Minutes/General Meeting/2014-01-28

Meeting Minutes

This document is a record of a meeting. Do not edit this document without contacting the relevant group first.

Agenda

There will be an Election Committee meeting after this meeting in #ppau-election
Queensland received it first batch of how-to-vote cards for Mel's election campaign.
- On the wiki at https://pirateparty.org.au/w/images/e/e0/Melhtv-front.png and https://pirateparty.org.au/w/images/b/b0/Melhtv-back.png
- Jarrod did a fantastic job designing these, will probably be the best on the day.
Thomas Randle has stepped down as Tasmanian Coordinator
- Thank you to Thomas for his hard work.
- The NC will discuss this tomorrow night to see how to approach finding a new coordinator.
Mel heard a radio item today where PPAU was mentioned alongside Greens and Katter
- Stable Population and Secular Parties were left out.
- It's very satisfying being an actual minor party now.
- We have stability and no infighting, making us a bit stronger than the European Pirate Parties.
Our one year anniversary membership drive was a success.
- Made $2,000 offering pay-what-you-want memberships
- Boiled down to roughly $10 for every new member, with several people paying more than the regular fee.
  - Some even paid a lot more than the fee.
- We now have over 1,000 members!
No breakdown of memberships by state, easiest way is to email Brendan.
- We can have a minuted breakdown for next meeting.
- Most states should be at least around the halfway mark.
Brendan provided the most recent breakdown:
- ACT: 101; NSW: 335; NT: 5; Qld: 186; SA: 71; Tas: 38; Vic: 218; WA: 119.
- At least 50 are duplicates or erroneous.

The Policy Development Committee has been made responsible for doing inquiry submissions, as well as policy drafting.
The PDC structure has working groups underneath it that do the bulk of the policy and inquiry work.
We've got several working groups that all members can join and get involved in.
See https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Policy_Development_Committee#What_Is_Happening_Right_Now for a list of current projects.
Tonight at 9:30 there will be a meeting in #ppau-pdc to discuss the Privacy Tort policy.
Tomorrow night at 10:00 there will be one for the IP Laws Amendment Bill, in #ppau-pdc
Thursday night at 8:30 there will be one for the "Enhancing Online Safety for Children" discussion paper, in #ppau-pdc
All members are encouraged to get involved.
- Just turn up for the meeting, watch the wiki page for developments.
Meetings are also on the calendar, easily found on the website.

Mel is speaking at a "save Medicare" rally next week on behalf of PPAU.
Nothing yet has been discussed regarding a universal healthcare policy
Mel has mostly a free hand on this.
Talk about how healthcare is part of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
- We ratified it therefore healthcare is a human right, our principles as a Party are to defend human rights.
The big target for the Coalition is cutting back on environmental programs and protections
Can't see the Coalition getting much legislation through the Senate, either now or in July.

Focused mainly on the by-election
Had a meeting last Saturday to discuss strategy: had a good turnout.
Represented at Freedom Day rally on Australia Day
Lots of speaking at rallies coming up: Save Medicare, TPP, and Restore Democracy in Queensland
Campaigning again this weekend, up until the election.
News Corp photographer taking photo for a story tomorrow.
Getting lots of mentions nationwide, not just in Qld.

Talking to representatives from a few groups in Perth re: platform ideas/how to better appeal to WA voters.
Expecting an announcement of a WA election soon.

Presented by Simon Frew in lieu of Sunny Kalsi (NSW Coordinator)
A meeting in Sydney last Saturday.
Simon is speaking at and organising a public meeting on the TPP on March 10 in Newtown.

Presented by Tim Serong as Thomas Randle has stepped down.
There is a state election on March 15
- Unlikely to be registered before then, as 100 members are needed, and there are only 38.
There was a brief flurry of activity to get a working group together before Christmas to get the state branch going.
- It died down a bit (bad time of year perhaps).
There's no need to rush, because we don't have the funds (applies to all states with imminent elections).
Might be good for PPAU to endorse people as a publicity exercise.
- Endorsements don't make a difference in Australia and makes parties look weird.
- Only works where you have a candidate that makes absolute sense to endorse, e.g. Scott Ludlam.