HSU votes to cut ties with NSW Labor Party in major financial blow

The Health Services Union has voted to disaffiliate from the party amid growing animosity between NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes and Labor Leader Jodi McKay.

THE Health Services Union has voted to cut ties with NSW Labor in a move which is set to cost the party around $250,000 in donations a year.

The dramatic blow to the party comes amid growing animosity between HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes and Labor Leader Jodi McKay.

“Our Union is relentlessly member-focused. We no longer believe affiliation to NSW Labor represents value for money,” HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said in a statement.

He said the HSU was paying around $250,000 a year into the Labor party’s coffers due to its affiliation.

Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes has disafilliated his group from the Labor Party. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Polling released by the HSU and the Australian Workers Union this month showed support for Labor at 100 year lows.

Labor Leader Jodi McKay accused Mr Hayes of a “coward’s punch from behind” for his role in releasing the polling to the media.

“We felt it was in the public interest to release this polling to the media to spark the honest, transparent conversation needed to trigger a revival of Labor’s fortunes,” Mr Hayes said.

“Unfortunately the leader of NSW Labor responded with personal insults.

“We therefore have little faith that Labor is likely to improve its performance any time soon,” Mr Hayes said.

The move is a big blow for NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

The decision to disaffiliate was taken in a meeting of the Union Council. Mr Hayes abstained from the vote.

“This decision was made democratically and after careful consideration,” Mr Hayes said.

The HSU previously disaffiliated from Labor a decade ago, before seeking to rejoin the party in 2016.