Bill Shorten willing to cut Labor ties to socialism

BILL Shorten wants to restart debate on whether Labor should maintain its near-century-long commitment to democratic socialism.

BILL Shorten wants to restart debate on whether Labor should maintain its near-century-long commitment to democratic socialism and is open to removing the symbolic mission statement from the party’s constitution.

Although few inside Labor are prepared to call for Labor’s 1921 socialist objective to be abolished, former prime minister Paul Keating says it is no longer relevant. “It’s now such an anachronistic description of what we are or need to be as to not warrant any continuing ­attachment,” Mr Keating says in a new book. “Of course it should be abolished.”

The socialist objective describes Labor as “a democratic socialist party” and binds members to support “the democratic socialisation of industry, production, distribution and exchange, to the extent necessary to eliminate exploitation ... in these fields”.

The Opposition Leader is welcoming debate as part of his plans to rebuild Labor. He has described it to colleagues as being “as useful as a 100-year-old street directory” and of little value in economic policymaking. Although Mr Shorten does not see abolishing the objective as a priority, and ­acknowledges there is a range of views inside the party, sources say he does not see it as relevant to the party’s future.

At a Fabian Society forum in Sydney tomorrow, opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen will reiterate his call for the objective to be abolished. “It’s time to scrap the socialist objective and have a clear, concise and modern explanation of Labor’s governing philosophy,” Mr Bowen writes in his book Hearts and Minds. “We can’t expect the public to be clear about what Labor stands for if we are not clear about this ourselves.”

However, many on Labor’s Left are opposed. ALP national president Jenny McAlister, from the Left, told The Australian she did not support altering the party’s core objective. “We should always be open to refreshing our philosophy and approach.

“My starting point in any debate will be support for social democracy.”

In an interview for Rudd, Gillard and Beyond, Mr Shorten said he did not describe himself as a “classical socialist” and did not support state ownership of the means of production.

The current objective was adopted three decades after the party was founded. It has long been contested and open to interpretation. In 1951, Labor resolved to pursue it only “to the extent necessary”.

The word “democratic” was added in 1957. A review in 1981 led to keeping the objective. Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd have also voiced support for the ­objective to be replaced.

Troy Bramston is the author of Rudd, Gillard and Beyond (Penguin)