Nino Bucci & Richard Willingham report on possible branch stacking using a small Somali community. This 2018 story links to the later Somyurek related 2020 stories, all arising out of Stability Pact machinations and the earlier 2016 faction strains. It’s bound to be wrong, but you may be interested in following the links.
The Heidelberg branch grew from 12 to around 325 using a small migrant community connections and interest. A branch investigation was instigated by the United Firefighters’ Union (UFU) secretary Peter Marshall, who also called on the Victorian Labor Party to examine fundraising activities linked to rising factional powerbroker and former minister Adem Somyurek. Somyurek disputes some of the concerns contained in Peter Marshall’s letter.
Somyurek was first elected as member of the Victorian Upper House in 2002 and was sworn in as Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade in December 2014. He was suspended and later sacked from Cabinet in 2015, after bullying allegations against him by a staff member.
The UFU branch investigation challenge arose as Bill Shorten requested Labor’s national executive decide preselections in key Victorian seats, bypassing local branch member ballots, including Jagajaga and Macnamara (formerly Melbourne Ports) and the new safe Labor seat of Fraser.
Adem Somyurek then angered both the Socialist Left and the Right (especially people loyal to Stephen Conroy and Kim Carr), as he attempted to break the Stability Pact, convincing some Right unions to come to an agreement with the new Industrial Left faction – a Socialist Left break away; and including the CFMEU and Jane Garrett, who is seeking a new Upper House. The CFMEU then asked Daniel Andrews to step in over misogynistic treatment of Jane Garrett.
In a series of related articles preceding these 2018 allegations, Ben Chifley explores the 2016 divisions in the VIC Labor Left, the 2016 fall of Jane Garrett, Daniel Andrews’ main rival, and the fates of Labor Left Kim Carr and Right Stephen Conroy, in the preselection dramas for Lalor, and the bitter history between Carr and Albanese.
The fall out of these events continues in the 2020 allegations of massive branch stacking and the ALP Federal Executive Intervention 2020-23.
Open Labor argues these secret agreements and branch stacking are destructive to the ALP, and argues to strengthen party democracy and transparency to enhance our capacity and grow our party.
Related readings
Operation Watts IBAC enquiry into branch stacking practices – by Open Labor, 19 Oct 2021
Daniel Andrews has weathered COVID storms so far, but the test of IBAC lies ahead – by Richard Willingham, ABC News, 8 Oct 2021
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews knocks back questions on IBAC investigation into firefighting saga – by Richard Willingham, ABC News, 6 Oct 2021
Concerns Victorian Labor may be using a small community to stack votes – by Nino Bucci & Richard Willingham 18 July 2018 [External link]
Bill Shorten asks ALP’s national executive to decide Victorian preselections as tensions rise – by Richard Willingham & Nino Bucci, ABC News 18 Jul 2018 [External link]
CFMEU calls on Daniel Andrews to step in over ‘misogynistic’ treatment of Labor MP Jane Garrett – by Richard Willingham ABC News 17 Jul 2018
Labor branch stacking becomes an arms race, with Stability Pact a possible casualty of war – by Ben Chifley, Crikey 1 23 Aug 2016
The spectacular fall of Jane Garrett, Daniel Andrews’ main rival – by Ben Chifley, Crikey 1 Sept 2016
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