Labor groups in stalemate over policy platform weeks from polling day

Victorian Labor operatives have become embroiled in a battle over the final version of their policy platform less than five weeks out from polling day.

Victorian Labor is yet to release its policy platform less than a week before the campaign officially begins, with internal fighting continuing among the party’s unions and members.

Groups within the party are yet to resolve a long-running dispute about the key policy document, which is typically released well before an election to detail a party’s vision for their time in state government.

The Liberals and the Greens have both released their own lists detailing much of their policy agenda, with further announcements to come.

But Labor operatives have been unable to reach an agreement on the final version of their policy platform less than five weeks out from polling day.

Plans to release it by the end of October are under a cloud as warring sides struggle to reach a resolution.

In 2018, the party’s policy platform was available as early as July that year.

Union officials are still pushing for key policies to be included in the manifesto and internal brawling has broken out over how the policy has written.

The Transport Workers Union, the Australian Services Union and the United Firefighters Union were among those who lashed the process, with multiple party figures complaining about the control of the Premier’s Private Office.

Union officials are still pushing for key policies to be included in the manifesto. Picture: Luis Ascui

Staffers within the office wrote the draft version platform, said to be done outside of work hours, and sparked a backlash from affiliated unions.

They complained that the election agenda is usually written after consultation with unions and members but that this process was unfairly overridden because Victorian Labor is still under the control of a takeover from the federal branch.

Instead, PPO staffers wrote the platform and the draft was sent out to members which included proposals to investigate a four-day working week, a Christmas Eve public holiday and a gas reserve policy.

Although not yet official policy, it enraged sections of the party because it was written without their consultation and was instead sent out to rank and file members on September 16 with a deadline of just over a week for feedback.

The document was then meant to be released in October but ongoing internal feuding has meant Victorian Labor is struggling to reach an agreement meet his deadline.

Insiders continue to war with the PPO over issues with the platform, blaming them for being cut out of the process and now refusing to meet their demands.

One senior figure said:

“They keep kicking their own goals led by the Premier’s senior staff who have time and time again demonstrated a lack of respect for affiliated unions and party volunteers.

“Their own processes have held back fresh policies that could have already been announced to the broader public.”

If the issue is not resolved, the party’s national executive could become involved to iron out the dispute.