Friends do their bit for Labor
By Pawan Luthra.
Harish Veilji, Chairperson Sub-Continent Friends of Labor with Federal and State Labor members at a recent meet-and-greet function Photo: Harpreet Singh
With the state elections scheduled for March 26th next year, the Sub-Continent Friends of Labor organised a meet and greet for Labor politicians and the Indian media in Sydney. Chairperson Harish Velji has been working extensively to better acquaint the Labor Party with the community. Attending the function were a number of State Labor politicians and a Federal politician who mingled with a small group of media from the subcontinent.
Member for Toongabbie and former Premier Nathan Rees was present as was John Robertson, Legislative Council member for NSW. Over the next few months, one would expect to see them regularly at Indian functions due to their political requirements to get greater visibility in the sub continent voting community. Media reports about Nathan Rees being faced with a pre-selection challenge by Indian born Susai Benjamin will be the first hurdle the former Premier will be facing in his bid to retain the seat of Toongabbie. If he clears this hurdle, then the challenge of being elected to the Parliament post March 26 will be the next goal, and with a sizable Indian and subcontinent community in his electorate, he needs to continue engaging with the community. Nathan Rees’ work in defusing the student issues and bringing AR Rahman as a guest of Sydney Festival were acknowledged by a member of the Sub-Continent Friends of Labor, Raj Dutta.
In contrast was one of the first ppearances at a sub-continent function by John Robertson, Minister for Transport and a member of the NSW parliament Upper House. The Minister has confirmed a move from the Upper House to the Lower House and is throwing his hat in the ring to contest a Lower House seat in the 2011 election, the seat being the seat of Blacktown. The seat is held by a 22 per cent margin by Labor member Paul Gibson who is retiring. Blacktown has a large number of Indians and hence, are a crucial voting bloc for Minister Robertson. The move from the Upper House could position him to challenge the current NSW Premier Kristina Kenneally, according to political pundits. With respect to transport issues for the Indian overseas students, there was not much sympathy shown by Minister Robertson. Handballing it as an issue which will impact State revenue, Minister Robertson did not deem it an urgent enough issue, in spite of this being a major aspect of the entire overseas’ students problem last year. “We have increased security on all our transport systems and that allows students to travel in a secure environment”, was all he would tell Indian Link.
Michelle Rowland, the Federal member for Greenway also dropped in after a hectic week in Canberra. Recently elected by a slim margin to the Federal Parliament, she has a large number of Indian constituents in her own electorate. In discussion she confirmed that she is aware of the concerns of the sub continent community with respect to student visa issues; however, when grilled on the financial impact of the Labor Party policies to a $15 billion education industry, she was uncertain of the facts.
She promised to look into this further and also get a greater understanding of other issues affecting India and Australia such as Australia’s refusal to sell uranium to India.
Also attending were Minister for Planning Barbara Perry, Minister for Ageing and Disability Services Peter Primrose, Deputy Speaker of the House Tanya Gadiel and Shaoquett Moselmane MLC. Sub-continent Friends of Labor, with founding members such as Ejaz Khan, Raj Datta, Mukesh Maru, Jay Housr, John Niven, Balaji Venketaranghan, Amarinder Bajwa, Moninder Singh and Harish Velji, have made a positive step forward in starting a dialogue between the Labor politicians and the sub-continent community.
They need to be applauded for it, for surely, it is a great opportunity for the local sub-continent-origin constituents to educate the politicians on matters important to them and give them a chance to earn their vote, rather than just expect it.
