An initial ABC report on the recommendations arising from the Macklin-Bracks review into branch-stacking of the Victorian ALP notes more than 1,700 Victorian Labor members have been expelled in an attempt to clean up the branch stacking.
The audit 13,000 Victorian members is not yet finished. The report to the National Executive notes “The analysis was challenging…It was hindered by a poor membership system, and data sets that lacked critical information.”
As part of the audit, questionable members, often with no phone or email, were contacted. If no response was given their membership was revoked. Some members were able to show why they should not be removed.
There have been some warnings that some of the expulsions have removed legitimate members who volunteer at elections.
Senator Carr said “Far too many of the wrong people have been arbitrarily purged, and far too many of the stacked branches have retained their memberships.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said legitimate members had nothing to fear from party reform.
“We have got some work to do to change the culture of our show, and it’s for genuine members, it’s for those true believers…We can’t change what has happened in the past but we can build a better culture, so we are focused on the battles that really matter and that’s not internal squabbles that’s building a fairer, stronger, safer more prosperous Victoria.”
Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin also set a target of 20,000 members by December 2024.
The Bracks and Macklin recommendations include only allowing one branch in each state electorate, with no more than 20 new members allowed to join each month.
Read full article: VIC Labor expels hundreds after review into branch-stacking – by Richard Willingham ABC 26 Nov 2020 [external link ]
Related readings
National Executive & non-aligned reps talk preselections – the Intervention is not over – by James Button, Open Labor, 2 August 2021
Operation Watts IBAC enquiry into branch stacking practices – Open Labor, Oct 2021
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