Raising the age to 25 that tobacco products can be sold to Tasmanians and increasing Newstart by $50 a week are among motions to be debated at the Labor Party’s state conference.
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Labor’s policy to remove poker machines from pubs and clubs, announced in the state election campaign, is also on the agenda for the conference on September 8 and 9.
Issues as diverse as puppy farming, housing, AFL funding, recycling, seat belts on buses, electing the parliamentary leader and removing the party’s banking from the Commonwealth Bank are set to be debated.
The Kingborough branch wants support to raise the age that tobacco products may be sold to 25 and “to regulate the content and engineering of tobacco products – including filters and additives.”
“Labor does not support penalising smokers,” the motion says.
“We want to sheet home blame to the tobacco industry which has engineered cigarette filters over many decades. These have led to increased cancers.
“Many Australians have died after being misled about the toxicity of so-called light cigarettes.”
The West Tamar branch argues that the rate of Newstart is “abysmally low” and needs to be increased.
“Newstart and related payments including Youth Allowance have not increased in real terms in 24 years,” the branch says.
“The rate of Newstart is now so low people cannot afford basic necessities like housing, meals, bills and transport, even if they get rent assistance.
“Therefore, conference demands that the next Federal Labor Government increase the rate of Newstart and other related payments within its first year in office to an amount that reflects the actual cost of living, and by at least $50 a week.”
West Tamar branch also wants delegates to support the indexation for Newstart and related payments to be brought into line with the indexation arrangements for the aged pension.
The Sorell Tasman branch motion calls on the party to “support the removal of poker machines from our suburbs and towns and restrict them to casinos.”
Labor planned to phase out 2,375 poker machines from 97 pubs and clubs by 2023.
The agenda includes several housing motions with the Waratah branch wanting to prevent rent increases in circumstances were tenants are unable them.
“Conference also calls on Tasmanian Labor to commit to reforming the tenancy act to prevent evictions of tenants for no cause at the end of fixed term leases,” the motion says.
A move to allow members to vote on who is parliamentary leader will be debated.