Rebecca White may quit Labor leadership in exchange for party reform

A push to save the leadership of Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White – backed by former premiers – may not be enough, with sources saying she may quit in return for party reform.

Tasmanian Labor leadership contender David O'Byrne.

A push to save the leadership of Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White — backed by former premiers — may not be enough, with sources saying she may quit in ­return for party reform.

The Weekend Australian understands that Ms White has been told by rival David O’Byrne that powerful left-wing union leaders want a “bloodless” transition to his leadership.

However, sources said Ms White had made significant ­review and reform of the party’s rules and procedures a condition of any resignation.

The reform demands — designed to rein in the power of “hard left” powerbrokers — were being considered by the party’s administration committee on Friday, also as a means of preventing federal intervention.

As of late on Friday, the outcome remained unclear, although Mr O’Byrne confirmed the leadership was under discussion and a decision imminent.

“The parliamentary Labor Party and the party are working through a process,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“I’m waiting for meetings to be called and discussions to be had.”

Sources said it was still possible Ms White would refuse to go ­quietly, particularly if the admin committee failed to commit to real reform. This would force Mr O’Byrne to decide whether to challenge her in a wider conference and membership ballot he may not win.

Ms White has been under pressure from two camps. Those wanting her to go include Mr O’Byrne and several other left faction MPs, as well as officials of the influential Health and Community Services Union and ­United Workers Union.

Those urging her to stay ­include three former premiers — David Bartlett, Lara Giddings and Paul Lennon — as well as the Right faction, key unaligned figures and sections of the left.

Ms Giddings and Mr Lennon declined to comment, but sources said they had urged Ms White to remain leader. Mr Bartlett said he had personally urged the 38-year-old Ms White to stand her ground.

“I wrote to Rebecca White on the eve of the election expressing my gratitude and admiration for the great campaign she ran in challenging circumstances,” Mr Bartlett said. “I also expressed in that letter my encouragement to her to stay on as leader.

“There are clearly administrative issues within the party and I believe she has shown the backbone and courage to confront them.

“I also have a strong view that the PLP alone should determine their leader and I am ­opposed to rank and file votes on these matters.”

Labor resources spokesman Shane Broad will nominate as leader if Ms White quits, forcing Mr O’Byrne to a broader ballot.

Many in the party, across the factions but particularly the right and unaligned, blame “hard left” union factional heavyweights for public spats that severely damaged the first 10 days of Ms White’s recent state election campaign.

These include the ALP national executive having to intervene to overrule the state admin committee, so that popular local mayor Dean Winter could be preselected. Mr Winter, of the right, topped the poll in the seat of Franklin, out-polling Mr O’Byrne.

Labor state president Ben McGregor has also been criticised for his threats to sue Ms White after she insisted he withdraw as a candidate over “vulgar” text messages sent to a woman.