Labor’s Tasmanian election pitch undermined by ‘treacherous’ union boss backing an independent over ALP candidates

An election-eve plea by Tasmania’s Labor leader for voters to shun independents to ensure a change of government has been undermined by the state’s chief unionist backing an independent.

A poster for independent candidate David O'Byrne, in the front garden of the Hobart southern suburbs home of Jessica Munday, secretary of Unions Tasmania and senior Labor figure. Picture: Matthew Denholm.

An election-eve plea by Tasmania’s Labor leader for voters to back her party to ensure a change of government has been undermined by the state’s chief unionist “treacherously” backing an independent.

As leader Rebecca White pleaded with voters to shift away from independent and minor party candidates, Unions Tasmania secretary and senior Labor figure Jessica Munday was ­accused of “blatantly” backing an independent.

Some Labor members are outraged Ms Munday’s home in Hobart’s southern suburbs displays an election sign for independent David O’Byrne – and no posters for the seven Labor candidates competing against him.

Ms Munday’s actions were ­labelled a “clear, blatant” breach of party rules that prohibit members from supporting candidates running against Labor.

The timing could not be worse for Labor, coming as Ms White made an 11th-hour pitch that “the only way to make sure there is a change in government is to vote Labor”. “A vote for the Greens or independents risks giving the Liberals 14 years,” Ms White said ahead of Saturday’s election.

Ms Munday, currently or until very recently the secretary of her local Kingborough Labor branch, did not respond to questions about why she appeared to be backing Mr O’Byrne over Labor candidates.

Some party members are furious and may push for her to face an internal disputes process presided over by former judge and Labor stalwart Duncan Kerr.

The party can revoke membership of anyone who has ­“supported a candidate for public office against an endorsed party candidate”, while its membership pledge commits all members to “support the endorsed candidate or candidates”.

Official records show the property displaying the O’Byrne sign is co-owned by Ms Munday, is the only property she owns in Tasmania and is where she is registered as an elector.

Mr O’Byrne is a former Labor leader who quit the party to run as an independent in the southern seat of Franklin, after being denied preselection in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. An investigation later found his actions did not constitute sexual harassment.

With strong links to left-wing unions, he has confirmed receiving support from some of them during the campaign. However, he has not ruled out supporting a minority Liberal government, saying he would be open to discussions with both major parties.

Ms Munday’s apparent ­endorsement of Mr O’Byrne, at the expense of sitting Labor member Dean Winter and six other Labor Franklin candidates, exposes ongoing divisions linked to his exile. A Labor-commissioned report found Mr O’Byrne’s conduct towards a junior female staff member when he was a union boss was “inappropriate” and “wrong” but did not breach party sexual harassment policy.

It came as Ms White, facing her third attempt to lead Labor to government, urged voters to back her.

“After five weeks of campaigning the focus of this election has narrowed to two things – which party will take urgent action on the cost of living, and which party has the best plans for a better future for Tasmania,” she said. “The answer is clear … Labor.”

She trumpeted Labor’s promise of cheaper power prices, a home deposit scheme to get people “off the rental treadmill” and “repair (for) the health system after 10 years of the Liberals”.

Opinion polls consistently show the Liberals, seeking a record fourth consecutive term of maj­ority government, on track to win the most seats but not enough to govern in their own right.

Jeremy Rockliff – the nation’s last remaining Liberal premier – used his last pitch to voters to claim only his party could secure a stable majority. “Labor will absolutely do a deal with the Greens, the Lambies and whoever else they can find,” he said. “Don’t risk sleepwalking back into a Labor-led minority government. Don’t risk waking up on Sunday morning to a coalition of chaos.”

Opinion polls suggest the Liberals, in power since 2014, on track to win 13 to 15 of the 35 assembly seats, Labor nine to 12, the Greens two to five, the Jacqui Lambie Network one to four and independents three to five.

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio made a last-minute intervention in the election, urging voters to demand an end to native forest logging.

“These old growth giants have been logged for decades, resulting in many forest species, including the critically endangered swift parrot, being pushed to the brink of extinction,” he posted on social media.