Anthony Albanese’s Labor Left faction in ‘crisis-control’ mode

NSW’s Labor Left faction due to meet for an emergency gathering to consider state branch ‘crisis’.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is a member of the NSW Labor Left faction. Picture: AAP

Anthony Albanese’s NSW Labor’s Left faction will meet at Trades Hall in central Sydney on Satur­day for “an emergency meeting” to consider the “crisis” in the party’s state branch, reeling from a donations scandal, and begin a campaign “to fix” it.

The Weekend Australianhas obtained a “campaign pack” circulated among Left-faction members urging rank and file to move motions at branches and write submissions to an organis­ational review led by former ­attorney-general Michael Lavarch.

The Left faction argues that Labor is no longer democratic, governance structures are failing, the party secretary has too much power and head office is no longer upholding values of integrity or professionalism.

The “emergency” meeting comes after the federal Opposition Leader and state leader Jodi McKay announced an independent review into the party office that will consider the role of the party’s general secretary with a view to improving transparency and accountability. It will also consider how the party fulfils its legal obligations concerning donations and fundraising.

“It’s important that as many rank-and-file members as possible have their say in the review into NSW Labor,” NSW Left secretary Rosie Ryan wrote this week.

“This Saturday, we are having an emergency meeting of the NSW Left to bring members ­together to look at the causes of this crisis and kick off a campaign to fix NSW Labor.”

Although Ms McKay said a new general secretary would not be appointed until the review was completed, the NSW Labor Right faction endorsed Bob Nanva as its candidate for the party’s top post on Monday night. Mr Nanva is the national secretary of the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

The Left faction “campaign pack” says the “structure and culture of NSW Labor is broken”. It calls for democratisation of the party conference, strengthening ongoing governance of the branch, changes to the appointment of the general secretary, and improving the professionalism and culture in the party office. “Party members and affiliated unions have had to endure a decade of rolling scandals that have diminished trust in our party and cost us the chance to win government at a state and federal level.”

The Left faction also says members need “a real voice in the management” of the party, those in leadership positions “should be accountable to party members” and the party should aspire to act with “honesty, integrity and professionalism” in all of its dealings.

The faction is holding “emergency” meetings across the state, including one in Annandale on Wednesday night organised by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne.