Red shirts campaign architect Stephen Donnelly steps down as Labor assistant state secretary

The operative who created Labor’s “red shirts” campaign team is standing down as the party’s assistant state secretary after helping lead it to two state election victories.

The Labor operative who created the “red shirts” campaign team is standing down as the party’s assistant state secretary.

Stephen Donnelly announced his departure this week after helping lead Labor to two state election victories.

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He created the party’s Community Action Network which sent thousands of Labor volunteers into suburbs across the state to campaign by doorknocking and phoning voters.

But the “red shirts” team became mired in controversy in the wake of the 2014 state election after the Herald Sun revealed Labor MPs used their parliamentary budgets to part-pay the campaign field organisers.

Labor assistant state secretary Stephen Donnelly is stepping down. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Victoria Police is still considering whether to lay charges over the rort, which was slammed in a damning Victorian Ombudsman’s report last year.

Labor has since paid back almost $388,000 of taxpayers’ money which was misused.

In a statement, Mr Donnelly said he would now open his own campaign consultancy house called Dunn Street.

“After six years at Victorian Labor, I feel it’s time for my organising story to move onto the next chapter,” he said.

“I’m immensely proud of my work to build the Community Action Network — an organisation that trained and developed 90 field organisers and hundreds of volunteer leaders, giving them the skills and energy to recruit and empower over 10,000 volunteers and activists across this state.”

Premier Daniel Andrews with Labor campaigners. Picture: Julian Smith/AAP)

Under Labor rules, Mr Donnelly’s replacement is almost certain to be a woman.

He said he was “delighted and inspired” the Community Action Network would be “led by fierce, talented women”.

Labor state secretary Sam Rae praised Mr Donnelly’s work developing the Community Action Network, which he said was “an unprecedented force of thousands of volunteers and community activists”.

“He has brought energy and enthusiasm to campaigning, and fundamentally changed the nature of political communication in Australia,” Mr Rae said.

“This grassroots organising network has empowered Victorians to engage in progressive politics and create change in their own communities.”

He paid tribute to his role in the party’s 2014 and 2018 state election victories.

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