Qld Democratic Labour Party

Democratic Labour Party of Australia

Queensland Branch

Pro-Life Pro-State Pro-Nation

POLICY DOCUMENT

(Approved DLP Queensland State Conference - 30/8/2015)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OBJECTIVES

PRINCIPLES

JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES

CONSTITUTIONAL AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

WESTMINSTER SYSTEM AND PRINCIPLES

ACCOUNTABILITY

PARLIAMENTARY TERMS

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICERS AND JOURNALISTS

HEINER AFFAIR

TRIAL BY JURY

GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

FORCED LOCAL GOVERNMENT MERGERS

HEALTH

ABORTION

CLONING AND EMBRYONIC EXPERIMENTS

EUTHANASIA

CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

QUEENSLAND PUBLIC HOSPITALS

FORCED MEDICATION OF INDIVIDUALS

FORCED MEDICATION OF THE POPULATION

LIFE, MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

CHILD CARE

PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

INFRASTRUCTURE

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

RAIL TRANSPORT

BUS AND FERRY TRANSPORT

QUEENSLAND DEVELOPMENT BANK

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

FARMING

BEES

DAIRY INDUSTRY

WOOL and GRAIN

SUGAR

SHOOTING, HUNTING, PEST AND VERMIN CONTROL

PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES

COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING

THE ENVIRONMENT

LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS

THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

WILD RIVERS LEGISLATION

WATER

THE USE OF RECYCLED SEWAGE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

THE HOMELESS

OBJECTIVES

OUR POLITICAL PURPOSE

To establish, under Almighty God, the political, legal, social and economic foundations for a just, free and democratic society and

for a self-reliant and secure Queensland.

To decentralise, to the maximum extent practicable, all tiers of government as well as the ownership, management and control of

the means of production, distribution and exchange.

To protect the fundamental and inalienable rights of each person - to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, freedom of conscience,

to equality before the law and natural justice, to ownership of property, to work and to earn a livelihood that enhances the dignity,

status and security of every person.

To protect the welfare of the less privileged.

To promote the principles, objectives and policies of the Democratic Labour Party, through education, organisation and the selection of suitable

candidates in federal, state and municipal elections.

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PRINCIPLES

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Queensland Branch holds dear the Judeo-Christian Principles on which Queensland

was founded and built.

The DLP holds with the sacredness of human life, from conception to natural death, as the fundamental basis

for all human rights.

The DLP believes in the preservation of our state and its constitution and the Westminster system that has

served and built this state since its foundation.

The Democratic Labour Party supports the family and believes that not only is it the backbone of any community but is the best provider

of most welfare services.

The DLP is a decentralist party and believes that the delivery of public services should be left to the smallest unit of government possible.

The DLP supports workers, small business, farmers and responsible trade unions while opposing monopolies and cartels including collaborating duopolies.

The Core Principles of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Queensland Branch are:

1. Defending Judeo-Christian heritage and values

2. Supporting Australian national interest

3. Supporting fair treatment of employees, farmers and small business people

4. Defending human life

5. Supporting families

6. Supporting economic, social and political decentralization

7. Promoting politicians supporting public service

8. Supporting equal opportunity

9. Supporting the DLP mixed economy model

10. Promoting DLP subsidiarity

11. Promoting DLP distributism

12. Supporting Australian manufacturing and industry

13. Assisting Australian small enterprise

14. Supporting the integration of refugees and migrants

15. Supporting outdoor recreational activities without unnecessary limitations and restrictions

16. Supporting freedom of religious activities without unnecessary limitations and restrictions

17. Supporting the poor and oppressed

18. Supporting stewardship of the environment

19. Supporting strong, self-reliant defence forces

20. Fostering direct and representative democracy

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JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES

The DLP (Democratic Labour Party) states that it follows Judeo-Christian Principles, and even bases its Policies upon these. These include:

The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes

To love one another - which is expressed in service to others in its many forms

All life is to be respected however human life is the highest form of life on Earth and is to be protected at all stages of development.

The sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman for life.

The sanctity of work as participation in the co-creation between man and God.

The right to religious freedom and freedom of speech.

Human Beings are stewards of the Earth who use its natural resources responsibly.

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CONSTITUTIONAL AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Queensland Branch holds the following positions on Constitutional and Democratic Rights:

Unreserved support of the right of individuals and political groups to protest peacefully and persistently on any issue, but without resort to

violence against persons or property, without obstructing the public and without interfering with the civil and political rights of others.

Support for constitutional reforms enshrining the principles of binding citizens’ initiative referendum (CIR) and recall, when petitioned by an

appropriate percentage of eligible voters distributed across each of the relevant electoral wards, districts or divisions correspondent

with each tier of government in Australia.

The immediate restoration of all State upper houses with full upper house powers, including the power to block supply and utilising proportional

representation.

The removal of fixed terms in all State parliaments as these are not in keeping with the Westminster System of government and remove or weaken

the position of a State upper house and that of the State governor.

All amendments of any State Constitution to be made subject to referendum and only after BOTH sides of the debate are clearly given to the public.

The distribution of all electoral material, including how-to-vote cards, is to be prohibited at all polling booths on the day of the election.

The electoral commission will ensure that the names and relative political parties of prospective candidates will be clearly and securely positioned

in polling booths on election day.

The cost, to taxpayers, of by-elections arising from the voluntary retirement or resignation of a sitting parliamentarian (except for reasons of

ill health, family hardship and the like), to be recouped to the greatest extent practicable from the accumulated financial entitlements the

parliamentarian would otherwise receive from the public purse.

A referendum to give voters the final say on whether their taxes should be used for the public funding of election campaigns.

Any public funding of candidates in elections should be based on the number of votes received without a minimum percentage requirement.

A ban on the use of public funds for member or party-political campaigns to influence voter opinion on contentious legislative proposals

or for monitoring the mood of the electorate with surveys conducted for the member’s or party-political benefit.

