid workers (including in child care, cleaning,
aged care and elsewhere)– whether through direct subsidies, tax concessions,
enhanced social wage provision and other effective measures We also support the industrial rights and
liberties of workers; including a right to withdraw labour ‘in good faith’
(including political strike action), and including a right to secondary boycott
when ‘in good faith’ in solidarity with ‘industrially weak’ workers
l) Economic Democracy: We support the extension of democracy on the economic front, and for that purpose will support a stronger role for producers and consumers co-operatives in the Australian economy on both a large and a small scale. Specifically we support very significant but initially-capped aid to co-operatives via cheap credit, tax concessions and free advice/economic counselling - with co-operative enterprise supported in a variety of spheres, including credit unions, insurance, child care and aged care, manufacturing; as well as co-operative small and medium businesses. (for example in hospitality)
m)
Curricula for ‘active/critical citizenship’: We are committed to reform of school curricula for
the purposes of promoting ‘active and critical
citizenship’. Without bias, the point of
such reform would be to impart balanced and inclusive understandings of
political values, movements and ideas, and social interests. We believe active
and informed citizenship means a stronger pluralist democracy.
n)
On Higher Education:
·
We support restoration
and expansion of tertiary education funding; including for universities and the
TAFE sector; with an expansion of tertiary education placements on the basis of
an understanding of education as a modern social right, and not an exclusive
privilege.
·
We also support the
humanities and social sciences for the sake of effective pluralism in the Australian
public sphere. And we support provision for
tertiary academics’ participation as ‘public intellectuals’ and not only on the
basis of the bulk of published academic works.
·
Furthermore we
support progressive reform of the HECS system: reversing any fee deregulation,
and with real increases in the repayment threshold; and forgiveness of debts of
those who have a good reason for not
being able to benefit from the prior education. (eg: because of disability)
·
Gender equality:
Finally, here, we support equal participation, and on-average equal achievement
- between men and women in higher education, and greater participation and
opportunity for those from disadvantaged and working class families.
o)
Treaty:
We are committed to beginning formal dialogue with representatives from the
entire range of indigenous peoples with the aim of negotiating a Treaty. We support an incoming ALP government
initiating such a process in its first term.
p)
Environment:
We are committed to increasing the proportion of renewable energy sources so as
to achieve a real reduction of emissions even as the economy and population
grow.
Specifically we aspire to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by
25% below 2000 levels by 2025. To this
end we support large scale public investment in renewables, as well as generous
subsidies for lower income households to acquire micro-renewable energy
systems; and incentives for landlords to invest in micro-renewable energy. In
further environmental reforms we are committed to sustainable land use and
water management, achieving ‘world’s best practice’ in food production.
q)
Humanitarian Migration: We support a very significant expansion of
Australia’s humanitarian migrant intake – increased very significantly in real
and proportionate terms on top of what was proposed by the outgoing Rudd Labor
government. Additionally, we want for an
ALP government to pursue diplomatic channels to encourage other prosperous
countries in the region to also increase their humanitarian intake very
significantly. For asylum seekers we
support humane onshore community-based processing.
r)
ABC and SBS: We support continued funding of the ABC and
SBS – and the pursuit of ‘participatory media’ principles and strategies
through these channels. We support a
role for the ABC and SBS in pursuing an ‘authentic’ public sphere, and an
inclusive pluralism. (with the exception of not providing a platform for the
far right) And we support representative
‘popular’ participation on the ABC and SBS boards of management.
s) Public and Social Housing: We support very substantial investment in high quality public housing (facilitated through tied Federal grants to the States), and also social housing where it is more cost-effective - to increase supply, and hence also affordability. (combined with the necessary public investment in local infrastructure in emerging suburbs) Re-iterating from item ‘g’ –that means expansion of ( largely ‘non-clustered’) public housing stock to at least 10% of total stock over several terms of Labor Government
s) Public and Social Housing: We support very substantial investment in high quality public housing (facilitated through tied Federal grants to the States), and also social housing where it is more cost-effective - to increase supply, and hence also affordability. (combined with the necessary public investment in local infrastructure in emerging suburbs) Re-iterating from item ‘g’ –that means expansion of ( largely ‘non-clustered’) public housing stock to at least 10% of total stock over several terms of Labor Government
t)
Local Government:We
support a gradual re-working of the funding of local government – to ensure
local government is funded in an increasingly progressive way, and is less
dependent on ‘rates’ and ‘levies’ which do not take sufficient (or any) account
of ‘capacity to pay’. In that context we
also support additional Federal funding for poorer municipalities to improve
their capacity to invest in local infrastructure and services.
u)
Internal Reform:
We support internal democratic reform of the ALP; including a direct role for
union members in supporting particular policies and platform items; as well as
direct election for ALP National Conference delegates; actual adherence to
State and National Platforms; and a ‘mixed model’ for election of the Party
Leader which may include rank and file, Parliamentary Labor and trade union
components. In the same spirit we demand that both major factions (Left and
Right) – and the Party more broadly - equally share the work of achieving the
Affirmative Action goal of 40% women preselected for winnable seats.
