Factions fail so let’s try grassroots
Labor lost a talented senator because of backroom deals, says
THE very poor Federal Election result in Tasmania should convince new Labor leader Anthony Albanese to look closely at the way local factional politics failed to deliver anticipated victory in this state.
Two local members will not return to Canberra because the Tasmanian branch of the ALP could not convince enough voters to support a reforming new government.
A talented senator was quite deliberately demoted even when her popularity could have provided an extra Senate vote.
While many hours were wasted in backroom plotting and planning to maintain factional power, there was very little public campaigning to win over voters.
Who was visible on the campaign trail? Certainly, we know re-elected Julie Collins (Member for Franklin) and Brian Mitchell (Member for Lyons) were actively engaging with their constituents and northerners Ross Hart and Justine Keay ran creditable though unsuccessful local campaigns. But there was no Tasmanian Senate campaign even though an aspiring government should have been trying to maintain its numbers in the Senate.
Local preselectors ignored the reality that only Senator Singh at Number 1 had any chance of returning three Labor senators. Her strong personal vote in 2016 and 2019 demonstrated the benefit of a high-profile articulate senator in helping a party to project its policies, yet this political reality was swept aside.
As a result, Tasmania has now lost an important Labor voice in the Senate as well as two regional members and the ALP has lost the trust of many Tasmanian voters. Commentators will long argue about policies, personality and preference deals. Of course, there are always many explanations for political success or failure and analysis will continue for many months. However, the Tasmanian branch of the ALP cannot afford to ignore the need for reform, so it needs to address its internal management structures and ensure it develops transparent processes which recognise talent and capacity to engage with Tasmanian voters.
It needs to think more about promoting policies in the interest of the community rather than how relatives and friends can be installed to maintain the status quo.
It is a sad commentary on political life that fundamental issues of workplace ethics and procedural fairness can be ignored even by those who are members of a party that prides itself on its history and commitment to workers’ rights.
Claims of bullying and intimidation should be independently investigated together with some reports of sexist and racist rumourmongering to undermine competitors.
Recent factional manoeuvring has failed to deliver electoral success so it must be time that a more professional local party management structure was put in place that complies with expectations that are in line with community standards.
Many Tasmanians want to support the party of reform, but that party must also recognise its current failings and restore its reputation for giving everyone a fair go.
Sadly, that courtesy was not extended to one of Tasmania’s most effective senators, Lisa Singh.