Redleather

How we bury our dead is a very personal and very important part of moving through the life journey that all of us are on. The Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly has released a discussion paper titled "Sustainable Burials in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area". The paper discusses the need to examine new ways of supporting culturally and religiously appropriate burials in the context of reduced land resources.

I attended the ALP conference at the weekend as a delegate from the State Parliamentary Labor Party. I supported the conference motion that rejected the Premier and the Treasurer's plan to privatise the retail and generation arms of the state's electricity system. 

I did not speak at the conference but I have received many emails and phone calls from people wanting to know my position on this matter.

I do not support the current plan for the following reasons:

Economic

Unions NSW and Workcover today hosted the International Day of Mourning (also known as the Worker's Memorial Day). This service was held in Sydney to honour those who have lost their lives at work. This years service paid a special tribute to Bernie Banton and his family.

The Iemma Government is proposing tough new anti-smoking measures aimed at protecting kids from the dangers of smoking.

We have released a discussion paper "Protecting Children from Tobacco" which proposes:

The Attorney General, John Hatzistergos today announced that the Labor Government will introduce laws that give parental recognition to lesbians who have kids together. The government will also move on an additional 50 laws to extend equal rights to same sex defacto couples.

This is important reform that gives children of lesbian parents equal rights in workers compensation and victim compensation payments, inheritance rights, recognition of both parents by schools and health authorities.