v)
Public Sphere:
We also support the establishment of a ‘progressive public sphere’ in this
country, including ALP related forums, and policy and ideas conferences and
publications which are inclusive, authentic, progressive, and which accommodate
difficult debates.
w)
Strategic industry policy: We support an active industry policy aimed at the maintenance
of ‘strategic industries’ with ‘strategic capacities’ in Australia; including
through automotive production, shipping-construction and also defence
industries. (but not for export to
aggressor nations) Said industries can also involve high wage, high skill
labour. And there are a variety of potential models, including joint
multi-stakeholder co-operative-state ventures – involving workers, regions and
government.
x)
Multilateral
Disarmament and Peace: At the same time we support a policy of realistic
multilateral disarmament with the aim of freeing resources for purposes which
meaningfully improve peoples’ material; quality of life
y)
On Health Care: In addition to the aforementioned
implementation of comprehensive Medicare Dental and GP Super Clinics we also
support the following:
·
Also increase
investment in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to extend its coverage
·
Improve the rate
of Bulk Billing
·
Tighten means
tests for ‘Lifetime Health Cover’ in order to pay for the removal of penalties
for low income individuals (including pensioners) who let their policies lapse;
·
Also extend
Medicare to cover physio, optometry (including glasses or contact lenses),
speech therapy, podiatry, psychology; provision of hearing aids where
necessary; and also cosmetic surgery for those in extreme need (for instance as
a consequence of physical injury)
·
Improvement of
and substantial new investment in mental health services to ‘close the gap’
regarding the life expectancy of those with mental illness; as well as to
improve productivity and quality of life
z)
A Comprehensive Bill of Modern Human Rights: Finally: We support a comprehensive ‘Bill of Rights’ in this country,
supporting liberal and civic rights of suffrage, speech, assembly, association,
faith, conscience. As well we support ‘social rights’ including education and
health, a guaranteed minimum income; housing; access to communications and
information technology; access to transport; access to fulfilling employment
with a remission of exploitation; social
inclusion including opportunity for recreation and participatory citizenship;
respect and human dignity.
ADDENDUM: Further resources on top of what has been considered here might be accessed via reform of superannuation concessions as well - perhaps in the vicinity of $20 billion or more out of a pool of over $45 billion.. (taken from wealthy superannuants enjoying unfair tax breaks) But with over 400 people already supporting the original document it is too late to include this addendum as part of the official 'For an Equal and Democratic Australia' statement. Nonetheless the primary author urges policy makers and ALP National Conference delegates to take this ADDENDUM into consideration - as an aspiration ON TOP OF the existing call for progressive tax reform to enable a pool of $40 billion for social investment.
Furthermore the prime author of this document (Tristan Ewins) has also decided to support a significant increase in all welfare payments in addition to an increase in the minimum wage. This along with other proposals here must be committed to at National Conference. Poverty is a serious problem for the welfare-dependent and the working poor. Specifically I am now supporting an increase in welfare/minimum wage by a minimum $35/week - on top of existing indexation arrangements. And also changing the indexation arrangements for all pensions (including Sole Parents, student allowance, NewStart) - to match the Aged Pension and Disability Support Pension indexation provisions) This is modest enough not to break the Budget (assuming the tax reforms considered here), but significant enough to make a big difference in alleviating the extremes of poverty. (both for the welfare-dependent and the working poor) Though further income tax and other reform might also be necessary to impart the appropriate rise in disposable income and living standards for the working poor... Improving the social wage as considered here could also make a very big difference. (Again, though - it needs to be noted that this specific proposal was developed after the original document; Hence not all people who elected to support the broader document at our Facebook page did so with this specific proposal in mind)
ADDENDUM: Further resources on top of what has been considered here might be accessed via reform of superannuation concessions as well - perhaps in the vicinity of $20 billion or more out of a pool of over $45 billion.. (taken from wealthy superannuants enjoying unfair tax breaks) But with over 400 people already supporting the original document it is too late to include this addendum as part of the official 'For an Equal and Democratic Australia' statement. Nonetheless the primary author urges policy makers and ALP National Conference delegates to take this ADDENDUM into consideration - as an aspiration ON TOP OF the existing call for progressive tax reform to enable a pool of $40 billion for social investment.
Furthermore the prime author of this document (Tristan Ewins) has also decided to support a significant increase in all welfare payments in addition to an increase in the minimum wage. This along with other proposals here must be committed to at National Conference. Poverty is a serious problem for the welfare-dependent and the working poor. Specifically I am now supporting an increase in welfare/minimum wage by a minimum $35/week - on top of existing indexation arrangements. And also changing the indexation arrangements for all pensions (including Sole Parents, student allowance, NewStart) - to match the Aged Pension and Disability Support Pension indexation provisions) This is modest enough not to break the Budget (assuming the tax reforms considered here), but significant enough to make a big difference in alleviating the extremes of poverty. (both for the welfare-dependent and the working poor) Though further income tax and other reform might also be necessary to impart the appropriate rise in disposable income and living standards for the working poor... Improving the social wage as considered here could also make a very big difference. (Again, though - it needs to be noted that this specific proposal was developed after the original document; Hence not all people who elected to support the broader document at our Facebook page did so with this specific proposal in mind)