Deputy PM in union membership stacking claim
Richard Marles is among more than a dozen MPs and staffers to be dumped from a union’s voting roll as the battle for control of the TWU heats up.
Victoria
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Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has become embroiled in allegations of membership stacking inside the powerful Transport Workers Union.
As the fight for control of one of the most influential Labor Right unions intensifies, the Herald Sun can reveal Mr Marles was one of more than a dozen MPs and political staffers this week removed from the union’s formal voting roll.
They include federal MPs Sam Rae and Rob Mitchell, Victorian police minister Anthony Carbines, two of his staffers, and fellow Victorian MPs Sarah Connolly, Melissa Horne and Matt Fregon.
More than 20 people were removed from the roll after a formal AEC complaint was lodged alleging they had no standing or voting rights in any election or at any meeting of a body of the Union.
Labor’s candidate in Ripon in the upcoming state election, Martha Haylett, was also bumped from the roll.
The complaint was filed by tip-truck driver Luke McCrone, the brother of Daniel Andrews’ deputy chief of staff Jessie McCrone, who is a candidate for the role of secretary.
“We write to you regarding the integrity of the membership roll maintained by the Vic/Tas Branch of the Transport Workers’ Union,” he wrote.
“During the campaign for the 2022 Vic/Tas branch elections, currently underway, several issues have come to light that raise serious concerns regarding the integrity of the union’s membership roll and the voting process for the union’s elections.
“In short, there exists considerable evidence that the TWU’s current officials have engaged in “stacking” the membership roll to pervert the election outcome.”
On Thursday the AEC confirmed it had adjusted the Roll of voters accordingly.
“The TWU should be run by and for drivers and transport workers - not a toy for members of parliament and wannabe politicians,” Mr McCrone told the Herald Sun.
“Even after the AEC has booted these fake members off the roll, the TWU’s current regime still hasn’t provided a membership list free of political hacks.
“Maintaining a proper membership roll is one of the most basic requirements of running a union.
“If (secretary) Mike McNess and (deputy secretary) Mem Suleyman can’t even manage that, then it’s time they were voted out.”
A union spokesperson said that as a former assistant secretary of the TWU ,and the current deputy Prime Minister, Mr Marles is a powerful voice for transport workers in the Federal Government.
“He’s in fact a proud 25 year member. We are proud to have him amongst our ranks,” he said.
“The allegations by the disgruntled former employee is grossly incorrect. The AEC determines who is and isn’t eligible to vote in our elections and the TWU meets and exceeds all of its administrative requirements.”
Mr McNess did not respond to requests for comment.
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