Withdrawal of all tax-based funding and applicable tax deductions to community organisations which channel funds, facilities or personnel

into political campaigns intended to influence the direction of election outcomes.

Opposition to any Federal Government encroachment on the Federal constitutional responsibilities of the States.

Support for the States to carry out their Federal constitutional responsibilities through a guaranteed proportion of federally collected tax

revenues and returning to the States the right to levy and tax which was ceded to the Federal government during World War Two.

Opposition to any attempt to increase or broaden any Goods and Services Tax (GST) until it can be assured that there is a fairer distribution

of the revenue collected in each State or Territory based on the actual amount collected in each of those States or Territories.

Setting up a joint Federal-State Royal Commission of inquiry to decentralize and devolve political power in Australia and to ascertain the

share of tax revenue required for each of the existing Federal, State and Local Government bodies in Australia in order to provide

effective service to the people of Australia.

Resistance to politically motivated tampering with the Constitution that puts at risk the historical checks and balances so wisely placed

by the people on the power of politicians and which preserve the sovereignty of the people of both the Commonwealth and of the States.

Support for the constitutional reasons for holding a double dissolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Granting Statehood to Australian Territories or to other applicants to be subject to a binding referendum. If approved the new States will have

constitutional equality with existing States in all regards.

Amending the external affairs powers in the Federal Constitution to ensure that the Federal Parliament and not the Executive of the

Federal Government must ratify international treaties or conventions or similar instruments before they are signed, ratified or adopted into

law, or before they may be relied on, as binding, in any judgment, decree, order or sentence of an Australian court.

Support for an audit of all previously approved international treaties, conventions or similar instruments so that these can be approved or

rejected by the Federal Parliament.

Vigilance against proposals for a Bill of Rights where support for the adoption of such proposals would serve to undermine the historical checks

, balances and safeguards our Constitution provides for limiting the power of governments over the people.

Removal of the powers of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, and other such agencies of social or ideological control, to conduct

investigations that intrude into the lives of citizens who have committed no crime.

Opposition to the introduction of an "Australia Card" or similar compulsory identification systems that would give government officials or outside

agencies increased capacity, through electronic or other means, for anti-democratic surveillance of our citizens.

Vigilance and opposition to the monitoring of those who rely on social welfare payments and similar payments through the use of government debit cards.

The support for food vouchers for those who rely on welfare payments or those who have difficulty in managing their finances due to some addiction

or habit.

Support for the intent of the Federal Constitution that the Senate is the house of the Federal Parliament representing the States and Territories

rather than party-political agendas.

Legislating to stop the alienation of public lands bordering waterfronts and access roads or thoroughfares where licence or lease arrangements

have precluded the right of the public to enter, remain upon and enjoy the amenities of such lands.

Recognition and protection of the Australian flag to be enshrined in the Australian Constitution.

WESTMINSTER SYSTEM AND PRINCIPLES

The DLP supports the Westminster System of government, principles and conventions as the basis for good government in Queensland. The DLP notes

that the existing Queensland Constitution is no longer fully based upon the Westminster System and the reserve powers of the Queensland Governor,

parliamentary speaker and auditor-general have been diminished for party-political reasons.

ACCOUNTABILITY

For the purpose of maintaining accountability of the State government, the parliamentary opposition, the media and the legal fraternity in

Queensland the DLP is calling for the re-establishment of an Upper House in principle. The current system has poorly served Queensland and

Queenslanders. Decisions are passed unchecked through the Lower house with no Upper House acting as a House of Review. This has led to a multitude

of unpopular bills being implemented against the wishes of the electorate. The upper house would not only assist in curtailing corruption, it

would add representation and adequate funding to the less populated areas of Queensland.

PARLIAMENTARY TERMS

The DLP will not support the introduction of a fixed term parliament in Queensland as it against the principles of the Westminster system and

limits the power of the people to remove an unpopular or dysfunctional government. Fixed term parliaments have not served the other states well

and will only work to weaken the position of our governor. The DLP supports non-fixed terms of parliament up to a maximum of four years.

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT

MEDIA OFFICERS AND JOURNALISTS

The DLP supports the limitation of the Queensland Government numbers of media officers and journalists working for the Queensland Government and

Queensland Departments and other Queensland Government bodies to a number necessary to convey legitimate business only and not to manipulate the

media and public perceptions.

HEINER AFFAIR

The DLP supports a Queensland based full commission of enquiry into the Heiner Affair with broad terms of Reference and relevant compensation to

those most affected.

TRIAL BY JURY

The DLP supports the principle of an accused person’s right to a trial by Jury and rejects any attempt to undermine this principle. The DLP

supports the Queensland Law Society’s position on trial by Jury which requires unanimous jury conviction and which warns against trial by judges

alone.

GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

The Democratic Labour Party would ensure that where practical all government procurements should be aimed at locally manufactured goods.

The Democratic Labour Party would ensure that all police and emergency services and departmental uniforms and, where possible, protective garments

including footwear, headwear, ammunition and webbing are Australian manufactured and purchased from local distributors.

Heavy manufactured items such as rail stock, buses and ferries, as well as cars, trucks, earth-moving equipment, etc. should always be acquired

locally from Australian manufacturers, if not in Queensland then in other parts of Australia, to help build and maintain both jobs and expertise

and reduce both state and foreign debt.

State stores should be maintained and encouraged at all times to give preferences to locally manufactured goods and services, to help reduce our

current debt burden and improve our employment prospects.

FORCED LOCAL GOVERNMENT MERGERS

The DLP is against the forced amalgamation of local government authorities. It believes this will lead to the loss of jobs, increased rates and

charges and a decline in the ability to provide services rapidly together with a loss of local identity for many of the amalgamated residents.

The cost of the amalgamations will be felt by the taxpayers of Queensland for many years.

The DLP supports the de-amalgamation of merged local government authorities where no binding referenda took place beforehand.

