On 7 December 2020 Open Labor wrote to ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson outlining our concerns regarding the make-up of the Interim Governance Committee, established to oversee the Macklin-Bracks … [Read more...] about Update: members shut out of reform process – Open Labor letter signed by 107 Victorian members to the ALP National Executive
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NEEDED – a non-factional member on the Interim Governance Committee
In June 2020, the appointment of Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin as Victorian Party Administrators created hopes for a serious reform of the Victorian ALP.
On 27 November 2020, the ALP National Executive considered the 37 reform recommendations arising. Download the final report here. Open Labor will respond fully to the report in the New Year.
But as an immediate and urgent response Open Labor is concerned that members are being shut out of the reform process.
Join our call to the ALP National Executive to have a non-factional member on the Victorian ALP Interim Governance Committee.
Open Labor wishes all our readers the very best for our COVID safe New Year!
Reform report responses
Open Labor letter to ALP Nat Sec Paul Erickson
Paul EricksonNational Secretary, Australian Labor PartyVia email National.secretary@cbr.alp.org.au 7 December, 2020 Dear Paul, We write as genuine community members of the Australian Labor … [Read more...] about Open Labor letter to ALP Nat Sec Paul Erickson
Eric Dearricott – an initial response to the Macklin-Bracks recs 26 Nov 2020
From Eric Dearricott, Secretary Vic Labor Independents and about to be retrenched Admin Committee member. Tomorrow the ALP National Executive will consider the recommendations of Jenny Macklin and … [Read more...] about Eric Dearricott – an initial response to the Macklin-Bracks recs 26 Nov 2020
FEATURED GUEST OPINION
The road to reforming Labor runs through the trade unions
Jennifer Beacham, Daylesford branch member in the Ballarat FEA and a former ALP State Secretary in the early '90s, is currently finishing her PhD on the History of the Ballarat Trades Hall. She sent … [Read more...] about The road to reforming Labor runs through the trade unions
The role of unions in the ALP – submission by Max Ogden
Max Ogden, retired union official and ACTU Industrial Officer writes to Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks. I strongly support those submissions which I have seen calling for far greater … [Read more...] about The role of unions in the ALP – submission by Max Ogden
Organized factions must be outlawed
This is an edited version of Dennis Glover’s submission to the Bracks-Macklin Review of the Victorian Branch of the ALP. Dennis writes: I am going to confine myself to answering the first … [Read more...] about Organized factions must be outlawed
For members responding to Q3.1 – Is the current branch structure fit for purpose 2020 and beyond?
Sarina Greco, President Prahran ALP, forwarded Open Labor the following article. Open Labor does not have a single position on this important matter. Sarina Greco writes. Members should be aware … [Read more...] about For members responding to Q3.1 – Is the current branch structure fit for purpose 2020 and beyond?
The review of reviews: 50 years of ALP soul searching
David Barda writes: Since 1964 Labor has commissioned eight or nine party reviews (depending on how you count them). I’ve read them so that you don’t have to. The Bracks-Macklin review is the … [Read more...] about The review of reviews: 50 years of ALP soul searching
Does NZ Labour provide a model of membership?
Pauline Brown, writes: The paper by Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin, Victorian Labor, Progress and Integrity, puts forward questions about how we honour the reasons people join the Party, how … [Read more...] about Does NZ Labour provide a model of membership?
Overcoming perverse incentives for branch stacking
Julia Thornton writes: Most of the effort made to date to reform the Victorian ALP has addressed party process and administration. People mention, then shy away from coming to grips with 'culture' as … [Read more...] about Overcoming perverse incentives for branch stacking
Bracks & Macklin updates
Update from Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks 27 Nov 2020
Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks wrote to Victorian ALP Branch members that on 27 November 2020, the ALP National Executive considered their final report, which made 37 recommendations … [read more...] about Update from Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks 27 Nov 2020
Update from Bracks & Macklin – 18 Sept 2020
Dear fellow Labor member: We know we are writing at an extraordinary time when many of us are living under stress, and we witness the extraordinary work of our health and essential workers. It is just … [read more...] about Update from Bracks & Macklin – 18 Sept 2020
Victorian Labor, progress & integrity – Administrator’s discussion paper – 27 Aug 2020
Administrators Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin wrote to Victorian branch members today saying: Dear fellow Victorian Labor member, Our Party Platform speaks to our hopes as a Party of … [read more...] about Victorian Labor, progress & integrity – Administrator’s discussion paper – 27 Aug 2020
Bracks and Macklin back membership by ‘traceable means’
The early actions of party administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks are promising. They are communicating clearly with members, they have set out an ambitious agenda, and they are taking the … [read more...] about Bracks and Macklin back membership by ‘traceable means’
Update from the Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks – 18 Aug 2020
It is now eight weeks since we were appointed as Administrators of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. In the middle of a once in a lifetime public health disaster, we have hit the … [read more...] about Update from the Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks – 18 Aug 2020
Key themes of Party reform from feedback to VIC ALP Administrators – June 2020
The Administrators have written wrote to all Victorian Party members to provide an opportunity to put their initial views based on the following four key questions: 1. as a matter of principle, … [read more...] about Key themes of Party reform from feedback to VIC ALP Administrators – June 2020
Online OL & Indi panelist opinion
Forum: ALP reform – are Macklin and Bracks on track?
