Polarising Labor figure punched in head at fiery branch meeting
A polarising Labor Party figure was punched in the head after tempers flared as more than 100 people tried to crash a political meeting in Melbourne’s west. This is what led to the violence. WATCH THE VIDEO
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A political brawl in Melbourne’s western suburbs became physical over the weekend after a factional figure in the Labor party was punched in the head.
Jasvinder Sidhu, an assistant secretary for the party’s Tarneit branch, was hosting a branch meeting at his home on Saturday when the dispute broke out.
Rising concerns over preselections meant more than 100 people turned up to the usually small event and an argument broke out over allegations of branch stacking.
It is understood Mr Sidhu caught Hoppers Crossing branch members by surprise by calling the impromptu morning meeting and hosting it at his home.
Powerbrokers in the party’s right-aligned and industrial left factions rushed to his home to make sure they maintained their numbers in a vote.
Mr Sidhu moved to cancel the event but a large group chanted “we want a meeting” and held their own event on his front lawn.
Witnesses told the Herald Sun conversations quickly became heated as Mr Sidhu asked a group of attendees to leave.
The argument got ugly and came to blows as a fired-up party member threw a punch at Mr Sidhu in response.
Police were called to the scene but no serious injuries were reported and no arrests were made.
Mr Sidhu said he had asked Victoria Police to investigate.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said authorities had been called to the scene after reports of an assault.
“The meeting at my house was scheduled but did not happen due to unacceptable behaviour,” Mr Sidhu said.
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It is understood Tarneit MP Sarah Connolly, upper house MP Kaushaliya Vaghela and Wyndham City Council Mayor Josh Gilligan were also at the meeting.
Tensions are flaring within the Labor Party as left and right factions jostle for control of key seats in Melbourne’s west and southeast.
The are concerns current MPs could lose their preselection well before the next election.
One Labor source said the factional jostling could be a sign of things to come.
“Stability is dead,” they said.