“A system could be set up to allow progressive community groups and organisations that have the same values as Labor to have some sort of participation or affiliation with the party”

Earlier this year, the Federal Labor Party made history by changing the rules that allowed the rank and file membership of the ALP, for the very first time, to have a direct say in who would lead Australia’s oldest political party to the next federal election. These new rule changes were endorsed and ratified at Labor’s last caucus meeting before the September federal election in Sydney at the Balmain Town Hall, amongst a horde of screaming protesters who were outside protesting on everything from refugees to live exports.
On that historical day in Balmain, the Labor Caucus was upbeat despite the years of toxic leadership division. The polls had the Federal Labor Government and Prime Minister Rudd on the ascend. The two party preferred polling was showing Labor edging slowly towards the Abbott opposition if not on equal footing, at least in some of the polls being published that week. The rules on that day were changed and supported by all which gave the membership of the ALP a direct involvement in leadership ballots and a new enthusiasm.
Come September 7 the Labor Party and the enthusiasm that was coming from that last Caucus meeting in Balmain had all but disappeared after the loss to the Abbott led Coalition. At other times similar to this point in the history of the ALP, recriminations, blaming and finger pointing can occur, and with the leadership ructions that had taken place over the previous six years this could quite easily have been the Krakatoa volcanic eruption of all times in the ALP. But it wasn’t. So what made this defeat any different to other defeats?
The difference this time was that the entire Labor Party went into internal election mode. Not just the Caucus but the entire grass root rank and file members. This was a shot in the arm for the ALP at a time of ailment. It was like an antibiotic injected into the vein of a political party that was suffering from an elongated viral infection. In Labor’s case this was a leadership viral infection that affected the well being of the party, Labor leaders and Labor PM’s both past and present.
Since September 7, over 4,500 new members have joined the party and it continues to grow, over 30,000 members voted in a direct election of a new Labor leader, and a new enthusiasm has overwhelmed the party. But most important in this process is the exemplary behaviour and demeanour of the two leadership candidates. Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese sent out one of the most important and clear messages, not only to the rank and file of the ALP but to all Australians, that the time for internal ruckuses is over and the time for unity must be embraced immediately.
The newly elected leader, Bill Shorten, now has the absolute certainty that he will lead Labor to the next federal election. But to win the next Federal election the Australian voters must be certain that the Labor Party is focused on delivering good policy outcomes for the betterment of the nation and not focused on internal bickering. This is not to say that the previous Labor government under Prime Minister Rudd then Gillard and then Rudd again didn’t deliver policy outcomes for the betterment of Australia, in fact, some of the best policy was delivered in this era, like the National Disability scheme and the building of the Education Revolution that not only delivered much needed infrastructure to our schools, but also delivered thousands of jobs at a time of the global financial crises. A first ever by any Australian government to increase the pension, and let’s not forget Gonski that would have ensured all schools receive funding, ensuring that students will get the education they deserve. I can go on and on, but all of these important reforms were drowned out by the leadership disputes and internal bickering, therefore sending out the message of a Labor Party more interested in itself than policy reform, even though more policy reform was being implemented than ever before in the history of our nation under Rudd and Gillard.
The Labor Party rule changes that now allow rank and file grass roots involvement in electing the Labor leader has created a momentum that will contribute to an enthusiasm for more ongoing democratic changes. That enthusiasm has been so strong that more changes giving more say to the membership is now inevitable. There is a thirst by the membership for more active involvement, whether it is electing their leader or who they wish to anoint as candidates for parliament through direct elections. There is much more to do in the party structure reform area if we wish to inoculate ourselves from the infectious virus that made the party sick over the last six years, and the antibiotic to rid that sickness is more grass roots involvement and democracy. The Labor Party must be opened up not only to paid up ALP members but affiliates as well; like union members, they too must feel they can participate and have a say in the Labor party which their union is affiliated to, not just the leadership at the top of the unions but also the grass roots membership of the unions itself, therefore connecting them to the Labor party’s political process.
The new Labor leader Bill Shorten and his leadership team need to show that they are open to new ideas that will make Labor a more open and democratic political party by opening up the decision process and allowing as much participation as possible. This could be taken a step further by letting, as has been suggested by some, a system be set up to allow progressive community groups and organisations that have the same values as Labor to have some sort of participation or affiliation with the party as well.
Now is the time for bold party reforms that will give Labor the credibility that it needs to make it the party of choice in Australia. One thing is certain though, and that is that the taste of participation, to the extent that was afforded to rank and file members at this last Labor leadership ballot, will only grow and flourish.
Steve Georganas is a former federal Labor MP for the SA seat of Hindmarsh.