Unions call for Labor MPs to live closer to their electorates

A GROUP of powerful left-wing unions have called for the ALP to change a rule that — if adopted — may affect the electorate Opposition Leader Bill Shorten runs in at the next election.

A GROUP of powerful left-wing unions have called for the ALP to change its rules and force all Victorian Labor MPs to live within 5km of their seat.

A formal motion has been submitted to the party and will need to be considered at state conference in a fortnight, calling for a ban of candidates who are “enrolled at an address outside 5km” of the seat’s border.

It is understood the new rule, if adopted, would also affect sitting MPs. This would cause a cataclysm inside Labor with several senior federal MPs and state ministers currently living in suburbs well outside their electorates.

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The issue of where MPs live flared last year when it was revealed Labor speaker Telmo Languiller and his deputy Don Nardella rorted taxpayer money by claiming to live in the country.

Mr Languiller claimed almost $40,000 by claiming to live in Queenscliff while representing the western suburbs seat of Tarneit, while Mr Nardella rorted almost $100,000 by claiming to live in Ocean Grove while representing the outer western suburbs seat of Melton.

Unions in the “Industrial Left”, including the construction union CFMEU, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, and the Health and Community Sector Union, put forward the motion ahead of a “launch” of the new grouping on Friday night.

They also want Labor to close the “flood gates to privatisation” and create laws to “protect workers”.

RTBU state secretary Luba Grigorovitch, said the value of engaging face-to-face with local voters “can’t be denied”.

“It’s outrageous to think an MP will claim to represent their community, but refuse to live in the electorate,” she said.

Federal MPs affected would include Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus who lives in Malvern but represents the seat of Isaacs, which takes in suburbs including Dandenong South.

Shadow Justice Minister Clare O’Neill lives in East Melbourne while representing Hotham in Melbourne’s southeast, while Shadow Assistant Minister for Schools Andrew Giles lives in Clifton Hill but represents Scullin, which takes in Epping and Thomastown.

A change might also affect where Opposition Leader Bill Shorten runs in at the next election, after his current seat of Maribyrnong was split during a federal redistribution.

A group of powerful left-wing unions have called for the ALP to change a rule that — if adopted — may affect the electorate Opposition Leader Bill Shorten runs in at the next election. Picture Kym Smith

Andrews Government ministers affected would include Treasurer Tim Pallas, Roads Minister Luke Donnellan, Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Attorney-General Martin Pakula, and Health Minister Jill Hennessy.

The only exception to the proposed rule would be if a seat’s boundaries changed beyond the 5km radius after a redistribution.

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