Last weekend I was dragged up to Sydney to go to the Progressive Australia conference, organised by the Chifley Research Centre. Its a sad reflection on Labor party culture over the past few years that I came away rather enthused and excited for I had been able to spend two days absorbed by debates about values, policies and campaigning.
It was something that we have not really had for a good decade.
- Values matter & forcing our leaders to talk about values in progressive frames is vital
- That politics is changing - the GFC has destroyed the pale centrist politics of the 1990s
- This means that the campaigning model championed by the NSW Right has to be jettisoned in favour of a grassroots campaigning model
- Change that we need is cultural - rule changes may be needed, but we should not wait, or depend on the benevolence of national conference. Change can start in your neighbourhood and your local community.
If Labor has the courage to embrace with the community organising model it means taking a chance. A chance that the powers that be won't have the complete control they are used to. A chance that we may be leaders who will be advocates and fearless progressive champions.
Voters, I think, are looking for some guts from progressive leaders. Not crazy brave guts, but smart guts. Leaders who are prepared to show they have values, and will fight for those values.
Videos from the Progressive Labor conference will be up in the coming weeks. Keep an eye open on www.progressiveaustralia.org.au.
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