‘No oversight or accountability’: Daniel Andrews’ Socialist Left faction gains ‘complete control’

The Premier has ‘decapitated’ the Right faction of the Victorian Labor Party, leaving his Socialist Left faction with ultimate control.

Daniel Andrews has galvanised his control of the ALP, with his Socialist Left faction gaining absolute control of the party.

A landslide victory in this month’s internal elections means the faction is on track to hold two thirds of the 300 member delegate positions.

It will give the faction absolute control of the Victorian branch’s administration and policy and allow it to influence preselections.

Labor figures say such dominant control over the party hasn’t been seen since the 1960s.

“It’s all about control, now he’s secured the numbers which will give him complete control,” one Labor source said.

“There will be no oversight or accountability from within the party.”

Sources said the Right faction of the party had now been “decapitated”.

In the wake of the party’s November election win, a group of seven Right-aligned MPs switched to the SL, boosting the Premier’s grip on government.

Those to deflect included Treasurer Tim Pallas and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos.

Labor sources said Mr Andrews’ growing dominance was a concern.

Andrews’ Socialist Left faction has gained full control over the Labor Party. Picture: Aaron Francis

“The bottom line is Andrews’ overwhelming control of the State Parliamentary Labor Party and the organisational wing of the party effectively eliminates the notion of democratic socialism with no room for accountability or dissent,” one source said.

“So masterly played by Dan and his federal MP SL backers who were key masterminds of the national intervention into Victorian Labor,” they said.

Former Premier Steve Bracks and ex-deputy federal leader Jenny Macklin took control of Victorian Labor under a bold intervention in 2020.

The extraordinary move was prompted by allegations of branch stacking which led to the expulsion of former powerbroker Adem Somyurek from the party.

Since that time, the National Executive took control of all preselections for the state and federal elections.

Before the takeover, the Premier’s Socialist Left faction was outnumbered in caucus by a coalition of Right-aligned unions and the Industrial Left.

That group, spearheaded by Mr Somyurek, also controlled the party’s administrative committee.

The internal elections were the first time in almost three years Victorian party members have been able to exercise their voting rights.

A state conference is scheduled for June 17 and 18.