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Responses to the ALP leadership election result

By Tristan Ewins - posted Thursday, 17 October 2013


With a 'mixed mandate' from the ALP's first experiment with a rank and file component in electing the parliamentary leader, Bill Shorten needs to move straight away to implement the reforms he promised to the 'Local Labor' internal ALP lobby group and to the membership generally. This is crucial in order to keep the Party unified , cohesive and with high morale - as the ALP rebuilds and aims to retake government in three years.

We speak of a 'mixed mandate' here because Anthony Albanese achieved roughly 60% of the membership vote; while Bill Shorten won over 55 out of 86 caucus votes. The majority of the ALP grassroots have spoken.

Importantly, 'The Age' reported that the ALP Right was enforcing 'pairing' (ie: Voting in pairs to ensure factional discipline) to ensure their members were voting for Shorten in the caucus. (See: 'The Age' October 11th 2013) Here, perhaps the ALP Left could have pressed harder for a 'free vote' for members of both factions – as the condition for the Left itself relaxing its internal discipline on the leadership vote.

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That said, a number of members of the parliamentary Left decided to vote for Shorten. October 15th's edition of 'The Sydney Morning Herald' suggested perhaps as many as nine. Undoubtedly this had the effect of ensuring a Shorten victory. Perhaps four more Left votes for Albanese and the leadership would have been his.

Maybe Left figures who switched to Shorten felt they did so in good conscience – for what they perceived to be the Party's interests. There will be an internal debate about this which it it is not my intention to go into here. But were that the case – again there is an argument that it follows that Right MPs should have enjoyed the same freedom.

Hopefully the full story will come out in the coming days and we'll have a fuller appreciation of how this process has panned out.


But Labor had resolved to implement this process – to go down this path. Shorten achieved a majority according to the rules which had been agreed to upon 'the Rudd restoration' of June 2013.

A 50 per cent vote for the rank and file was still a step forward. Especially if there are more far-reaching reforms as part of the deal over the coming months. This could also include a stronger rank and file component in future elections for leader.


Another matter is that with Albanese recording such a strong vote amongst the members he deserves recognition. Shorten has already committed to Tanya Plibersek for the Deputy Leadership. Plibersek is certainly incredibly talented - and could have had a go at the leadership herself if she'd been inclined to do so. Importantly, Bowen has proven himself, having done a good job as Treasurer during the brief period allotted to him.. All this taken in to account, it would be fair for Albanese to have his choice of portfolio. And portfolios will be announced this coming Friday.

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Importantly: as part of an understanding for Labor 'to move forward together' perhaps Albanese could also be given the task of heading a Committee to oversee democratic Party organisational reform between now and the next ALP National Conference. The Committee would be comprised of people genuinely committed to the reform process. And their brief would be to actually implement reforms as soon as possible– and not to 'bury' the process through endless review.

With Albanese at the helm of such a committee Party reformers would have cause for hope that it won't happen that way.

And maybe the ALP's National Conference could be brought forward so that whatever policy positions are adopted that there is plenty of time to campaign on difficult issues which nonetheless are a matter of principle. (for example: increasing Newstart in the face of Conservative attacks)


On the plus side Shorten will make a very articulate leader. And he has credibility with regards his support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme; as he was instrumental in popularising the policy within the former ALP government, and to the general population.

But he has to overcome the 'Bill the Knife' tag. He needs to break through against those perceptions early on to stop it from undermining his position. On the night Shorten switched to support Rudd he looked like a ghost. Perhaps we will never know all that happened that night. But I am certain it was a very difficult decision which weighed heavily on him.

With such a close vote the pressure needs to be on within the ALP to implement further internal democratic reform quickly - starting immediately; With such a strong rank and file vote for Albanese, Shorten needs to move quickly on the democratic reform both candidates promised (though Albanese was more forthright there) to maintain morale and ensure the party's cohesion at this point and into the future.

Albanese overwhelmingly won the rank and file vote on the basis of unequivocal support for rank and file direct election to Conference and other reforms. Shorten supported such reforms too - giving personal guarantees to the membership and to the 'Local Labor' organisation – which numbers over 800 members on Facebook alone.

Although it should be noted that there are arguments against the much-discussed option of future 'US primary-style' community pre-selections. There is the danger of exhausting the ALP's human resources, and exhausting the financial resources of the broader labour movement. There is also the threat that 'money will talk', and the fundraisers will dominate the show. (as in the United States)

But if ALP reformers achieve direct election for National Conference the victory for internal Party democracy will still be great from their perspective. That is - so long as the Parliamentary Party then accepts the policy parameters set by Conference.

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About the Author

Tristan Ewins has a PhD and is a freelance writer, qualified teacher and social commentator based in Melbourne, Australia. He is also a long-time member of the Socialist Left of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He blogs at Left Focus, ALP Socialist Left Forum and the Movement for a Democratic Mixed Economy.
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