Left to grab Victorian Labor’s top job
Jacinta Allan’s dominant Socialist Left faction tightens grip on Labor in ALP shakeup.
Socialist Left powerbroker Steve Staikos is poised to be appointed as the new chief of the Victorian ALP after the Right faction surrendered control of the top job.
In a significant internal power shift that tightens the Socialist Left’s control of the Victorian party at a federal and state level, the Right will relinquish control of the state secretary’s job.
The Australian has confirmed the administrative committee is set to rubber stamp the appointment of Mr Staikos as state secretary.
Labor sources describe the final sign off on the deal as a formality and the dominant Socialist Left, which includes Premier Jacinta Allan in its ranks, will assume control of the administrative wing.
“The Right has conceded that the position of state secretary must go to the Left, which has the numbers,” a source said.
The Australian can also reveal that well-regarded acting state secretary Cameron Petrie, who is a member of the Right, will not seek to be re-appointed as a party official and will leave Labor headquarters. It’s understood he will remain an active supporter of the ALP.
Mr Staikos is a veteran local councillor and mayor of Kingston Council, about 20km south of Melbourne, which takes in suburbs including Mentone, Pattersons Lakes, Noble Park, Keysborough and Springvale.
Mr Staikos’ political and social values are promoted on the council’s website which describes him as “passionate about social participation, multiculturalism, the environment and the arts”. “His priority policy areas include the Green Wedge, Sandbelt Open Space – Chain of Parks project, recycling, and the delivery of more social housing,” the council states.