Friction in the factions as Queensland Labor Party prepares for annual conference

A FACTIONAL storm is brewing within Queensland Labor ahead of its annual conference which begins on Friday, writes Sarah Vogler.

The anti abortion rally in Brisbane earlier this year. The Left believes the overhaul will help attract new members on single issues such as decriminalising abortion. Picture: Annette Dew

A FACTIONAL storm is brewing within Queensland Labor ahead of its annual conference which begins on Friday.

Not only are delegates preparing to do battle over motions such as fast-tracking voluntary assisted dying and decriminalising sex work, they are also readying for a fight over a major overhaul of the Queensland ALP’s rules.

Queensland Labor Party leader Annastacia Palaszczuk faces testing times at this Fridays annual conference with the party’s factions are set to go head to head. Picture: AAP/Darren England

Changes on the table include allowing new members to join the party without having to also join a local branch. Instead, they will be able to join via an “equity group” such as Labor Women, Young Labor, Rainbow Labor, or Multicultural Labor.

Under the current rules, a member can’t vote in preselections unless they have been a registered member of a branch for six months. They can also not stand as a candidate for public office unless they have registered with a branch.

The changes would mean that rather than turning up to a branch meeting, new members could attend events held by equity groups to qualify, and to secure voting rights.

The current system of state and federal electoral councils – SECs and FECs – would also be overhauled under the proposal. These councils currently conduct state and federal election campaigns and oversee the activities of branches, among other responsibilities.

The Left believe the overhaul will help the party grow by attracting new members based on particular issues, such as abortion decriminalisation. They argue it ensures the party is able to hold on to new members for longer because they will only have to attend events they are interested in.

They also argue that the current branch structure is old, outdated and almost irrelevant.

However, the Right – Labor Forum – are not happy and argue the changes will have a “devastating” impact on branches.

Queensland Unions and the Labor Party were united for the annual Labour Day march in May. Picture: AAP/Darren England

“If successful, these changes will destroy the way branch members participate in our party,” the faction argues in a flyer to its members that calls on them to campaign against the move.

“We are not a party of single issues. We are a party made up of local branches who share a common belief in a fair go for all.

“This proposal will destroy the sense of community and solidarity among members, while splitting up the Labor Party into more subgroups and factions.”

They argue the FECs and SECs help keep MPs and candidates “connected and accountable to the party membership”.

“Without the cooperation across branches through these units, individual branches will be cut off from the broader part in their area.”

They are accusing the Left of trying to tear the foundations of the Labor Party apart. The Right also believes this will allow factions and candidates to “stack” issues groups with members to help secure preselection. The Left, however, argues it will make it harder to game the system.

The rule changes have been in the works for a while. Labor’s heavy losses in 2012 helped push things along.

Many supporters of the changes believe overhauling the branch structure is the next logical step if the party is to continue to grow.

The changes have already been the subject of fierce debate in branches in the lead-up to the conference next weekend.

Battles between the Right and Left over party rules are nothing new. It would not be a Labor conference without them. These battles are also notoriously acrimonious.

This was evident before the 2015 election, when the factions came to blows over how future state leaders would be selected.

The Right wanted a 50-50 split between the votes of the state MPs and the membership. The Left wanted it to be split three ways – between the MPs, members, and affiliated unions. The Left won.

With more than 50 per cent of the vote on the floor of the conference, the Left is assured of a victory on the branch reforms, but the Right will not go down without a fight.