Leader talks up cultural change
THE state Labor Party is working through some issues but would emerge as a stronger organisation, parliamentary leader Rebecca White says.
Speaking after the party’s national executive sacked the state president and postponed its annual conference, Ms White said the party was undergoing a cultural change which was inevitably difficult.
“I want to assure the Tasmanian community that the Labor Party is focused on making sure that we are a strong organisation that can best represent the Tasmanian community and that can win elections so that we can deliver in government the types of improvements in Tasmanians lives that they want to see and they’re not getting right now,” she said.
“But I also think it’s important to note that culture change is hard and it can take time and what’s happening in the Labor Party right now is a culture change.
“But I think it’s also important that this occurs to ensure that we do develop a really strong Labor Party that can work in best interests of the Tasmanian community.”
On top of an election loss, a factional civil war and a series of leadership changes, the party has also lost rising star, health spokesman Bastian Seidel after just a year in politics.
Ms White did not deny the party had suffered its share of difficulties.
“I think people have sadly seen through the media, there have been some issues within the Labor Party they’ve been exposed at the last few months,” she said.
“I’m determined to work with my colleagues to make sure that the Labor Party is a strong organisation, that it is an inclusive organisation, that it is a forward-thinking progressive organisation that will represent the community of Tasmania will and hold the government to account.
“There have been changes that have already taken place in the organisation.
“They are a part of a number of changes that I believe need to continue to occur to ensure that we are as strong as we can be and the best version of the Labor Party that we can be to make sure we can win elections and deliver good government for the people of Tasmania.”
Ms White said she believed she still had the support of her colleagues to continue in the role of leader.
Labor administrative committee member and HACSU boss Tim Jacobson on Wednesday described the federal intervention as “extraordinary and over the top”.
“In my opinion these two matters that were dealt with would have been by request of the state branch of the party I would gather either by the state secretary Stuart Benson or the leader Rebecca White,” he told ABC radio.
“The most significant loser out of this is democracy. It has denied that of its membership.
State conference is the only time in the year where both rank and file members and union delegates can get together and talk about policy but also in the context of what’s going on at the moment ask questions and have those questions answered.”
Liberal Minister Sarah Courtney said the ALP was suffering a crisis of leadership.
“Clearly, what we’re seeing Labor in chaos … the party is absolutely imploding,’’ she said.
“I think it’s very disappointing for those Tasmanians that voted for Labor representatives that they’re behaving in this way, Labor is absolutely at sea at the moment.
“There is a leadership void from the Labor Party, and it clearly shows.”