The good and the bad about ALP factions: creating a more competitive Labor Party, where NOT being in a faction is as valid a choice as joining a faction. A speech by Andrew Leigh MP ACT Federal Member at the Per Capita John Cain luncheon, 19 July 2023. Per Capita's recording of John Cain … [Read more...] about A More Competitive Labor Party
Labor preselections trampled both guilty and innocent
Bill Kelty, ACTU Secretary from 1983–2000, writes in the Age that on 13 December the VIC Labor preselections trampled both guilty and innocent in a journey of authoritarianism & factionalism that Labor may long regret. On 13 December, ALP members were chosen to run for office without … [Read more...] about Labor preselections trampled both guilty and innocent
Reclaim Our Party – online forum
There was a big online presence to the Reclaim Our Party forum, hosted by Open Labor and the Victorian independents 1 Dec 2021. At the recent IBAC hearings, Adam Somyurek claimed that everyone in Labor was corrupt. The Age agreed with him. Whilst none of us would agree that there are no good … [Read more...] about Reclaim Our Party – online forum
Vale Stuart Macintyre – a history warrior for a better Australia
Stuart Macintyre - a history warrior who worked for a better Australia. He has gone. To those whose lives touched his, an Australian history community without him seems hugely empty. Three obituaries: Janet McCalman from The Conversation and by Brian Aarons & Tim Rowse from Search … [Read more...] about Vale Stuart Macintyre – a history warrior for a better Australia
Organised factions must be outlawed
Dennis Glover writes that "organised factions must be outlawed "in his submission to the Macklin-Bracks Review. He writes: "The ALP is no longer a party; it is a web of factional power." My 38 years of experience working at the highest levels of the party lead me to conclude that the detailed … [Read more...] about Organised factions must be outlawed
Barry Jones on our democratic crisis
There is a democratic crisis in Australia, and neither of the major parties have any vision beyond the next election. where is the courage, principle & accountability? Only an active citizenry can prevent us sliding towards authoritarian or populist democracy, writes Barry Jones. Read below … [Read more...] about Barry Jones on our democratic crisis
The rise and rise and fall of Adem Somyurek – by Guy Rundle, Jacobin, 20 June 2020
There’s nothing strange about branch stacking, but what was unusual in rise and fall of Adem Somyurek was the amassing of enormous power by one man, a junior minister and member of Victoria’s upper house. How could this occur? Somyurek and his officers were caught on video forging signatures and … [Read more...] about The rise and rise and fall of Adem Somyurek – by Guy Rundle, Jacobin, 20 June 2020
The Labor hunting season turns nastier – Guy Rundle, Crikey, 1 July 2021
The Labor hunting season is on, says Guy Rundle at Crikey. Adem Somyurek had his office video bugged (military-grade equipment) and Victorian branch stacking operations were laid bare. Somyurek, a suburban MLC, has denied all wrongdoing. In (heavily rewritten) Rundle says: Somyurek had become … [Read more...] about The Labor hunting season turns nastier – Guy Rundle, Crikey, 1 July 2021
Eulogy to Andrew Herington 1952–2021
Andrew Herington was a good friend of Open Labor. We grieve for his loss and send our thoughts and respect to his family. Steve Bracks AC delivered the eulogy to Andrew at St Kilda Town Hall, 30 April 2021. Andrew would want me to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this place – the Boon … [Read more...] about Eulogy to Andrew Herington 1952–2021
Alice Dawkins stuns the SA ALP with preselection legal threat – by Tom Richardson, InDaily 22 June 2021
Alice Dawkins stuns the SA ALP, with a preselection legal threat, serving it a legal letter claiming the campaign process in the safe Labor federal seat of Spence is unfair and 'anti-democratic' – and threatening Supreme Court action if her concerns are not addressed. Her lawyer, Greg Griffin, … [Read more...] about Alice Dawkins stuns the SA ALP with preselection legal threat – by Tom Richardson, InDaily 22 June 2021