ALP bloodshed to Marles’ advantage
FEDERAL Labor deputy and Corio MP Richard Marles has regained factional control and his position is reinforced after the sacking of a Victorian colleague who was a threat to his leadership, a senior Deakin University politics lecturer says.
Dr Geoff Robinson said the demise of factional warlord Adem Somyurek would allow Mr Marles to grasp control of federal Labor’s Right wing that has the balance of power within the branch.
“It advances his position. (Marles) is from the trade union-establishment group on the Right,” Dr Robinson said.
“A grouping emerged around Somyurek that was ambitious and wanted to challenge that and to a degree went to war with (Marles’) group. (Somyurek) became a threat to them in terms of his own ambition.”
Mr Somyurek was tossed from the ALP and the Victorian parliament on Monday after branch-stacking claims were levelled against him in a TV report. He has denied wrongdoing.
Mr Marles did not respond directly to the Geelong Advertiser’s questions this week about what Mr Somyurek’s sacking meant for his position.
Dr Robinson said Mr Marles’ standing within the party could grow further, with those loyal to Mr Somyurek likely to try to make amends.
“The Marles grouping is back in control of the Right wing of the party,” he said.
“Presumably the remnants of the Somyurek machine will try to make their peace, escape the carnage and devastation, and switch sides pretty rapidly.”
Dr Robinson, a former Labor Party member, said the ALP was unlikely to go back to the Right faction for a leader any time soon.
“You had a Victorian trade union Right-winger in (former leader) Bill Shorten and that didn’t end very well (at the last election). Marles looks too much like Bill Shorten.
“If you are going to have a federal leader from the Left and a deputy from the Right, (Marles’) position is reinforced from that sense.”
Mr Marles was elevated to the deputy Labor leadership last year alongside Anthony Albanese from the Left of the party.
Mr Shorten and Mr Marles held prominent positions with the Australian Workers’ Union and Australian Council of Trade Unions respectively before going into parliament.
“Federally, the party has to move away from seen as being run by Victorian trade union officials. The Right has the numbers in federal caucus,” Dr Robinson.