Challenge Magazine

Precious time has been wasted in the climate culture wars. Climate change is real. Action is needed to limit global heating. The transition is here, and it is happening to us, not with us.

This is why we need a decision making table and a seat at it. We need an independent, fully resourced National Energy Transition Authority to build a plan. A statutory body, that will manage this transition – because encouragement and voluntary participation of private capital will not get us there.

Labor has been the party from and for the working class. There will be resistance politically to have an authority with teeth to drive this change in our collective interests. Together we can deliver justice for workers in this transition. We can have climate action and job creation.

Thanks to Steve Murphy, National Secretary of the AMWU - Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union for this piece from our 2022 Conference Edition.

We Need Climate Action & Job Creation Precious time has been wasted in the climate culture wars. Climate change is real. Action is needed to limit global heating.

This week Tanya Plibersek announced that the Albanese Labor Government would enact some of the toughest laws in generations to protect our environment.

The Minister for Environment and Water wrote about some of the issues facing Australia in our Conference Edition. You can check it out here 👇

Australia Is Now the Mammal Extinction Capital of the World After Labor’s election victory on 21 May, millions of progressives and true believers around Australia woke up with an extra spring in their step. I certainly did. After a wasted decade – after a decade of drift and neglect, where people lost faith in the power of government – the entire Labor...

"This victory is a tribute to the women who have led the campaign, and those who have shared their stories. This victory is a tribute to the unity and solidarity of our great trade union movement. This victory is a tribute to what can only be achieved when we elect progressive labor governments.

But I especially want to acknowledge, that this victory is only possible because people were willing to change minds and have their minds changed. It is one thing to be on the right side of history because you always agreed, but it is a testament to the human condition that those who didn’t immediately agree could engage generously, listen, learn, and move their position. They can join us in our campaign for a more just society."

We Didn’t Wait – the Campaign for Paid Family and Domestic Leave Natalie Lang Eight years on from launching the We Won’t Wait campaign to win 10 days Paid Family and domestic violence leave for all workers we are on the eve of winning this life saving entitlement with the looming passage of the Albanese Government’s historic legislation. In my 16 years as a u...

"We will need a united “Yes” campaign that captures your attention and the imagination of the Australian people.

Everyone has a part to play.

From sports clubs, schools, community groups and the union movement.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to get this done.

In the years to come, we will be able to measure the success of referendum not just by the number of people who vote for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, but by the lives that the Voice helps to improve."

Check out Linda Burney's contribution to the Challenge Magazine NSW Conference Special here 👇

From Garma to the Referendum The Hon. Linda Burney MP Amid the enormous amount of work that goes with being a new Minister, I’ve been doing a lot of reflection recently. Perhaps it’s the stage of life that I find myself. I’ve been in politics for a while now – From the walk for Reconciliation over the Sydney Harbour Bri...

"It is time to explore new approaches to regional development and community wealth building offers a nuanced, flexible approach where Governments can support local, ground up initiatives.

Over the last decade or so, Community Wealth Building (CWB) has been embraced in several jurisdictions in the UK and the USA by local authorities responsible for communities and sections of the population “left behind” by the economy. Communities with high rates of disadvantage and unemployment, combined with diminished local economic self-determination and capacity."

Check out Mick Veitch MLC in our Challenge Conference Edition discussing the need for a new approach to regional development.

Rebuilding our Regions with Community Wealth Building Mick Veitch MLC Regional development in NSW has been misused under the current NSW Coalition Government. Their outdated approach is either based on a “tax and spend” methodology or the distribution of funds derived from one off public asset sales, funds that are swiftly running out. In recent ti...

"We need to keep diversity and inclusion in mind whenever we plan activities and events. This isn’t difficult and the rewards are great – a Labor Party that truly reflects the lived experience of some 20% of Australians who have some form of disability.

Accessibility will make our party better, stronger, more diverse and representative. Please feel free to share this article, quote from it and make further suggestions. Most of all, please implement these suggestions and ask all members with disability to have a say about what affects them."

Making the ALP more accessible to people with disability We need to keep diversity and inclusion in mind whenever we plan activities and events.