The DLP will ensure that any future amalgamation of local government authorities will only take place after binding referenda are held in each

of the affected local government areas.

HEALTH

The DLP acknowledges that the Federal Constitution requires health services to be provided by State and, where applicable, Territorial governments.

The DLP supports the Federal government providing additional financial and other assistance to the States provided all of the States have been fully

consulted and are in agreement with the provided assistance.

ABORTION

The DLP undertakes all democratic means to persuade legislators and voters for the protection and care of the born and unborn through policies

enshrined in law.

Queensland, at least in principle, states that the life of the child in the womb is worthy of protection. This, however, largely applies to

situations of criminal assault of a pregnant mother and the subsequent death of that unborn child.

Legal protection of the life of the child in the womb does not apply to abortions. In Queensland there are currently large numbers of abortions

of healthy unborn babies being performed in hospitals and medical clinics. The DLP supports the tightening of abortion laws in Queensland in order

to protect all unborn babies.

In the meantime, the DLP understands that unexpected pregnancy may be perceived by some women as a time of crisis. We therefore propose that

unbiased counselling, medical (including an ultrasound of the unborn baby), spiritual and material assistance be made available for women

in these circumstances, with such care to be provided by government funding.

The DLP recommends legislation to have fathers included in any decision making process regarding the lives of their unborn children. The DLP

suggests that fathers have access to counselling and other services during this time.

Until such time as abortion laws are tightened, the DLP further recommends legislation requiring the signatures of both parents in agreement

before an abortion can be performed.

The DLP strongly supports the State funding of adoption of unwanted children into caring families as an alternative to abortion. The DLP will

work with like-minded organizations to meet this goal and to defray costs.

The DLP supports the establishment at Federal, State and Territory levels of an office of Advocate for the Unborn Child with all the functions,

powers and duties necessary to promote and protect the life of the unborn, to afford legal voice or representation in all pertinent forums,

to investigate impending medical and other threats to the child's natural right to be born and to instigate prosecutions for offences under

relevant laws.

The DLP proposes a permanent embargo on all tax funding for procured abortions.

The DLP strongly recommends the enforcement of the criminal law with respect to illegally procured abortions through the prosecution of medical

professionals who violate human life.

CLONING AND EMBRYONIC EXPERIMENTS

While the DLP is pro-life, we do not believe that this entitles anyone to artificially create and destroy life, albeit for the most seemingly

altruistic purposes.

The DLP opposes therapeutic and reproductive cloning as they reduce the clone to a commodity. The right to life does not include the right to

own or buy a life and does not accept the creation of a human life for the acquisition of body parts. The DLP seeks to overturn any legislation

in Queensland which supports cloning.

In line with its pro-life stance, the DLP opposes any experimentation on human embryos and proposes a permanent embargo on all tax funding for

destructive human embryo experiments and the artificial reproduction of human life for any utilitarian end.

The DLP acknowledges the wonderful results obtained through use of adult stem cells in the treatment of patients and is very much aware that

Queensland researchers lead the world in this field. We would therefore actively encourage greater funding for continued research and development

in the use of adult stem cells to assist Queenslanders and people world-wide instead of using embryonic stem cells.

EUTHANASIA

The DLP opposes euthanasia as it is the deliberate intent to kill another, whether through lethal injection, ingestion of a drug or poison, or

failure to provide the minimum necessities of life such as nutrition or hydration.

The DLP believes that euthanasia proposes the elimination of a person in distress in preference to eliminating the distress of the person.

The DLP instead supports the use of hospice and palliative care for the seriously ill, dying and disabled.

The DLP supports the funding of palliative care units and hospices by government and other agencies. It believes that any donations by individuals

or businesses or other agencies for palliative care units and hospices should be tax deductable.

The DLP’s concern is not to preserve life at any cost however. The withdrawal of burdensome or futile treatments, or the administration of

relieving medication, which may, as a secondary effect, hasten death, is not euthanasia. It is therefore recognized as not being within the domain

of this statement.

The DLP strongly recommends the enforcement of the criminal law with respect to euthanasia through the prosecution of medical professionals who

violate human life.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

The DLP opposed the closure of the Royal Children’s Hospital on the north-side of Brisbane. It believes that Brisbane requires at least two

Children’s Hospitals. These should be located on the north-side and the south-side of Brisbane for the convenience of parents and emergency

service vehicles and as a back up to each other in the case of over-crowding, local disasters or super bugs.

QUEENSLAND PUBLIC HOSPITALS

The DLP supports management decentralisation of Queensland hospitals through the use of hospital boards. It particularly supports hospital boards

for regional and rural hospitals in order to remove centralised control from Brisbane.

The DLP believes each hospital board must have a chief executive officer drawn from the Queensland Public Service appointed by the Health Minister

to ensure proper financial accountability and reporting.

The DLP would support the returning of revenues raised from tobacco and gambling into the health system provided it does not impact adversely on

local sporting and community clubs or other worthy uses.

The use of labour hire companies to manage and control public hospitals is costing our youth jobs. Young nursing graduates fail to gain positions

with these firms, (through lack of experience) while our full time nursing staff continue to age, leaving our state with an impending disaster.

Our youth should be able to gain employment in regional hospitals and not have to travel interstate to gain experience because of public system

failure to properly manage our hospitals.

FORCED MEDICATION OF INDIVIDUALS

The DLP accepts that many medically diagnosed conditions require the taking of prescribed medications by willing and unwilling recipients for the

safety of the general public.

The DLP acknowledges there will be objections to forced medication based on recognised belief systems. However it believes the safety of the

community and the life of patients override these objections.

FORCED MEDICATION OF THE POPULATION

The DLP stands against forced medication of the general population (for example, the introduction of fluoride into Queensland/Australian waterways).

The DLP is calling for the halting of the introduction of fluoride into Queensland/Australian waterways until such times as a binding people’s

referendum on the matter is held. The people of Queensland need to be informed of all the facts on this matter before introduction is considered

and a referendum held.

