FED:Labor flags membership changes

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2011
FED:Labor flags membership changes

CANBERRA, Feb 18 AAP - A review of the Labor Party has proposed non-members get a say
in who stands for election.

Party stalwarts John Faulkner, Bob Carr and Steve Bracks were commissioned to review
Labor's 2010 election campaign and its performance since 2007.

Their report was presented to a meeting of the party's national executive in Brisbane on Friday.

One of the recommendations is to involve people who are not members but are supportive
of the party's philosophy in preselecting candidates.

This would mean preselections in non-Labor held seats, or seats where Labor candidates
are retiring, would involve 20 per cent community members, 20 per cent members of affiliated
unions and 60 per cent branch members.

"This is a very significant step in terms of plebiscites or primaries (used in the
United States) in Australian politics and a very significant move in terms of re-establishing
Labor's links with the community," Senator Faulkner said.

Former ALP members who have let their membership lapse over the past five years would
be able to rejoin free of charge and be entitled to the same voting rights as other members.

Other community involvement would come through party policy committees which could
co-opt people with experience in particular areas to assist.

"Nothing came through more clearly ... than the poor state of Labor's membership,"

Senator Faulkner said.

"We say as a review committee we've got as a party an obligation to turn this around."

He said the party would set a target for growth and start an "outreach organisation"

for Labor supporters who are not members.

The executive received two other reports, looking at the 2010 election and changes
to the way cabinet ministers are appointed, but declined to release them.

It will meet again on April 8 to consider the reports.

The proposed changes will be debated at the ALP's national conference in December.

AAP pjo/jl/apm

KEYWORD: LABOR

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