Fresh twist in Labor’s branch stacking scandal as report calls for membership processes overhaul

A report into Victorian Labor has called for a total overhaul of its membership processes with branch stacking more sophisticated than ever.

A damning report into Victorian Labor has called for a total overhaul of its membership processes after it found branch stacking had “brazenly increased” and become more sophisticated.

The long-awaited review by administrators of the party, prompted by the secret tapes scandal that cost three Andrews Government ministers their portfolios, has been completed and will be considered by Labor’s national executive this Friday.

In it, former Premier Steve Bracks and former federal frontbencher Jenny Macklin have delivered a scathing review of the internal workings of the party in Victoria.

They found there had been numerous attempts to stop branch stacking, in which political operatives organise and recruit and large groups of people to sway key decisions, since the 1990s.

But none of these efforts were successful and warlords with Labor became more complex over time to avoid changes to rules.

“Their methods have become more sophisticated and the scale has brazenly increased,” the reports reads.

Former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks arrives to a press conference in Melbourne. Picture: AP Image/James Ross

“Rule changes may impede branch stacking, but rules alone will not break it.”

Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin found the ‘contemporary branch stacking business model” relied on cash and other none traceable payments to fund the enrolment of “non-genuine members”.

Address details were often changed or moved around, meetings moved around to assist powerbrokers in flooding branches and memberships renewed in bulk with little oversight.

“It is clear the problems of branch stacking go beyond a certain group of people operating in isolation from the rest of the party,” the report reads.

“Organisational inertia, poor culture and a level of acceptance of the practices meant requirements under the rules were not always observed, the administrative process and systems were poor, and the governance and assurance overseeing membership was practically non-existent.

“Branch secretaries are volunteer Party officials who are expected to run fair, objective processes consistent with the Party rules.

“Too often, they have been the co-ordinators or key lieutenants of a branch stacking operation.”

The administrators have recommended 37 sweeping reforms, delivered after consultation with the head of each faction within Victorian Labor.

Among the most significant are a requirement that new members cannot have voting rights until two years after their first meeting, fees no longer be paid with cash and that memberships be verified with photo ID.

They have also urged for Victorian Labor to add more than 7000 members by December 2024 to drown out the influence of branch stackers with genuine numbers.

But other parts of the report are set to be hotly contested, with frustration with the party over a push to keep all sitting MPs unopposed at the next state and federal elections.

The decision would also cause consternation within the union movement who pay large amounts of money to Victorian Labor in dues.

The issue is expected to come to a head at national executive on Friday.

OPERATIVE EMBROILED IN BRANCH STACKING GETS NEW GIG

A Victorian Labor operative found guilty by his own party of branch stacking and adding to racial tensions is still employed by the Andrews Government at an electorate office.

The Herald Sun can reveal Jasvinder Sidhu, who a Labor tribunal earlier this year found had engaged in “stoking ethnic tensions” and branch stacking, is working once a week for South Eastern Metro MP Lee Talarmis.

The internal disputes panel met over Mr Sidhu’s membership in February after a hastily-convened branch meeting at his house broke out into violence and after the revelation of leaked recordings in which he said Lebanese Muslims were sponging off taxpayers.

He was banned from running for political office for seven years but escaped expulsion from the party.

Mr Sidhu has maintained his innocence and had intended to appeal the findings, but these processes within Labor have been paused while administrators maintain control of the Victorian branch.

It comes as ructions grow within the party over its internal branch stacking investigation, with insiders questioning why members of the Socialist Left, such as Mr Sidhu, have retained their membership while members of the Right have been expelled.

“Electorate office staffing is a matter for the Department of Parliamentary Services and individual members,” a government spokeswoman said.

Jasvinder Sidhu employed by Daniel Andrews’ government at an electorate office Supplied Facebook

The dramatic intervention into Victorian Labor was prompted after an explosive secret tapes scandal that involved political staffers and led to the resignation of three Cabinet ministers.

Administrators Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin are set to expel thousands from Victorian Labor in the wake of the saga.

In September, a ban on cash payments and new requirements to provide email and phone contacts were set to see a significant share of memberships expire.

But a detailed clean-up centred around branch stacking is also expected to end with more than a thousand people expelled.

Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin have completed their final report but it remains to be seen how senior figures within Victorian Labor will rollout the recommendations in contains.

The administrators have been appointed until January 31 and normal leadership roles such as the party’s committees are currently suspended.

Its expected new methods of governance will be needed to implement the report, with the possibility another set of administrators could appointed to oversee these changes.