The DLP opposes any laws which would prevent citizens from drinking filtered rainwater.

LIFE, MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

The DLP Queensland Branch:

Supports legislative measures that will uphold and protect the inalienable and fundamental rights of every person - to life, to the essential

liberties of conscience, to equal treatment under the law, to the ownership of property and to a livelihood that enhances the dignity and security

of each person, to care in sickness and old age.

Unequivocally supports legislation that will preserve and protect marriage as the voluntary union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all

others, in a commitment for life.

Opposes legislative or administrative measures that undermine or degrade marriage by conferring on homosexual, lesbian or trans-sexual pairings any

form of legal recognition of their relationships as equivalent to marriage

Supports the abolition of the Family Court of Australia, exposure of its destructive ideology and its harm done to children through easy divorce and

the court-instigated break-up of their families and rescission of all court rulings that serve to undermine marriage.

Supports the restoration of the principle, in legislation covering matrimonial disputes, that "just cause" be established before a claim for "relief"

through divorce can be granted in any court of law.

The DLP believes that women should have a true choice about whether to work at home or to go outside the home engaging in paid employment. A real

choice would mean that women should not be forced into paid work because of financial necessity.

Supports the statutory recognition of the principle that no child should be conceived to be born and reared deliberately deprived of a mother or

father as in the cases of single women, lesbians and homosexual couples accessing artificial reproduction technologies, including IVF and surrogacy

or adoption overseas or within Australia.

Supports an acknowledgement in all legislation affecting families of the need to preserve and protect the institution of marriage and of the need to

maintain the moral, social, legal and economic support of the traditional family unit as the most effective (including cost-effective) means to

safeguard children from the harm of exploitation, violence, pornography, drugs and crime.

Upholds the traditional family as the ideal for all to aspire to. This is not to condemn others who may find themselves in other family models

through no fault of their own. We admire and support single parents, for example, and recognize their particular needs and difficulties in raising

children alone.

Supports more effective State and Federal legislation to control the display and distribution of video and internet pornography and violence, with

particular regard to the foremost consideration in all cases - the need to protect children from harm.

Firmly opposes the sexualisation of children, particularly young girls. This includes the marketing and sale of clothing items, make-up and other

accessories in imitation of alluring adult and teenage fashion.

CHILD CARE

The DLP recognizes that parents who choose to provide childcare for their own children face financial discrimination by government, as opposed to

families who choose to outsource their childcare, usually to day care centres.

The DLP believes that the best carers for children are their parents, particularly up to school age. We advocate child-care benefits be paid directly

to parents to prevent financial discrimination against those parents choosing to care for their own children at home.

The DLP believes a reorganization of the tax system (including income-splitting for example) would go some way to providing financial fairness when

parents choose to provide childcare for their own children.

The DLP supports the introduction of a means-tested Early Education Care Benefit. This benefit would provide a direct cash payment to parents, thus

giving them a true choice about the type of care they wish to provide for their children. It would see an end to the financial discrimination

between parenting styles and provide social recognition of the job undertaken by parents and other family members at home.

The DLP recognizes that unwaged child care provided by parents and other family members (often grandparents) contributes to the well-being and care

for children and to the welfare of a stable society.

PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

The DLP believes that certain Queensland owned essential services and public assets are of such importance to our national and defence interests

that they should be owned by the State government on behalf of the people.

These include: Railways

Power generation and distribution

Water and Dams

Ports

The DLP will do all it can to ensure all essential services and public assets are in public hands.

The DLP does not support economic rationalism and the liberal capitalist model of economics which has an agenda of privatising essential services

and public assets. The DLP will put a halt to the selloff of essential services and public assets in this state.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The DLP will work to reduce to a minimum the use of public-private partnerships that are not only taxing our current population by way of tolls,

but will continue to tax the next generation with only the concerns of their shareholders in mind. We understand on rare occasions this may be

the only way to achieve needed infrastructure but we totally reject the current use of public-private partnerships as the preferred method.

The DLP agrees that existing road and bridge tolls should remain in public-private partnerships until the debt is repaid and it agrees a reasonable

designated financial return should be provided to businesses and shareholders.

The Democratic Labour Party would return to long term infrastructure planning for a minimum of twenty years by the Queensland government for cost

effective and future provision of essential services and public assets.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The Democratic Labour Party believes that public transport should play a greater part in Queensland in the years ahead.

Public transport is seen as an essential service for Queenslanders and should guaranteed by the government of the day to be safe, convenient,

environmentally friendly and efficiently run.

The DLP believes in the cross-subsidisation of non-profitable elements of public transport by profitable elements of public transport.

The DLP opposes the national competition policy in principle in all areas including public transport.

RAIL TRANSPORT

The DLP would work at achieving the following:

A rail network suitable for national defence and for national emergency situations.

The greater use of passenger and freight rail transport in Queensland by its citizens and businesses.

The greater use of rail transport to prolong the life of existing roads and highways.

The re-instatement of rail corridors to semi-rural and rural areas, to extend the public freight and passenger transport system so as to provide

viable alternatives to using roads and highways.

The provision of extra urban railway stations for the purpose of increasing the usage of rail transport to and from work.

Increased free parking at public transport interchange points to increase the usage of such transport systems and ease congestion in and out of key

areas.

Better integration of the bus-rail system to ease traffic congestion and provide a cheaper, faster and more attractive alternative to commuters

than the use of the family car.

An integrated transport system where projects, including river tunnels, bridges and highways, take into account the need for an extended public

rail system and adequately plan to allow for the addition of the services if required.

BUS AND FERRY TRANSPORT

The DLP believes that local councils have the right and, in many cases the responsibility, to operate their own bus and ferry services in

competition with or in place of private bus and ferry companies in order that all citizens in the towns, cities and shires under their control

can be provided with low-cost, regular and efficient transport services.

