ALP Internatinal Projects fringe events held during Labor's National Conference allowed Party members to access some of the regions leading opinion makers. Events discussed several topics including 'Women in Politics in Asia' and 'Good Global Citizen'.

Date:  19 July 2007

Women in Politics in Asia

As part of the National Conference Fringe Program, International Projects hosted a forum on the empowerment of women in the legislatures of Asia . Chaired by Susan Ryan, the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in a federal Labor Government, the panellists included Dr Lesley Clark (an Australian Labor consultant and trainer), Stephanie Lynn (National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Southeast Asia), Andi Yuliani Paris (member of the Indonesian People’s House of Representatives) and Baicon B. Cayongcat (commissioner-at-large for the multi-faith Mindanao Commission on Women). The speakers highlighted the challenges they face in bringing women into the political process and explored possible means by which they might be confronted. Supporting efforts to strengthen women’s political participation in the Asia region is a central facet of the Australian Labor’s endeavour to promote strong democracies under the APPD program.

Good Global Citizen

On Sunday 29 April, International Projects hosted an invitation-only breakfast panel discussion as part of the National Conference Fringe Program, focussing on new directions in Australian foreign policy under Labor. Panellists included Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Robert Mclelland; Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Professor Hugh White; and the Executive Director of Oxfam Australia , Andrew Hewett. The event was chaired by International Director Michael Morgan.

The speakers addressed a room filled to capacity with visiting dignitaries, diplomats, political party officials from Asia and the Pacific and media. McLelland laid out the key issues related to a future Labor government foreign policy.