‘Embarrassing’: Labor outcast set for key party role

Ostracised former Tasmanian Labor leader David O’Byrne is expected to be elected to the party’s national conference, in a rebuff to the state caucus.

Outcast but not quite out: crossbencher David O'Byrne is in the ballot to represent the Tasmanian ALP at the national conference in August, much to some members’ objections. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ostracised Tasmanian former Labor leader David O‘Byrne is expected to be elected a delegate to the party’s national conference, in an embarrassing rebuff to current leader Rebecca White and state caucus.

Key left unions have helped ensure Mr O’Byrne – ejected from caucus in the wake of sexual harassment claims – is well placed to be elected as a conference delegate.

That outcome – to be decided in a party membership ballot that was closing on Friday night – would send a strong signal to Ms White and her caucus colleagues that many in the dominant left faction want Mr O’Byrne back in the fold.

However, there is concern within the party that Mr O’Byrne’s election as a national conference delegate would undermine the leadership of Ms White, who – along with former premiers Lara Giddings and Paul Lennon – has demanded Mr O’Byrne quit parliament.

The party is divided over the future of Mr O’Byrne, who sits on the crossbench after being cast into political limbo in July 2021, when he resigned the leadership in the wake of sexual harassment claims.

He apologised for kissing and sending “sexually suggestive” text messages to a young female probationary staff member when he was a union leader in 2007-08.

A Labor-commissioned report found his conduct was “inappropriate” and “wrong” but did not breach party sexual harassment policy. Mr O’Byrne, 54, remains a member of the party.

His backers – including key left-wing union and faction leaders – believe he has paid a price and “done his time” and want him preselected for Labor at the coming state election.

But other key figures, including Ms White and some of her caucus colleagues, want the party to “cut him loose” to allow it to unify ahead of an increasingly winnable state election due within 24 months.

Some Labor members believe it is “embarrassing” and “untenable” to have Mr O’Byrne even on the conference ballot, let alone represent them on the party’s key national stage.

“It will be pretty embarrassing for the whole state PLP (parliamentary Labor Party), bar his sister (MP Michelle O’Byrne),” said one Labor member. “ … It is absolute madness and embarrassing.”

Sources said several alternative-left faction candidates had withdrawn from consideration for the ballot to give Mr O’Byrne sufficient votes to get elected as a delegate, while left unions had directed members to vote for him.

His supporters point out he is standing in the rank and file ballot, not for the union delegation, meaning the decision is for individual members; not unions.

If successful, he could share the state’s delegation with high-profile members, such as Albanese government minister Julie Collins, senators Helen Polley, Carol Brown and Anne Urquhart, federal MP Brian Mitchell, state frontbenchers Jen Butler, Ella Haddad and Shane Broad, and state secretary Stuart Benson.

There is some dismay among sections of the party membership that the same factional players keep getting elected to key posts, despite the state branch being under a federal intervention aimed in part at renewal. “It’s no change or renewal for Tas Labor – crazy,” one member said.

With Liberal support falling and a dramatic increase in voter support for Ms White, there is frustration that the “O’Byrne issue” could prevent the party fully capitalising on the Liberals’ slide into minority government.