Labor Party HQ quashes Campsie branch wishes to select candidates for Canterbury Bankstown Council
An internal party struggle has emerged following the NSW Labor Party’s decision to strip members of their right to select the candidates for the upcoming Canterbury-Bankstown Council elections.
The Express
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An internal party struggle has emerged following the NSW Labor Party’s decision to strip members of their right to select the candidates for the upcoming Canterbury-Bankstown Council elections.
In a leaked email to The Express, it was revealed that members of the Campsie ALP branch unanimously opposed the party’s decision to not conduct a rank-and-file selection process, where members vote on the candidates.
The ALP will instead allow party officers to decide the candidates.
The email includes a copy of a unanimous motion passed by all 25 Campsie ALP branch members, from former Labor Canterbury councillor Mark Adler to NSW ALP general secretary Kaila Murnain.
The motion “strongly opposes the decision not to conduct rank and file preselection ballots to determine Labor candidates for wards for the upcoming Canterbury Bankstown council elections”.
“We believe that this decision has denied local branch members the right to select their local candidates and is contrary to the democratic and fair principles that the Labor Party stands for. We are concerned that no reason at all has been given for this decision.”
The ALP confirmed that candidate selection across all five wards in Canterbury-Bankstown will “be made by resolution of the Party officers under Rule H. 15”.
It did not give a reason but said it was aware of the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into the former Canterbury Council.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Express that this process did not give candidates a fair go: “(Some individuals) should not be punished by not having a fair chance to run as a community representative due to a few individuals being investigated by ICAC”.
At the time of going to print, just six candidates had emerged for the elections on September 9. Nominations close tomorrow.
Liberal candidates Joseph Naddaf, Mirjana Maksimovic and Philip Madirazza have nominated for the Canterbury ward.
Independent Wendy Lindsay has put her hand up for Revesby ward and independent Lincoln Shafiqulla for the Roselands ward.
Joanne Kuniansky has nominated for the Bass Hill ward but did not state if she was an independent or affiliated with a party.
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