Foreword by Former Premier Steve Bracks and Candy Broad, Chair of the ALP Platform Committee

Foreward by the Premier

Good governments are built on good ideas.

They are measured by their ability to turn those ideas into practical policies and programs.

Policies that are based on strongly held convictions, tested by broad community input and open democratic debate. Policies that address the concerns of ordinary Victorians.

Policies that will improve the lives of Victorian families by achieving economic growth, creating better jobs, ensuring a fairer distribution of the benefits of growth and protecting the environment.

Policies designed to turn the challenges we face into opportunities.

The Victorian ALP has a strong tradition of debating and refining good ideas – and, over the past seven years, we have earned a deserved reputation for turning those good ideas into practical Government initiatives that assist all Victorians.

We are investing in Victoriaʼs future by investing in infrastructure and investing in people.

In May 1999, the Victorian ALP published its platform – Labor: New Solutions. That platform was the product of the most comprehensive policy review in Victorian Labor's history, and became the framework for the election policies in the 1999 State Election.

Similarly, the successful re-election of the Government in 2002 was built around the policies in Listens then Acts – the 2002 Victorian ALP Platform. Four years on, the time is right for the Victorian ALP to now articulate its agenda for the future.

This document – the 2006 ALP Platform: Rising to the Challenges - sets out the values and priorities Labor will seek to pursue over the coming years.

The Government will work from this framework to develop the specific election commitments it will put to Victorian voters at the historic first fixed term election to be held on 25th November 2006.

Steve Bracks
Victorian Labor Leader

Foreward by the Platform Committee Chair

The process of renewing this platform was begun by the ALP State Conference in November 2004 with the election of 12 new Policy Committees. A detailed timetable was set out for broad consultation. The Policy Committees and Ministers met regularly to discuss priorities and new ideas for the development of new policies. A succession of report-backs to Conference and policy forums on particular topics enabled input from a wide range of people.

The preparation of the new platform was overseen by the ALP Platform Committee, comprised of myself, James Merlino, Daniel Andrews and Matt Viney representing the Parliamentary Caucus, Johan Scheffer as the Secretary of the ALP Agenda Committee and Rosemary Barker, Luke Hilakari, Matthew Merry and Ian Hundley as elected members of the Agenda Committee.

The Platform Committee held discussions with the Presidents and Secretaries of policy committees, Unions, ALP Caucus members and Ministers. Further comments were received on the draft chapters as they were completed. It was presented to the May 2006 ALP Conference.

The Platform provides a framework for considering Labor's ten year outlook for Victoria. It outlines how Labor will pursue its core beliefs and values – fairness, democracy, opportunity, rights, responsibilities, community and compassion.

The detailed policies have been grouped into 10 major policy areas totalling over 350 policy commitments. Each chapter starts with a summary of the challenges facing Victoria and the policies that will address those challenges.

This renewed Victorian ALP Platform summarises Labor's framework for establishing priorities for a third term of the Bracks Government and beyond. In accordance with established ALP practice, the platform is the key statement of Party priorities and takes a medium to long-term view. Detailed financial commitments for particular programs in Government will be announced by the Premier and Ministers in the lead up to the next election.

Candy Broad MLC
Chair of the ALP Platform Committee