Jodi McKay calls truce with union heavyweight Daniel Walton
Jodi McKay and union heavyweight Daniel Walton have agreed to set aside tensions which were raised this week after the leaking of a damaging poll.
NSW
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Labor leader Jodi McKay has called a truce with union heavyweight Daniel Walton, who she had described as “a faceless” man after the leaking of a damaging poll.
The poll, leaked by the Health Services Union and Australian Workers Union, showed the party faced electoral annihilation with a primary vote of just 23.9 per cent.
Ms McKay attacked Mr Walton, the AWU national secretary, and HSU secretary Gerard Hayes for commissioning the polling, dubbing them “faceless men” trying to “coward punch” her.
In a statement released on Thursday, Ms McKay acknowledged that “in the heat of political life” sometimes things were said “that could be better phrased”.
Meeting with Mr Walton on Friday, Ms McKay said the pair had agreed to set aside the tensions of the past.
“Daniel and I have a robust relationship. We don’t agree on everything, but we certainly share a passion for the Labor Party. We both want the Party to succeed,” it said.
“Daniel and I have resolved to leave recent tensions in the past. I believe Daniel is a person of integrity who is committed to the interests of his members, the good governance of his union and the promotion of women.
“In the heat of political life, we all sometimes say things that could be better phrased. I look forward to working in a collegial manner with Daniel to achieve the Labor government the people of NSW expect and deserve.”
The polling threatened Ms McKay’s leadership, although Labor MPs hoping for a change at the helm remain divided on a successor.
There is also a reluctance to be seen to be changing leaders on the whim of the unions.
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