Members want a party with integrity, now and into the future. David Imbre says this was the clear message in the feedback to Victorian ALP Administrators Macklin and Bracks. Party members are angry about what has happened and want to ensure it will not happen again. David Imbre writes:
Integrity is about following your principles and values. It is about doing the right thing, even if (and particularly when) no one is watching you. If we are to rebuild to a party of integrity, we must tackle branch stacking, and support, promote and protect genuine party membership.
The Victorian Administrators Discussion paper brings together a range of options to do this and seeks our feedback.
Remove stacking and stackers, and support genuine membership
Remove stacking and stackers and support genuine membership
To remove branch stacking, branch stackers and supporting genuine membership requires changes in the way people become members to stronger oversight of membership administration. Options include:
A new definition of branch stacking
Does branch stacking need a definition beyond fee payment by another person? If so, how might the definition be broadened to allows for genuine recruitment while dissuading branch stacking
Clean up the branches
Change the rules to tackle those that engage in branch stacking directly or aid and abet branch stackers or branch stacking. Require all MP’s, electorate office staff and Ministerial Office staff to provide a statutory declaration each year stating that they have not engaged in branch stacking.
Interview members not active, not long standing or not well known to the branch and disband branches found to consist predominantly of stacked members
Membership and renewal
- Require payment of membership fees by traceable means and the provision of clear evidence of identity, residency and qualification for concessions (for transferees as well as new members).
- Ban bulk membership renewals and payments at ALP HQ.
- Introduce a two-stage process where applicants become provisional members immediately pending the completion of a Victorian Branch Induction Program and approval of their application by the Administrative Committee.
- Welcome applicants by a personal visit (or phone call) by a FEA representative and provide details of branch meeting dates and an invitation to their first meeting.
- Introduce a progressive renewal process with membership renewal on the anniversary date of joining the Party and give current members two years to complete the Victorian Branch Induction Program.
- Improve membership administration by giving a party official responsibility for ensuring every person has paid their own membership, restrict membership of the Membership Administration Committee to Administration Committee members and develop a system that enables easy recognition of patterns in membership applications, renewals and transfers to identify potential stacking.
The integrity of internal party elections and candidate selection
- Place a cap on number of State Conference delegates from each FEA
- Require delegates of affiliated unions be elected by the Victorian members of that union and be members of the Victorian ALP.
- Ensure real secrecy of ballots, including postal ballots. (While they not be required or appropriate in all election it will be important to review the justification of the need for secret ballots and ensure they are used as appropriate.)
- Commission the VEC to conduct preselection of all endorsed candidates for the next Victorian and Federal elections.
Strengthen oversight
Establish a Disputes Tribunal and Ombudsman with explicit and enhanced information gathering powers (Disputes Tribunal panel members should be legal practitioners and independent of factions), implement ongoing annual partial audits of membership rolls by an independent firm, give the Ombudsman power to conduct random checks, and give all Administrative Committee members the right to scrutinise membership and payment records.
A party with integrity – What do you think?
These suggestions are aimed at building a party with a culture of integrity, democracy, and transparency, strengthened by the ideas, ideals and activities of all its members and supporters
Please comment here, below the line.
Related readings
Labor has a significant problem, Premier Daniel Andrews says following branch-stacking scandal – ABC News 17 Jun 2020
12 steps to Labor reform – a petition from Open Labor & the Independents, Sept 2020
Macklin-Bracks discussion paper – ideas & options – Eric Daerricott, Open Labor, Oct 2020
Unions and the ALP – time to stay friends but end the marriage? – by Max Ogden, Open Labor, Aug 2021
Integrity in Politics, the Power of Ideas – Lindsay Tanner, delivered at the Jim Carlton Integrity Lecture, May 2012
Kerrie O'Neill says
I enjoyed Per Capita Can the Labor Party be Reformed discussion last night – thank you.
I’d like to emphasise the need for people to be heard – for leaders and party policy to listen, learn and act when that is appropriate – every person needs to be included, welcomed, treated with dignity.Can a new structure form an inclusive and proudly diverse movement?
I’m reading Jess Hill’s See What You Made Me Do: she explains ‘Atkinson resists defining traditional Indigenous culture as ‘patriarchal’.
She suggests a more precise term would be ‘egalitarian hegemony a’; system of male authority balanced ‘by woman’s sovereignty and authority in the social, economic, and spiritual domains’ (p.321 for further explanation). Such a structure appears to balance and value all people in the society.
There’s clearly defined rules of purpose for each and commitment to the whole. Jigging current systems would be band-aide and inappropriate – a whitewash, fresh and revitalised is necessary.
The link with unions and the working man has become outmoded now with Covid. Too many people not employed; too many people feeling powerless. Especially in Victoria, as a small state with a large population. A multicultural society, as we claim we have, needs much work to make it function. Can you target many languages, in language, to bring people with you?
Regards, Kerrie
David Imber says
Thanks so much Kerrie for joining the discussion and sharing your views.
You are absolutely right- our movement needs to listen to the voice of members and to all in the community and allow their voices to be heard. A strong current in the chat was about diversity and the need for Labor to be a place for people of colour, for women, for those who aren’t well served by evening meetings that can clash with child caring responsibilities or shift work.
I will take the issue of language and languages to the other organisers- we encourage those who want to join us in connecting with others who might not read or speak English well but have views about our party to do so.
As a proudly Jewish and gay man I have seen elements of diversity in the party since I joined but not enough power given to everyone. I saw how hard my sisters- with not nearly enough men helping- needed to fight over years to get gender equality for candidates in the party. I applauded when Daniel Andrews as leader said he’d have a Royal Commission into Family Violence and that the Government he was hoping to lead would accept every one of the recommendations.
But we need more equality and a place where more First Australians can be confident in joining and contributing. And where branch stacking doesn’t exist in a slur to the many people who are seen as a block of voters and not people with agency and views of their own.
Please continue to walk with us, to speak up and to help us,
Regards
David