Our democracy is decaying from within. We need a summit of community leaders to help chart democratic renewal. This is an edited version of Our democracy is decaying from within by John Menadue, Pearls & Irritations, 16 Sep 2021. Bob Hawke’s 1983 post election economic summit promoted … [Read more...] about Our democracy decaying from within – by John Menadue, Pearls & Irritations
Elections
Two Supreme Court cases challenge Victorian ALP intervention – updated
Two separate Supreme Court cases challenge Victorian ALP intervention 2020: the Victorian MP Marlene Kairouz and a group of trade unions; plus the effects of the cases on federal preselections and possibly on faction futures. Marlene Kairouz' case arose from the audit of the Victorian ALP … [Read more...] about Two Supreme Court cases challenge Victorian ALP intervention – updated
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
Stability Pact sticking points threaten between VIC Labor – by Rob Harris, The Age, 21 May 2021
Victorian Labor peace talks threaten to erupt on Stability Pact sticking points between the Right and Left. 'It's like 19th-century empires dividing up Africa.' The article is edited below, with additional editorial pickings following. The draft cross-factional agreement says: “Recent … [Read more...] about Stability Pact sticking points threaten between VIC Labor – by Rob Harris, The Age, 21 May 2021
Call to stop the shadowy preselections & give members their rightful vote – 9 July 2021
Give members their rightful vote in preselections: Open Labor and the Independents propose an online members' meeting 19 July 2021 to call for the ALP National Executive to stop the Victorian shadowy preselections. Since 1993 the ALP has held 140 preselections for safe or winnable seats in … [Read more...] about Call to stop the shadowy preselections & give members their rightful vote – 9 July 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
The preselection battle for Hawke – May 2021
The May 2021 preselection battle for Hawke raged – at stake a lifetime Federal Parliament seat with implications for both federal ALP leadership and Victorian factional power. Hawke is a newly created seat covering Sunbury, Melton, Bacchus Marsh and Ballan, with a safe projected ALP margin of about … [Read more...] about The preselection battle for Hawke – May 2021
Scottish & English elections review – John McTernan & Stephen Donnelly podcast Socially Democratic 14 May 2021
Listen to this Scottish & English elections review, a one hour, podcast full of ideas about the way forward for international social democracy and independence movements. [Listen external link] Program notes from this excellent podcast series read: Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly was … [Read more...] about Scottish & English elections review – John McTernan & Stephen Donnelly podcast Socially Democratic 14 May 2021
Democrats should worry about British Labour’s collapse – by John Judis Talking Points Memo 8 May 2021
Democrats should worry about British Labour's terrible showing in elections last week. It has raised once again the urgent questions on the state and future of not only the ALP but of the centre left itself - see for example this good US commentary by John Judis of Talking Points memo. [Read … [Read more...] about Democrats should worry about British Labour’s collapse – by John Judis Talking Points Memo 8 May 2021