Labor weakened after thousands of supporters fail to renew memberships

A quarter of Labor’s base in Victoria has been essentially wiped overnight and senior figures have already started pointing the finger.

Thousands of Victorian Labor supporters have not renewed their memberships, weakening the party as senior MPs warn an ongoing court fight is curtailing their campaign machine.

The Herald Sun can reveal about 3000 members did not pay their dues before last week’s deadline, essentially wiping a quarter of Labor’s base in Victoria after another 1700 were expelled last year in an effort to clean up branch-stacking that had dogged the party.

It is understood many were members affected by a ban on cash payments, and while some of these members could still return, senior figures fear they are unlikely to maintain their involvement while they are denied voting rights by a national takeover of the state branch.

That intervention is being challenged in a Supreme Court battle that federal MPs warn is preventing them from preselecting marginal seat candidates and raising money for the next election.

Scott Morrison could send voters to the polls as early as August, before a redistribution is finalised that will create the new Victorian seat of Hawke.

It is at the centre of the court action as Labor powerbrokers fight over the candidate for what is expected to be a safe seat.

Marlene Kairouz is suing Labor to prevent being kicked out of the party

While the Prime Minister remains committed to holding the election next year, a federal Labor MP said the government could benefit from an early poll.

“The Liberals are doing their preselections and are practically done while we’ve got the brakes on,” the MP said.

Sources within the state branch say the party has been unable to push ahead with major fundraising events and campaigning while it awaits the results of two Supreme Court trials challenging last year’s federal takeover that was backed by Daniel Andrews.

Former Andrews government minister Marlene Kairouz is suing Labor to prevent being kicked out of the party, while a group of unions launched a similar bid to ensure they and members have a say on preselections.

The feud with sections of the union movement could also deprive Labor of a significant source of funding and resources during campaigns.

One insider said the factional fight was “centred around self interest”.

“Every dollar thrown into this court case is a dollar less the party will have to spend in Chisholm, Deakin, Macnamara and Wills,” the source said.

Another federal MP said Victorian Labor had the strongest case to make against the Morrison government, over the vaccine rollout and hotel quarantine, but was currently hamstrung.

“The starting gun has been fired,” the MP said.

“This is a drag … it is frustrating when we should be on a campaign footing.”