16/01/2026
At last nightโs caucus drinks, I officially announced that I am stepping down as Co-Convenor of Young Labor Centre Action, effective immediately, to help lead our Senior AWU group.
It has been an incredible privilege to lead such a passionate group of young activists in the Labor Party, and to do so alongside so many outstanding comrades. I want to sincerely thank Xavier Hutchins for Co-Convening with me, and for continuing to lead the group to what I am certain will be even greater achievements.
I first joined the Labor movement at 16, attending a Young Labor Action trivia night, and very quickly found my home in the Party. At the time I became more involved, itโs fair to say YLA had seen better days. Our group was small and hadnโt held an event in months, but that didnโt deter us. Tom Hammond, who many of you know well, immediately became my greatest mentor. He took me under his wing, and before long we had built a powerhouse of hardworking, disciplined comrades, all committed to strengthening the Party one day at a time. No task was too big for our Executive or our caucus.
These are the moments I still reflect on with immense gratitude and happiness. It really is true that Young Labor is where lifelong friendships are formed and lessons are learned that stay with you forever.
Young Labor Action will always hold a special place in my heart, and I thank all our caucus members who have stood by us, and each other, over the years.
The merger with Young Labor Centre Unity to form Young Labor Centre Action was a powerful opportunity for connection and growth. Connor Dubout and I led YLCA at that time and tackled our first VYL together with great success. That moment marked the beginning of what has proven to be one of the best decisions our groups have ever made. We are one family now - an AWU family.
As I reflect on my four years in Young Labor, and two years as Convenor, I want to particularly thank Tom Hammond, Natalia Genovese, Ben Pakula, Bridget Chapman, and Indah Johannes, just a few of the many close friends and respected comrades I could always rely on.
Thank you all for your enduring support. It has truly been one of the greatest privileges of my life to grow alongside you and to help lead our group.
In Unity,
Luca Ragni
