I encourage all ALP members among you to vote 1 for party democracy – vote 1 for the independent/non-aligned ticket for the 2023 National Conference. In Victoria the election for 45 ordinary member delegates and 22 proxies is a whole-of-state ballot. You should get your ballot paper in the … [Read more...] about National Conference – vote 1 for party democracy
Educational divide threatens to split left
Culture wars threaten the left as the university-educated come to dominate the modern left, identity seems to be replacing class as its ideological touchstone. This is critical for Labor. The educational divide that threatens to split the left – by James Button, The Age, 22 Nov 2021 Reprinted … [Read more...] about Educational divide threatens to split left
Macklin-Bracks preselection reform – the Victorian intervention is not over
ALP National Executive and non-aligned reps talk preselections. James Button and Kath Cozens provide an Open Labor perspective on the meeting. The Victorian intervention is not over. 26 July 2021: The four Victorian non-aligned representatives met two National Executive (NE) representatives to … [Read more...] about Macklin-Bracks preselection reform – the Victorian intervention is not over
Stop the shadowy preselections: 150 people call for change – 19 July 2021
Stop the shadowy preselections. Democracy dies in darkness, but the light was still burning for the 150 people who attended a vibrant meeting held by Open Labor, the Independents and members of the Melbourne FEA to stop the undemocratic way federal and state shadowy elections are being conducted in … [Read more...] about Stop the shadowy preselections: 150 people call for change – 19 July 2021
OL & Independents pre-National Conference discussion
OL & Independents pre-National Conference discussion was held via Zoom Tuesday, 16 March to discuss the new Draft Platform being prepared for the upcoming ALP National Conference on March 30 and 31, 2021. Open Labor National Conference delegate James Button, Independents delegate Eric … [Read more...] about OL & Independents pre-National Conference discussion
The ALP must repair trust between leadership & members – submission by James Button to Macklin-Bracks ALP reform enquiry – Oct 2020
Repair the trust between leadership & members - in this submission to Macklin-Bracks enquiry, James Button argues that the ALP should commit to a culture of deep transparency to repair the trust between leadership & members and make the party more effective, more ethical, and more electable. … [Read more...] about The ALP must repair trust between leadership & members – submission by James Button to Macklin-Bracks ALP reform enquiry – Oct 2020
Why hard times for our party might give us hope – Sept 2020
These are hard times for our party. Hard times might give us hope too, but reform needs sustained and fierce leadership from the top. Let’s first talk about the difficult times We have lost seven out of nine federal elections, including one last year we absolutely should have won. Our share … [Read more...] about Why hard times for our party might give us hope – Sept 2020
The 8 or 9 previous ALP reform reports 1964–2020
Present or previous ALP reform reports: “The individual party membership is appalling. Our membership in relation to our vote is less than one per cent!...One reason is that the party does little to encourage people to join. Too many branches meet in shabby, ill-lit and depressing surroundings. Too … [Read more...] about The 8 or 9 previous ALP reform reports 1964–2020
Labor’s branch-stacking scandal – an opportunity for reinvention – by James Button, The Guardian, 21 June 2020
James Button writes why Labor’s branch-stacking scandal is an opportunity for reinvention, a watershed moment for us all. Here is an edited version. For full version read Labor’s branch-stacking scandal – an opportunity for reinvention – by James Button, The Guardian, 21 June 2020 [external … [Read more...] about Labor’s branch-stacking scandal – an opportunity for reinvention – by James Button, The Guardian, 21 June 2020
Report on the 2018 ALP National Conference – by James Button
December 2018: James Button traveled to the Adelaide 2018 ALP National Conference as one of four non-aligned delegates at the conference. He writes here how Open Labor and the non-aligned movement can approach future conferences. Thanks to the votes of many Labor Party members, I was a … [Read more...] about Report on the 2018 ALP National Conference – by James Button