Federal Labor weighs Tasmanian branch takeover
ALP federal intervention to run the Tasmanian Labor Party for an extended period will be considered after Saturday’s poll.
Wholesale ALP federal intervention to run the Tasmanian Labor Party for an extended period will be considered after Saturday’s state election, barring a shock win for the party.
Senior party figures are already discussing a plan in which the ALP national executive would take over management of the state branch for an extended period. This could extend to a full parliamentary term, and occur quickly after the May 1 poll, should — as polls and pundits predict — Labor fail to win government for a third consecutive election.
Party sources confirmed the move was being discussed, following a shambolic start to Labor’s campaign including open, bitter conflict between the state leader and state president.
The federally imposed administration would aim to restore a more even factional balance, following concern several key Left union leaders and their acolytes exercise too much power, poorly.
It would aim to ensure dysfunction, in which state president Ben McGregor has threatened to sue leader Rebecca White for defamation, does not continue during a federal election campaign.
Federally, Labor sees Tasmania’s three marginal House of Representative seats — Liberal-held Bass and Braddon and Labor-held Lyons — as a key to an Anthony Albanese victory.
Labor’s national executive intervened in state Labor preselections early in the campaign to override the party’s Left-dominated state administrative committee and install local mayor Dean Winter, from the Right, as a candidate for Franklin.
The complaint that led to the rescue of Mr Winter’s candidacy included allegations of “abuse of power” and rule breaches. Broadscale national executive intervention would aim to restore confidence in internal processes.
Federal intervention may also be necessary to save Ms White’s leadership, should — in the event of Labor losing — she decide to seek to remain in the top job.
Ms White refused to tell a leaders debate on Thursday night whether she would seek to remain leader if Labor lost the poll.
Under party rules, the leadership is open to a ballot following all House of Assembly elections at which Labor does not form government.
While Ms White is understood to retain support within the parliamentary Labor Party, a ballot would include all ALP members and all state conference members.
That means Ms White’s fate would largely rest with Left union powerbrokers previously close to Mr McGregor.
Sources say those faction bosses would most likely back Labor treasury spokesman David O’Byrne over Ms White for leader, in light of Ms White’s decision to dump Mr McGregor and attack him publicly.
However, the Right would be expected to back Ms White or push for another leadership candidate, with names touted including Shane Broad, or even — if he is elected as an MP — Mr Winter.
There may also be a post-election change of leadership in the Liberal Party, if Premier Peter Gutwein fails to secure a parliamentary majority.
Mr Gutwein has vowed to stand down as leader if the party fails to retain its majority.
Candidates to replace Mr Gutwein, who only became Liberal leader and Premier in January 2020, could include Michael Ferguson and Sarah Courtney.
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