Osmond Chiu writes: 'Labor’s branch-stacking scandal has turned attention to the organized ALP factions. While factions are decried as Cold War remnants or as patronage machines, the reality is more complex. ' This is a heavily edited reorder of the article. Read Osmond Chiu's original full … [Read more...] about Locking out the Left: the emergence of national factions in Labor – by Osmond Chiu
Readings & listenings
Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin installed to run crisis-ridden Victorian ALP – Michelle Grattan, The Conversation, 16 June 2020
Michelle Grattan reports on the first hours of the public expose of Victorian ALP branch stacking by Nine’s 60 Minutes and The Age, as Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin are installed to run crisis-ridden Victorian ALP. The recordings included conversations in which Somyurek boasted of his power over … [Read more...] about Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin installed to run crisis-ridden Victorian ALP – Michelle Grattan, The Conversation, 16 June 2020
ALP power vacuum – can the Labor Party really clean up its factional mess? by Sumeyya Ilanbey, The Age, 19 June 2020
Sumeyya Ilanbey says that to understand the current ALP power vacuum, you need to understand factions. And to understand what happened this week, cast your mind back to the '80s and '90s, when "ethnic branch stacking" hit overdrive. We paraphrase Illanbey's article: Read: Power vacuum: can the … [Read more...] about ALP power vacuum – can the Labor Party really clean up its factional mess? by Sumeyya Ilanbey, The Age, 19 June 2020
Labor Party review will return power to the true believers – stories by Michael Fowler, The Age, 17 June 2020 & by Rob Harris, The Age, 16 June 2020
Premier Daniel Andrews says his order for a full review of the Victorian ALP in light of revelations over branch stacking will return power to the true believers. Michael Fowler and Rob Harris report that: On Tuesday the Labor Party's national executive unanimously approved Mr Andrews' request … [Read more...] about Labor Party review will return power to the true believers – stories by Michael Fowler, The Age, 17 June 2020 & by Rob Harris, The Age, 16 June 2020
The Age & 60 Minutes on branch stacking & offensive language allegations, Adem Somyurek – ABC News, 15 June 2020
State political reporters Richard Willingham and Joseph Dunstan chronicle ALP leadership's response the day after seeing recordings from 60 Minutes and reporting from The Age on branch stacking & offensive language allegations. Related reading & viewing Adem Somyurek’s legend … [Read more...] about The Age & 60 Minutes on branch stacking & offensive language allegations, Adem Somyurek – ABC News, 15 June 2020
Labor in turmoil as it plans a branch-stacking allegation response – by Jane Norman & Stephen Dziedzic, The Age 16 June 2020
Labor is in factional turmoil as the federal ALP plans an overhaul of the Victorian branch following 'industrial-scale' branch stacking allegations. Norman & Dziedzic write: "Mr Albanese has repeatedly referenced the NSW Lavarch review — conducted after the suspension of then-NSW Labor … [Read more...] about Labor in turmoil as it plans a branch-stacking allegation response – by Jane Norman & Stephen Dziedzic, The Age 16 June 2020
‘F**k the premier’: Secret tapes reveal industrial scale stackathon – by Nick McKenzie, Sumeyya Ilanbey & Joel Tozer, The Age, 15 June 2020
Age & 60 Minutes reporters write about secret ALP tape recordings, Adem Somyurek, an industrial scale stackathon, who, what, when, where, why, & what's next. The story starts "On a clear autumn day just before noon one of the most powerful politicians in Victoria drove into a suburban … [Read more...] about ‘F**k the premier’: Secret tapes reveal industrial scale stackathon – by Nick McKenzie, Sumeyya Ilanbey & Joel Tozer, The Age, 15 June 2020
Somyurek scandal provides an ALP clean up chance – by Race Mathews, The Age, 18 June 2020
Race Mathews writes: 'Daniel Andrews, Anthony Albanese and Wayne Swan are to be congratulated on securing an ALP clean up chance with the Steve Bracks/Jenny Macklin review of the Victorian ALP's toxic factionalism and attendant membership and governance rorts.' Read more Somyurek … [Read more...] about Somyurek scandal provides an ALP clean up chance – by Race Mathews, The Age, 18 June 2020
Stacking votes using a small community – some Stability Pact stories by Nino Bucci & Richard Willingham 2018 & Ben Chifley 2016
Nino Bucci & Richard Willingham report on possible branch stacking using a small Somali community. This 2018 story links to the later Somyurek related 2020 stories, all arising out of Stability Pact machinations and the earlier 2016 faction strains. It's bound to be wrong, but you may be … [Read more...] about Stacking votes using a small community – some Stability Pact stories by Nino Bucci & Richard Willingham 2018 & Ben Chifley 2016
A pox on both your houses – the rise of populism – by Andrew Charlton & Lachlan Harris, The Monthly, Dec 2016
A pox on both your houses. How can the major parties address the rise of populism in Australia? Andrew Charlton & Lachlan Harris analyse the issue and suggests some responses in 2016 Monthly essay. Key paragraphs are edited verbatim below. Where did all the 2016 federal Townsville LNP votes … [Read more...] about A pox on both your houses – the rise of populism – by Andrew Charlton & Lachlan Harris, The Monthly, Dec 2016