Why hard times for our party might give us hope
Greater democracy will make the ALP stronger
Can the ALP be reformed? – A brilliant cross factional online forum – 9 Sept
Andrew Giles – can the Labor Party be reformed?
Janet McCalman – can the Labor Party be reformed?
Open Labor & Independents’ Reform proposals
Oversight & governance – culture at State Office and the Administrative Committee
23 Sept 2020: Eric Dearricott, dedicated ALP Independent and long-time ALP warrior for transparency and democracy addressed a Melbourne FEA forum. He said: People within the Party organisation … [read more...] about Oversight & governance – culture at State Office and the Administrative Committee
12 steps to reform for the ALP – a petition to Bracks-Macklin from OL & the Independents
12 steps to reform for the Victorian ALP Victorian Labor needs to empower all our members by more direct voting and active participation using 21st century technologies. The ALP needs far-sighted … [read more...] about 12 steps to reform for the ALP – a petition to Bracks-Macklin from OL & the Independents
A well-run party that values its members
Party members know that party officials are being appointed on the basis of factional allegiance rather than their skills. They know pursuit of personal advancement has overtaken policy commitment and … [read more...] about A well-run party that values its members
A more open and democratic party
The desire for more open democratic party emerged as a strong theme in the first round of submission to the Victorian ALP Administrators, Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks. A party of progress and … [read more...] about A more open and democratic party
A party with integrity
There was a very clear message in the summary of the feedback to the Victorian ALP Administrators, Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks – party members are angry about what has happened and want to ensure … [read more...] about A party with integrity
Open Labor’s first submission to the Review of the Victorian ALP
20 July 2020: Open Labor's initial response to Bracks and Macklin's request for input on Victorian Labor reform priorities, rule changes, operational and cultural changes, factions and Party … [read more...] about Open Labor’s first submission to the Review of the Victorian ALP
Members, branches & factions
Weeding the stacks was never going to be easy
On 8 October 2020 the Age reported some ALP branch raw numbers (not percentages) of members who had not renewed their membership. Eric Dearricott writes: Criteria for inclusion in this Age … [read more...] about Weeding the stacks was never going to be easy
Labor People of Colour write to Open Labor
To whom it may concern, We, a group of Labor People of Colour, write to Open Labor regarding the makeup of the panelists on your forum. We are a cross-factional group of people of colour within the … [read more...] about Labor People of Colour write to Open Labor
Two-stage membership could create an open, accessible and unstackable ALP
How do you create a Labor Party that is open enough to take in new members quickly and not so open that it can be easily stacked? David Barda has a bold answer to an old problem. The Somyurek … [read more...] about Two-stage membership could create an open, accessible and unstackable ALP
Community branches – better than one branch per state electorate
Independent Eric Dearricott writes that: The factions seem intent on changing the basis of branch membership to one branch in each state electorate and that members must join the sole branch in the … [read more...] about Community branches – better than one branch per state electorate
Only good governance and cultural change will save the Party from itself
Stephen Paul writes: If the ALP is to be saved from itself this time, its needs to take a good governance approach rather than the failed rules-based ‘deficit model’ approach. Once again, the … [read more...] about Only good governance and cultural change will save the Party from itself
A guide to the branch stackers’ business model and how to stop it
Eric Dearricott has been a member of the Victorian ALP’s Administrative Committee since 2001 (apart from two years). A member of the Independents, and often the only Committee member who does not … [read more...] about A guide to the branch stackers’ business model and how to stop it
Why we need to talk about Labor
Janet McCalman #4233 President, North Melbourne Branch writes: We didn’t really lose the last election because of Rupert Murdoch, or Clive Palmer, or the Stop Adani train, or the overfull … [read more...] about Why we need to talk about Labor
For an open democratic party, not a secret society without soul
Andrew Giles and Susie Byers set out the principles they believe should guide Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks and all party members as they work to reform the Victorian ALP. … [read more...] about For an open democratic party, not a secret society without soul
The secret ballot
Focus on the secret ballot
Australia pioneered the secret ballot as a cornerstone of democracy. But while the secret ballot is enshrined in ALP rules, factions insist that their delegates hand over or show their voting papers … [read more...] about Focus on the secret ballot
One person – one vote
Janet McCalman writes: Labor’s historic mission has always been to organise those without power and to bring them to power through democratic representative government and union organisation. It is a … [read more...] about One person – one vote
The case for recommitting to secret ballots
Peter Fitzgerald writes: Victorian ALP members have been given a lot to think about lately. There's the pandemic, the climate catastrophe, an outlook of economic depression, and normal ALP operations … [read more...] about The case for recommitting to secret ballots
Secret ballots depend on context
Peter Holding writes: Secret ballots may be needed to ensure democracy in certain situations but not others. Everything depends on the context. In some contexts, a secret ballot is actually … [read more...] about Secret ballots depend on context