The DLP supports a policy of expanding ferry services, similar to the current “City Cats” service in Brisbane, to service outlying suburbs and

other areas.

QUEENSLAND DEVELOPMENT BANK

The Queensland Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling for the creation of a Queensland development bank as a statutory body.

Its primary role would be to provide a source of funding for infrastructure spending by the State government, while removing the need for the

State government to have to go to foreign markets to seek funding.

Other roles would be to minimise borrowing costs, to lower interest rates and to obtain finance from within Australia for Queensland private

enterprise projects. This could be expanded to later fund development of new industries throughout Queensland.

The bank that is proposed would be established similar in principle to the previous Australian Development Bank.

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

The DLP recognises the valuable and important role played in Queensland by those industries which create and maintain the vital necessities by

which we live in our society. These include all agricultural spheres of activity, which takes in our food production, but also includes the

production of the basic ingredients for medicines and other life-supporting necessities, such as building materials and clothing, alongside the

production of energy. By definition, this naturally includes the Fishing and other Maritime industries.

It also includes the Mining industry, and these lead out to all associated industries, of which the DLP recognises to be the whole basis of our

economy and lifestyle.

The DLP believes each primary industry should have its own independent voice to represent their industry members, in consultation with the State

government, to ensure the long-term survival and viability of each industry, for the benefit of Queensland and Australia.

FARMING

By definition, this includes the production of all basic food groups before modification by secondary industries such as canneries, mills, etc.

It incorporates the production of all plant-based food groups, as well as the breeding and subsequent production of Poultry, Marine and Animal based

commodities.

The DLP supports, in principle, the concept of the “family farm”.

The DLP opposes the deregulation of farming industries as it has been detrimental to the rural sector in Queensland and has displaced many rural

families from their land.

The DLP supports the Queensland government having a role in marketing and selling farm produce through the use of Queensland government boards.

The DLP will oppose the extension of foreign ownership of Queensland farming land and, where possible, fund the repurchasing of Queensland farming

land by Australian citizens.

BEES

The world shortage of bees has sent shockwaves around the world and Australia is doing its part to re-populate countries around the world with a

valuable supply of bees.

The DLP supports commercial bee-keeping, whether on public or private lands, for all types of bees.

The DLP would also encourage native bees to be used for commercial purposes.

The DLP supports the Department of Primary Industries conducting research into bee diseases and parasites.

DAIRY INDUSTRY

The DLP will regulate the Dairy industry through a Milk Board, with both industry and government representatives. Marketing and sale of dairy

products should be done via this board or a subsidiary, to ensure that all dairy farmers get equal opportunity to markets, and consumers pay the

same for dairy products, regardless of which outlets on-sell the product.

WOOL AND GRAIN

The DLP would re-establish the Wool and Grain Boards and review their operational structures, so as to make them viable and run on sound principles.

SUGAR

The DLP would re-establish a Sugarcane Board to market and sell sugar production.

SHOOTING, HUNTING,

PEST AND VERMIN CONTROL

SHOOTING

The DLP recognises that shooting is a foundation sport of the Olympic movement and supports shooting as a legitimate sport from club level to

elite level, including Olympic, World and Commonwealth levels. It supports all disciplines of shooting being included at elite levels.

The DLP recognises that shooting is a martial art and as such has many benefits for participants.

The DLP supports shooting in all disciplines as an optional school sport for Secondary students in Queensland.

The DLP supports the removal of law-abiding, licensed fire-arm owners from the

“Crim Trac” data base used by Australian authorities for tracking criminals.

The DLP supports the existing laws licensing fire-arm owners and storage of fire-arms but opposes any move to centrally store fire arms.

HUNTING

The DLP supports hunting for personal food use by licensed fire-arm users with the permission of rural and regional land owners. Deer, rabbit, hare,

duck, quail, kangaroo, wallaby and crocodile can be taken for personal food use.

The DLP would support the Queensland government authorising the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) to administer licenses to hunt,

annual bag limits, hunting seasons, sustainable numbers, training for hunting, food preparation and protection of endangered species.

The DLP supports the Queensland government funding the SSAA to enable it to carry out the administration of hunting for food. Annual reports would

be provided by the SSAA to the Queensland government.

PEST AND VERMIN CONTROL

The DLP would work with the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) to control native and introduced pest and vermin.

The DLP supports the culling of pests and vermin by licensed fire-arm owners with the permission of rural and regional land owners.

The DLP supports the culling of pests and vermin from national/state parks by licenced fire-arm owners working with park rangers.

The DLP supports the SSAA “Farm Assist Program” to cull and control native and introduced pests and vermin in rural and regional areas for rural

and regional land owners.

The DLP supports the culling of wild dogs, wild pigs, wild cats, foxes, dingoes, crows, poisonous snakes and crocodiles which can threaten farm

animals and personal safety in rural and regional areas.

The DLP believes the control of pests and vermin will assist our eco-system and the preservation and protection of our flora and fauna in Queensland.

PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES

The DLP supports the increased protection of our native flora and fauna by the controlled relocation of specimens and individuals as is carried

out to some extent already. However, when developers are given the approval for land clearance of native bushland, then we should allow for the

safe removal and relocation of, not just the animal varieties, but also of the plant varieties. It is currently illegal for the removal of native

ferns and orchids from these cleared areas and many are becoming endangered or extinct as a result, which could easily be rectified by authorised

persons being allowed to relocate them to ensure their viability.

COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING

COMMERCIAL FISHING

The DLP values the fishing industry.

The DLP would support commercial fishing for small business through its proposed Queensland Development Bank.

The DLP would restructure the Great Barrier Reef marine park authority by the inclusion of meaningful representation from both the commercial and

recreational fishing associations to ensure the management of the resource in the best interest of all groups.

The DLP would encourage the increased establishment of Aqua-Farming, by which the strain on native populations would be eased, especially if such

places were open for fisher-folk to take home their “catch”. This outlet for their goods would also boost Tourism in these areas.

