Victorian Labor’s factional bargain on jobs

Multiple jobs in the then opposition leader’s office were appointed and managed by factional rivals.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Multiple taxpayer-funded jobs in the office of then Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews were appointed and controlled by his rival Labor Unity faction under a deal struck as he was installed as party leader.

Labor sources have told The Australian that a factional arrangement coinciding with the Socialist Left figure’s elevation to the leadership in 2010 designated a number of positions as Labor Unity jobs.

“It was clearly understood there were positions in Daniel’s office that were the Right faction’s to appoint and to manage,” a source familiar with the office’s operations said. “The jobs were appointed by the Right faction, and Right people got them. That was part of the deal.”

After the 2010 election defeat, Mr Andrews was elected leader despite being part of the minority Socialist Left faction; during this period, the dominant Labor Unity was keen to have a say in how the opposition leader’s office was run.

The Australian has obtained an email entitled “Leaders Office Job Opportunity” sent on March 17, 2011, to Labor Unity members inviting factional followers to apply for the position of a full-time “policy/researcher”.

“Dear Labor Unity Member, please find below a description for a position in the Leader’s Office,” it says. “The primary responsibility will be to assist the Leader’s Office with the collection of research and reports to both MPs, Shadow Ministers and the Leader in relation to a variety of policy areas with a political setting. Personal qualities. Display an ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines. Yours in Unity.”

Applicants were asked to send their resumes for the position to senior Labor Unity figure and former Bracks government minister Marsha Thomson.

Mr Andrews’ office said on Thursday it was common for political jobs to be promoted through specific forums and the 2011 email was simply an example of this.

“The staff employed by the then Labor opposition were ­highly effective in holding the Baillieu-Napthine Liberal government to account,” a government spokesperson said.

A spotlight has fallen on Labor using publicly funded jobs for factional purposes in the wake of Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog’s investigation into dumped Labor warlord and MP Adem Somyurek, and a renewed focus on the Red Shirts rort.

The Australian revealed on Thursday that one of the Premier’s most senior advisers, deputy chief of staff Jessie McCrone, has regularly attended ALP election campaign meetings during office hours. Minutes from than a dozen meetings over the past eight years list her as attending multiple campaign meetings as a “proxy” for Mr Andrews.

Responding to questions from The Australian, the Premier’s office said Ms McCrone took annual or unpaid leave when attending campaign committee meetings.

The Premier’s office did not respond to a question as to how long this unpaid leave policy had been in place for.

Almost 20 Labor Party MPs, including minister Lily D’Ambrosio, ALP party officials and union leaders attended the meeting that started at 10am.

Labor MPs listed as attending included Lee Tarlamis, Lizzie Blandthorn, Natalie Hutchins and Tim Richardson.

Minutes also list Mr Andrews’ now chief of staff Lissie Ratcliff as having attended election campaign committee strategy session as his “proxy” on July 19, 2013, and February 21, 2014.

Opposition leader in the upper house David Davis took issue with Labor minister Martin Pakula’s claim on Wednesday that the Red Shirts scandal had been “investigated more often than the Kennedy assassination”.