Comments on: Macarthur musical chairs

By: Paul (Australia Votes)

Paul (Australia Votes) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:38:08 +0000

I always though Nick Bleasdale was related to Blacktown City Councillor Tony Bleasdale. If he is wouldn’t he be better served trying to get preselected in Chifley or Greenway? If not then disregard this comment

By: Nick C

Nick C — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:03:07 +0000

James, seems to me Ben has written an excellent summary of and commentary on this saga. I’m not sure how you can call referencing the media reports and writing your own overview of the story plagiarism.

By: James

James — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:20:45 +0000

It is a very good read but it all seems to be plaguerised from all the media outlets.
The author should get a job from fairfax

By: Nick C

Nick C — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:01:02 +0000

Andrew McDonald speaks out:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/mp-slams-labor-over-federal-seat-deal-20091107-i2sq.html

By: Oz

Oz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:33:14 +0000

I think people are conflating the issue of factions and branch stacking.

I don’t have a problem with factions in a general sense. They exist in some form or another in every political party.

The ALP factions have historically been based on ideology. The formalised structure of the factions in the ALP is unique in Australia and I don’t know how many parties around the world have such a rigorous factional structure.

One of the downsides of the ALP’s structure is that the membership votes en bloc on factional lines. But, like MDM said, this is a reflection the membership itself.

A cynical way of looking at the preselection committee formed by Rudd is to say that the ALP has a 4 or 5 groupings and members of each vote together anyway, so let’s cut out the middleman (rank and file votes) and just let individuals represent them.

By: David Walsh

David Walsh — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:10:08 +0000

If the NSW Labor Party genuflected to the primacy of branch level preselections then Kelly Hoare and Michael Hatton would still be in parliament.

By: MDMConnell

MDMConnell — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:18:47 +0000

It will be interesting to see whether the ‘primary’ style system being trialled in a couple of seats will catch on.

By: Hamish Coffee

Hamish Coffee — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:09:26 +0000

“Also, if the problem is that you have a “small handful” of branch members, maybe you should be doing what you can to encourage more people to join the party.”

You branch stacker you.

By: Ben Raue

Ben Raue — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:55:20 +0000

-Because they are the people who will be working to get that person elected.
-Because, short of having a primary, they are the only way in which people in a local area have a say in deciding their MP in a safe seat.
-Because the current alternative is to have a small handful of factional warlords choose every single MP.
-Because it diffuses power within the party.

Also, if the problem is that you have a “small handful” of branch members, maybe you should be doing what you can to encourage more people to join the party. Letting them actually have a say in who is in Parliament and the direction of the party might do that.

By: David Walsh

David Walsh — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:50:21 +0000

I’m not sure I understand the logic that says the small handful of branch members are the people best placed to choose potential members of parliament.