The DLP is concerned about the introduction of fluoride in our waterways and is calling on an enquiry to the damage that the runoff would interfere

with the breeding of fish in our bay areas.

RECREATIONAL FISHING

The DLP encourages family friendly activities like that of fishing, and rejects any governments ban on these activities. We do recognise the need for

some zones to be clear of fishing pressures to enable suitable natural breeding of native species, but we also ask for common sense to prevail.

The DLP would also re-examine the current green (or no go) zones in Moreton Bay and other areas. Recreational fishing creates jobs and brings money

into these areas while strengthening our small business communities. We do not accept that restricting families from recreational fishing in the

exclusion zones will or could affect fish numbers in those areas. The idea that a parent and child with a fishing line could fish out these areas

is nonsense. To safeguard this, we advocate for the better policing of “Bag-Limits” on all aquatic species in all waterways to ensure that some

individuals do not get away with “excessive” and “undersize” catches, or even “banned” species.

THE ENVIRONMENT

The Queensland DLP supports a sound environmental policy based on common sense that can be summed up in the following statement “Clean food, clean

water, and clean air” and the reduction of waste. Further the DLP supports the concept of a system of National and State Parks; but not to expand

to the extent that this jeopardise food production and would cause Australia to become net importer of food.

The Queensland DLP is against any form of carbon emissions trade schemes (ETS). We believe in a sensible approach to reducing carbon not a direct

tax on fixed and lower income earners.

LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS

Liquefied Natural Gas (sometimes referred to as Compressed Natural Gas) is a natural commodity, currently being sold to overseas markets at very low

rates, as opposed to Liquefied Petroleum Gas which is a by-product of petroleum processing.

The DLP would also encourage every avenue of investigation into the outlet of our Natural Gas (LNG instead of LPG) at filling stations as a fuel

source for vehicles to further reduce pollutants, and which can be utilised without any further modification by vehicles already converted for gas

consumption. This would increase our economic returns within the state while caring for our environment at the same time.

The DLP would ensure that the price of Australian LNG would not be artificially inflated for the domestic market through the adoption of

international retail prices.

THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

The DLP supports the creation and development of a Queensland based Ethanol industry which will create jobs and will assist in providing fuel

self-sufficiency while making a positive contribution to reduce pollution.

The DLP would encourage the use of local ethanol fuels for government vehicles.

WILD RIVERS LEGISLATION

The Queensland Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is against the removal of rights from the local indigenous people in those regions to be economically

self-sufficient through the use of the river systems known as the “Wild Rivers” of Queensland.

The DLP will work closely with the Northern Land Council to determine how the rivers can best be used by the local indigenous people and all

Queenslanders.

WATER

Water and the guaranteed safe supply thereof, is a crucial role of government and should never be placed in private hands. The Democratic Labour Party

would fight against any government move that proposed such an irresponsible course of action.

Freshwater resources are an essential component of the Earth's hydrosphere and an indispensable part of all terrestrial ecosystems. The freshwater

environment is characterised by the hydrological cycle, including floods and droughts, which in some regions have become more extreme and dramatic in

their consequences.

Water is needed in all aspects of life. The general objective is to make certain that adequate supplies of water of good quality are maintained for

the entire population, while preserving the hydrological, biological and chemical functions of ecosystems, adapting human activities within the

capacity limits of nature and combating vectors of water-related diseases.

The multi-sectoral nature of water resources development in the context of socio-economic development must be recognised, as well as the

multi-interest utilisation of water resources for water supply and sanitation, agriculture, industry, urban development, hydropower generation,

inland fisheries, transportation, recreation, low and flat lands management and other activities. Rational water utilisation schemes for the

development of surface and underground water-supply sources and other potential sources have to be supported by concurrent water conservation

and wastage minimization measures. Priority, however, must be accorded to flood prevention and control measures, as well as sedimentation control,

where required.

In the case of trans-boundary water resources, there is a need for the States to formulate water resources strategies, prepare water resources action

programmes and consider, where appropriate, the harmonisation of those strategies and action programmes.

The following program areas are proposed for the freshwater sector:

(a) Integrated water resources development and management;

(b) Water resources assessment;

(d) Drinking-water supply and sanitation;

(e) Water and sustainable urban development;

(f) Water for sustainable food production and rural development;

(g) Impacts of natural climatic cycles on water resources.

The DLP will fight to ensure that Water, the Water Catchment facilities, and all Water-grid systems remain under a Government Department, and not

sold off to Private Enterprises.

The DLP will also oppose the “National Competition Policy” which encourages privatisation of water supplies.

The DLP believes in the continued expansion and integration of our water supplies through management of catchment capabilities and grid networking

of such. This involves the increase of dam and weir sites, improvements, repairs and upgrades to existing sites where required, networking of these together in a water-grid system, and improving the maintenance and management of these systems, including suitable “de-silting” programs. The additional costs of de-silting the catchment facilities (dams and

weirs) would be offset by the sale of the silt as “clean fill” for developments and gardens.

The DLP supports diverting some “Large-scale Rainfall Events” via this grid system to ensure greater water storage in areas of lesser rainfalls for

improved viability of Industries in those areas, being of both Primary and Secondary in industry nature. This diversion of Flood waters would also

have the added advantage of reducing the siltation and chemical damage to our Great Barrier Reef, as well as our magnificent bays and coastlines,

keeping them in better health and condition for our constituents. The increased permanent water in semi-arid areas would also improve rainfall in

those areas, and having the added advantage of increasing our percentage of arable land for food production, both for local and overseas markets,

but also having the extra bonus of providing for our unique and distinctive native flora and fauna.

The DLP believes in the construction and use of dams throughout Queensland for flood mitigation, storage of water for community consumption, business

and rural use and, where applicable, for hydro-electrical power generation.

The DLP recognises that not every creek or river should be dammed, as some species of fish require naturally running waterways for breeding, and that

these need to be protected.

