Some non-aligned Victorian Labor politicians. A poster history by Janet McCalman & friends, starting with election of Barry Jones in 1972 and moving on to John Kennedy 2018 as the most recently elected Independent.
During the 1970s and 1980s, organised independents in Victoria were able to support a very talented group of politicians to achieve state and federal parliamentary office. They were also able to hold the balance of power in State Conference and on party committees to improve the conduct of party members and officials.
The independents were not a faction with rules that bound members to positions, but a grouping of people from left and right who disliked factional politics and who believed in an open, democratic party.
As you can see from the people elected, they transformed Labor both federally and in the State of Victoria.
After the 1970 Victorian federal intervention instituted by Gough Whitlam, the left was discredited and the Right was still immersed in fighting the Cold War.
The independents and the massive increase in Labor voters from non-British migration into the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne, created a new Labor party and set Victoria on the path to successful state Labor governments that we have enjoyed ever since.
Non-aligned Victorian Labor politicians 1970 to 2018 – the poster – by Janet McCalman & friends, Open Labor, Sept 2021
During the 1990s the Independents were still able to assist quality non-aligned candidates who became ministers into the Parliament, but especially with the advent of the stability pact between the Right and the Left, this became more difficult.
Despite smaller numbers at State and National Conferences, the independents in conjunction with Open Labor, have played a significant role in exposing branch stacking, achieving democratic reforms and involving party members in proposing policy amendments to National Conference.
Non-aligned Victorian Labor politicians, state and federal 1977–2018
L–R front
Evan Walker MLC, Member for Melbourne 1979–1992, Minister, Deputy Leader of Government (state)
Maxine Morand MLA, Member for Mount Waverley 2002–2010, Minister (state)
Michael Duffy MHR, Division of Holt 1980–1996, Minister, Attorney General (federal)
Barry Jones MLA, Member for Melbourne 1972–1977 (state), then Federal Division of Lalor 1977–1998, Minister, (federal), National ALP President
Jim Kennan MLC then MLA, Attorney General; 1982–1988, Member for Broadmeadows 1988–1993, Deputy Premier Victoria 1990–1992, Leader of the Opposition 1993 (state)
Lou Hill MLA, 1982–88, Member for Warandyte (state)
Tony Lamb MHR, Member for LaTrobe 1972–1975; & Streeton 1984–1992 (federal)
John Kennedy MLA, Member for Hawthorn, 2018–still in office (state)
L–R middle
Mary Delahunty MLA, Member for Northcote 1998–2014, minister (state)
Ann Corcoran MHR, Member for Isaacs, 2001–2007 (federal)
Graham Ilhein MLA, Member for Sandringham 1982–1985 (state)
Helen Mayer MHR, Division of Chisholm 1983–1987 (federal)
Sheila O’Sullivan, first woman elected to the Federal Executive 1987
Margaret Ray MLA, member for Box Hill 1982–1992 (state)
Bob Ives MLC, Member for Eumemmerring 1988–1996 (state) organiser for the Independents (state)
Neil O’Keefe MHR, Federal Division of Burke, 1984–2001, Parliamentary Secretary (federal)
Karen Overington MLA, Member for Ballarat West 1999–2010 (state)
John Thwaites, Deputy Premier, Member for Albert Part 1992–2007 (state)
L–R back
Ian Trezise, MLA for Geelong 1999-2014 (state)
Maureen Lyster MLC, Member for Chelsea Province, 1985–1992 (state)
Senator John Button, Minister, ALP Senate Leader, 1974–1993 (federal)
Premier John Cain, MP for Bundoora 1976–1992 (state)
Related readings
Some Open Labor ideas, stories & links
Poster by Janet McCalman, with design and information input from Rosie Elliott, Eric Dearricott, Jamie Gardiner and others.
Janet McCalman. author of Struggletown, Journeyings and Sex and Suffering, all three published by MUP. She has co-edited with Emma Dawson What Happens Next: Reconstructing Australia after Covid-19 in 2020. For over twenty years Janet has taught and researched interdisciplinary history at the University of Melbourne. In 2018 she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.
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