2015-11-11
Alex Schlotzer (National Secretary)
Over the course of three days, members from across Australia gathered in Adelaide to discuss and explore big issues facing our country like the future of work, constitutional reform, women's rights and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
And members gathered to discuss big internal topics like accepting a ministerial position in a federal minority government, successful fundraising, the work of our Members of Parliament, the transitioning to a new national structure and future Parliamentary leadership changes. Plus the entire suite of 45 Australian Greens policies were reviewed, updated and adopted. A massive undertaking when you consider nearly 1,000 amendments were made and adopted by consensus.
Three important statements were adopted covering the Trans-Pacific Partnership, recognising Palestine and the important climate change conference in Paris. And for the first time ever, the Australian Greens invited non-members to participate and get involved. With over 300 people participating over three days, it showed that people want to do politics differently.
This year's National Conference was also very different to the ones we've had in the past. Since adopting a new constitution at the National Conference in 2014, the Party has been transitioning to a new national structure. A structure which will make the organisation more responsive and more dynamic to meet the challenges of a Party with surging support and members. This new structure has enabled the National Conference to consider broader political issues and to really engage in the meaningful discourses needed to continue growing and putting pressure on the old parties.
To get to this point it has taken the leadership of the new National Council and the Party's Office Bearers. And thanks have to go to outgoing Deputy Co-convenor, Samantha Ratnam, Deputy Secretary, Nathan Daniell and Deputy Treasurer, Dave Nelson. But we want to give a warm welcome to the new team of Office Bearers: Penny Allman-Payne & Giz Watson, Co-convenors; Les Mallett, Deputy Convenor; Holly Kemp, Deputy Secretary; Liam Farrelly, Treasurer and Chris Maltby, Deputy Treasurer.
It's incredibly rewarding listening to the passionate discussions following the day's workshops and panels. But behind every great conference is an awesome team of people putting it together and making it run smoothly. There were so many volunteers from the SA Greens it will be difficult to name them all without risking missing someone.