The DLP believes in the seeking and implementing of efficient and workable fish-ladders on all dams and weirs, so that the native species of fish can

continue to do their valuable work in maintaining the waterways, both above and below these constructs.

The DLP will not impose taxes on run-off water collected in tanks, earthen dams, and such, both rurally and domestically, for the consumption by

humans and animals, being of both domestic and native kind.

The DLP’s Water Policy also supports, as a use of the water reserves, sustainable fishing for the purpose of acquiring food for the table. This

entails consulting with the largest (by numbers) organisations representing food fishers. “Commercially viable” freshwater supplies of fish would

also allay the pressure on saltwater species to cater for the table of the consumer.

The DLP will also introduce state-wide programs for the control and removal of introduced fish species that have proven detrimental to our waterways,

for example carp and tilapia. The fish, thus removed, could be sold in commercial outlets, or utilised for fertiliser production.

The DLP will ensure the release and/or re-release of native fingerlings to waterways to re-establish native fish populations for the purpose of

restoring the natural balance and health of the waterways, as well as providing a source of recreational fishing, being for both food and fun, alongside other recreational facilities, with subsequent tourism benefits to local economies.

The DLP believes that projects like the “Ord River Project” could easily be implemented in Queensland with similar benefits to our state economy and

subsequent employment opportunities.

The DLP, believing in decentralisation at the lowest appropriate level, will delegate water resources management to local authorities.

The DLP will review existing data-collection networks and assess their adequacy, including those that provide real-time data for flood, drought

and severe weather forecasting, and then seek to improve areas of inefficiency.

The DLP will ensure that alternatives to current water catchment methods would be properly investigated, and viable options implemented – especially

those giving environmental and cost benefits.

The DLP would also investigate such things as the “66% Policy” on the Brisbane

River, where twice the water used by the SE corner of Qld is released into Moreton

Bay, supposedly for the “Wetlands”, which it never services, as it only runs out to sea.

The Democratic Labour Party also believes in greater transparency of Government Departments regarding their financial commitments and current

projects on water matters.

The DLP is concerned that over ninety percent (90%) of the fluorides being added to the nation’s drinking water will eventually end up in our

waterways, dams and into our coastal waters. The DLP’s considered opinion is that this runoff will have a significant impact on the breeding

capabilities of our fish species. We are already noticing sex-changes in species like the oyster and mutation of some fish species in some rivers

as a result of our medications and fertilisers. The DLP also believe that fluoride runoff will also have a detrimental effect on the Great Barrier

Reef and other water ecosystems. Thus we would initiate an unbiased study on these effects, and push for following the recommendations of such a

study.

THE USE OF RECYCLED SEWAGE

The DLP supports efforts to secure water for Australia’s growing population with additional dams and desalination plants thoughtfully located;

however the DLP does not support using recycled sewage water for drinking purposes due to potential health risks; especially when systems can

breakdown or someone forgets/neglects to do their job properly.

The DLP believes the current recycled sewage system should be used primarily for industry and agriculture and not be added to our main catchment

areas. Any excess production should be used to fill select low usage, hard-to-fill dams like the Atkinson and Clarendon dams in the Brisbane Valley. This would have the benefit of also allowing for controlled conditions for the long-term study of the effects of recycled water on aquatic plant and fish species. This would allow the government to continue its breeding programme of the lung fish there and this may be extended to breeding many other native species for the release back into other waterways. This would have the added benefit of catering to the recreational industry of fishing, boating and other family/environmentally friendly business and activities, not just locally, but in the other waterways as well.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science and technology is an integral part of modern society. The Democratic Labour Party of Australia (DLP) Science Policy supports the growth of

science and technology in Australia to benefit all Australians. The DLP will continue its traditional support and promote:

The growth of Antarctic science, Australia’s Antarctic bases and further the research done there.

The growth & improved funding and de-politicisation of the CSIRO. The CSIRO will help to improve the efficiency of Australian industries through

innovative research without being tied to predetermined industry outcomes, which promotes bad science. Allowing the CSIRO to produce scientifically informative videos, as was done for the General Public a few decades ago, could encourage young Australians to take up science as a career. The DLP by improved funding will encourage the CSIRO through greater self-management of its own affairs to help the industries both in the city and on the land to prosper.

The growth and improved funding of the DSTO (Defence Science and Technology Organisation).

Increased funding for science and technology research in Australian Universities with a proviso that the lead persons in a funded research project

must be Australian Citizens and residing in Australia.

Astronomical research – increased funding for facilities and research in Australia, in Australia’s part of Antarctica and in overseas facilities

in which Australia owns a share.

The Australian Space Research Program in order to sponsor the growth of Space Industries and other high tech industries.

Increased research in nuclear fusion to provide energy.

The encouragement of Science Education at Primary, Secondary, and University Levels.

The use in the production of power of Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear Fission and when available Fusion, and alternatives sources such as solar and

wind using technologies.

The DLP supports the improvement of communications and internet services access for all Australians whether in the city or the bush.

EDUCATION

The DLP supports and has adopted the following three principles of education: 1. Principle One - The Primary Mission

"The primary mission of schooling is to form men and women, who, in tomorrow's world, will be able to give the best of themselves for the good of

society and to take his or her place in the community."

2. Principle Two - A Duty

"Schooling is a child's duty to him/herself and to society, and society's duty to itself and its children.

3. Principle Three - Subsidiarily

"The principle of subsidiarily is the social doctrine that responsibility and authority reside at the lowest appropriate level, and that higher

governance is subordinate to lower."

The DLP in Queensland supports the following policies in line with those principles:

The DLP believes in a fair and equitable education system, free from political interference.

The DLP supports an education system based on the promotion of competence appropriate for the age and status of each student in a range of skills,

including numeracy, literacy, social and civic participation, health skills and knowledge and an informed appreciation of the religious, moral and

ethical codes to which the mainstream community adheres.

