David O’Byrne elected as Tasmanian Labor leader

David O’Byrne has been elected after a leadership stoush marked by allegations of dirty tricks, bullying and factional bastardry.

David O'Byrne has been appointed Tasmanian Labor leader. Picture: Chris Kidd

Left faction-backed MP David O’Byrne has been elected as Tasmanian Labor leader, after a leadership stoush marked by allegations of dirty tricks, bullying and factional bastardry.

Mr O’Byrne defeated unaligned “moderate” candidate Shane Broad in a ballot of the party’s membership and conference delegates which closed late on Tuesday.

Dr Broad’s backers said the vote not a level playing field, given the control over much of the conference vote held by Left wing unions backing Mr O’Byrne.

The conference delegate vote constituted 50 per cent, the same weighting as the rank and file component. Overall, Mr O’Byrne secured 74 per cent of the total vote.

“I congratulate David O’Byrne MP on his election and welcome this new era for the Tasmanian Labor Party,” said ALP state secretary Stuart Benson.

“This ballot allowed the vast majority of Party members the opportunity to vote in a historic democratic process. That’s part of Labor’s proud history of allowing members a say in their Party’s decision making.”

Mr O’Byrne is yet to comment but has previously promised to unite Labor, which suffered its third consecutive state election loss on May 1, after a campaign marred by infighting.

The 52-year-old is an experienced two-time MP and former unionist, who served as a minister from 2010 to 2014.

When confirming his candidacy for the leadership, Dr Broad launched a vociferous attack on the party’s dominant Left wing powerbrokers, whom he likened to school bus bullies.

The ballot, conducted via post and online, saw The Australian leaked a video of Mr O’Byrne in a late night rant. There were also complaints that the Left faction leadership was “dictating” a vote for Mr O’Byrne. 

The leadership ballot was required after Left powerbrokers in the Health and Community Services Union and United Workers Union made it clear they wanted then-leader Rebecca White replaced by Mr O’Byrne.

Ms White agreed to quit and not force a ballot, on condition the powerbrokers agreed to the ALP national executive overseeing a review of the state party’s governance.

This followed open warfare between Ms White and Left powerbrokers during the campaign, which saw the ALP national executive intervene in a key preselection, and state party president Ben McGregor threaten to sue Ms White after she insisted he quit as a candidate over “vulgar” text messages.

Mr O’Byrne and Dr Broad are expected to make statements on Wednesday. Some within Labor, including party elders, believe wider national executive intervention may be necessary to dilute Left faction control in the Tasmanian party to make it “electable”.

Labor suffered a negative swing at the May 1 election, failing to increase its nine seats, while the Liberals retained 13 seats, the Greens kept their two seats and independent Kristie Johnston won a seat.