13 December 2020 The Guardian article The independent movement is gathering steam as disaffection with traditional politics grows. Anne Davies looks at the numbers. “Either way, there is an untapped reservoir of people out there who are interested in politics and practise it every day. They’re … [Read more...] about Party hardly: why Australia’s big political parties are struggling to compete with grassroots campaigns – by Anne Davies
Update from Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks 27 Nov 2020
Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks wrote to Victorian ALP Branch members that on 27 November 2020, the ALP National Executive considered their final report, which made 37 recommendations to reform our Party. Macklin and Bracks wrote that: Download full copy of the report here [PDF … [Read more...] about Update from Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks 27 Nov 2020
Victorian Labor expels hundreds of members after review into branch-stacking allegations – by Richard Willingham
26 Nov 2020 initial ABC report on the recommendations arising from the Macklin/Bracks review of the Victorian ALP writes more than 1,700 Victorian Labor members have been expelled in an attempt to clean up the branch stacking. Jenny Macklin said the audit of the party's 13,000 Victorian members is … [Read more...] about Victorian Labor expels hundreds of members after review into branch-stacking allegations – by Richard Willingham
The road to reforming Labor runs through the trade unions
Jennifer Beacham, Daylesford branch member in the Ballarat FEA and a former ALP State Secretary in the early '90s, is currently finishing her PhD on the History of the Ballarat Trades Hall. She sent Open Labor her submission to the Administrators. She writes: Farming has often been discussed in … [Read more...] about The road to reforming Labor runs through the trade unions
The role of unions in the ALP – submission by Max Ogden
Max Ogden, retired union official and ACTU Industrial Officer writes to Administrators Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks. I strongly support those submissions which I have seen calling for far greater democracy, transparency, and strong democratic links to local communities, and to the many … [Read more...] about The role of unions in the ALP – submission by Max Ogden
Organized factions must be outlawed
This is an edited version of Dennis Glover’s submission to the Bracks-Macklin Review of the Victorian Branch of the ALP. Dennis writes: I am going to confine myself to answering the first question of the review submission form. My 38 years of experience working at the highest levels of the … [Read more...] about Organized factions must be outlawed
For members responding to Q3.1 – Is the current branch structure fit for purpose 2020 and beyond?
Sarina Greco, President Prahran ALP, forwarded Open Labor the following article. Open Labor does not have a single position on this important matter. Sarina Greco writes. Members should be aware a rule change being considered to change from the current branch rule that members must be part of … [Read more...] about For members responding to Q3.1 – Is the current branch structure fit for purpose 2020 and beyond?
Does NZ Labour provide a model of membership?
Pauline Brown, writes: The paper by Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin, Victorian Labor, Progress and Integrity, puts forward questions about how we honour the reasons people join the Party, how we make membership more meaningful and how we recruit and keep more members. To my dismay, the … [Read more...] about Does NZ Labour provide a model of membership?
ALP rank and file push reforms – by Noel Turnbull
24 September 2020 Pearls and Irritations Noel Turnbull writes: 'The Bracks-Macklin Victorian ALP review released its first recommendations in July 2020 – no brainer rules amendments for immediate action to end bulk membership sign-ups and ensure individual members pay for their own … [Read more...] about ALP rank and file push reforms – by Noel Turnbull
Benalla ALP Branch submission to Victorian Branch Reform
Sept 2020 – This is the response submitted from Benalla branch to the Victorian ALP Reform review. The branch writes: "It is generally supportive of the Open Labor/Independents proposals while also emphasising the need for a community organising approach to building the Party and achieving labour … [Read more...] about Benalla ALP Branch submission to Victorian Branch Reform