The DLP acknowledges the responsibility of all Queensland Governments to provide for, and contribute towards, the education of all school-age

Queenslanders, regardless of who owns the schools that they attend and the government support for all Queensland school students should be

reflective of student need and not the proprietorship of the educational institution.

The DLP believes in Per capita voucher funding for all schooling to ensure a just distribution of taxes levied and allocated for education,

to safeguard the inalienable right of parents to choose, without financial penalty, the kind of education or moral upbringing their children

shall receive and to give parents an effective veto over school policy and curriculum decisions that infringe parental standards and values.

The DLP supports educational diversity through voucher-based funding for schools and other centres of learning to promote greater localisation

of education institutions and their administrations and to provide avenues for the development of education-based cooperatives managed by the

people most directly concerned with the process and outcomes of education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels - the parents, the teachers

and, in later years, the students themselves.

The DLP believes Federal funding for the education of students attending non-government schools should be based on an equitable distribution

that counteracts the gross imbalance in current State funding, which advantages wealthy parents using better-financed government schools at

the expense of struggling parents exercising their fundamental right to choose non-government (in most cases less well-financed) schools for

their children.

The DLP holds the view that a school setting is the appropriate place in which to educate our school-age children, but, if for good, well thought

out reasons, parents choose to “Home School” their children for any period of time, then the DLP believes that the State Government and its

Education Department should work from a premise of “how can we best assist home-schooling parents to effectively educate their children?” rather

than working from a premise of “how can we best encourage home-schooling parents to return their children back to a school setting?”.

The DLP supports higher the education deferred payments scheme with full tax deductibility of contributions when deferred payments are met.

The DLP would consolidate all tertiary living allowance arrangements such as Austudy, Abstudy and the living allowance components of all other

government-sponsored scholarship schemes into a means-tested Universal Living Allowance to assist all Australian students engaged in tertiary

studies.

The DLP would reorder State and Federal funding priorities in tertiary education to promote increased enrolments in TAFE courses offering

applied professional training and trades apprenticeships as preferred career paths for school leavers.

The DLP strongly supports “compulsory student unionism” in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as it applied to the lawful activities of

democratic student communities.

The DLP supports a statutory Institute of Teachers (modelled on statutory bodies governing the conduct and practice of the legal, medical and

other professions), with power to register or deregister teachers and to protect parents and students through legal enforcement of the ethical

standards of the profession.

The DLP supports the reintroduction of a suitable phonics program as the main method of teaching reading in Queensland.

The DLP believes Queensland's autonomous teacher training colleges should be responsible for creating programmes for teacher training. These would

be approved by and supervised by Queensland's Education Department in order to ensure that the emphasis in teacher-training courses be placed upon

the practical aspects of teaching.

The DLP supports freedom of information in education in order that the Queensland public might be permitted to freely access, distribute and comment

upon the various documents that are used by Queensland schools and teachers to prepare units of work for our Queensland children.

The DLP believes in maintaining and extending the current school chaplain programme, and would push for the re-introduction of religious instructions

in schools with an “opt out” option for parents who wished to do so.

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Queensland Branch supports the replacement in Queensland of the current system of 0% external assessment and 100%

internal assessment with external subject examinations which would count for at least 50% towards senior school assessment. The results of these

examinations would be used to scale each school’s internal assessment results.

COMMUNITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

The DLP recognises the valuable work done by such agencies as the SES, Volunteer Coast Guard, Rural Fire Brigades, and like organisations. We

greatly appreciate the time and effort given by these members, which is often given at great cost to themselves and their families.

The DLP proposes that:

All members who remain active in the Service for a period of three (3) months or longer, and who use their private vehicle/s within these services,

including attendance, should receive a fuel subsidy of $20 per month to offset their expenses.

All members who remain active in the Service for a period of twelve (12) months or longer, and who use their private vehicle/s within these services,

including attendance, should receive a fuel subsidy of $40 per month to offset their expenses.

Those members who are in leadership positions, or who are in active service for more than two years, and who regularly use their private vehicle/s

in these community efforts, also be given a 25% subsidy on one (1) set of tyres for their vehicle per annum.

All uniforms will be supplied at Government expense after a period of six (6) months active service, and not paid for by the individual members.

All First Aid certificates and qualifications will be covered by Governmental Agencies expense after a period of six (6) months active service,

and not paid for by the individual members.

All Radio Training and Licensing will be paid for by the Authorities expense after a period of six (6) months active service, and not by the

individual members.

All other specific training and equipment will be covered by the Government, or subsidised by them.

Fuel subsidies for vessels and vehicles owned by these Services will be increased.

A 40% subsidy on phone accounts of all active members who have been active for a period of six (6) months or more, to cover the usage incurred

within these services. (This to be reimbursed on a quarterly basis)

Volunteers should be protected from wrongful litigation arising during the carrying out of their duties.

Those members who are active in multiple “Emergency Service Agencies” may receive multiple reimbursements, with a maximum of two (2) agency

payments to be received in any one (1) year. These reimbursements are to be exempt from “Fringe Benefits Tax” and any other taxable threshold limitations.

THE HOMELESS

As a Judeo-Christian based Party, the Democratic Labour Party is naturally interested in the welfare of homeless individuals and families. Their

homelessness is blight on our society and a sad testimony to our supposed standard of living.

We, of the DLP, will work with Church groups, Charities, and Governmental Agencies to try and resolve the family issues that caused many to become

homeless and living on the streets.

The DLP will approach the appropriate Government Bodies to support and assist the Charities, Churches, and other Groups who work with the homeless,

to increase their ability to service the special needs of this sector of our society.

The DLP will also address the housing situation by allocating more affordable accommodations for the low-income earners.

The DLP will also work with the Housing Departments to provide “Hostel Accommodations” in the interim.

The DLP will investigate and initiate legal proceedings against those bodies that are abusing and misusing the current methods of assistance to

these people.