Tasmania Labor leader faces big test from within

Rebecca White is winning hearts in the polls with the public, now she has to score points with dominant factions within her party.

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White could see several contentious Labor Party conference motions test her pitch for electoral middle ground. Picture: Richard Jupe

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White faces a test of her mainstream credentials, with party conference votes expected on a string of hard left demands, including a 10 per cent increase in the size of the public service.

Ms White’s political stocks are high heading into the weekend conference, following favourable polling this week, but several contentious motions could damage her pitch for electoral middle ground.

With the left faction dominant, and public sector unions highly influential, the conference in Hobart will see a push for a bigger and better paid public service and an end to NAPLAN schools testing.

Ms White has already committed to abolishing a 2 per cent cap on public service wage rises imposed by the Hodgman Liberal government, arguing it breaches the notion of good faith bargaining.

However, yesterday the popular opposition leader came under pressure to disown a push to increase the size of the public service, which already swallows almost half the state budget.

“Rebecca White must rule out these proposals before they even get to the conference floor or be honest with Tasmanians on what police stations, schools and services she is going to close to fund them,” said Treasurer Peter Gutwein.

A 10 per cent increase in the number of public servants would see a budget blowout of $1.2 billion across the forward estimates.

“Rebecca White is yet to rule out capitulating to the demands of her union masters which will smash Tasmania’s finances,” Mr Gutwein said.

Ms White yesterday declined to state a position on specific measures but stressed that “motions do not become part of the (party) platform until agreed by conference delegates”.

“The Tasmanian Labor Party is proud of the democratic nature of our conference, where any member can share their idea and put forward motions for the party to consider adopting as part of the platform,” she said.

“All motions will be debated at the conference and delegates will decide whether or not to adopt, amend or oppose them.”

The conference will also determine federal election preselections, with the factionally unaligned Senator Lisa Singh again facing relegation to an “unwinnable” position despite pulling by far the party’s biggest vote at the last election.

A Young Labor motion calls for direct membership election of leaders when the party fails to win government or when four Labor MPs back a spill.

Other motions include support for Medicare funding for “gender affirming surgery”, a living wage within five years of a federal Labor government, lowering the pension age to 65, banning smoking for the under-25s, and full funding for the Safe Schools program.

Labor is also due to debate its policy to remove poker machines from pubs and clubs, with Ms White standing by the policy.