David O’Byrne: Exiled Labor MP tops internal ballot, but significance of victory debated
Polarising state Labor MP David O’Byrne has received a groundswell of support from rank and file party members, but the significance of his victory has been debated by party insiders.
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Exiled Labor MP David O’Byrne has topped a ballot of delegates to attend the ALP’s national conference, showing the depth of his internal support, Labor insiders say.
Sources say his success in the ballot shows why the state Parliamentary Labor Party (PLP) should immediately allow him back into the caucus.
“David is very active in the party, he goes to branch meetings and events and I understand there are moves afoot to get him back into caucus and this should hurry up the process,” one source said.
“If we are united we could win the next state election – we just have to stop these nasty little fights.”
However, the suggestion Mr O’Byrne return to the PLP was strenuously rejected by another senior party figure who described his ballot win as “nothing, it doesn’t mean a thing”.
“It’s a poll of a few hundred people and if he came back half the PLP would go,” he said.
“Bec (White) is the most popular leader we have had in decades.
“She is now the preferred premier over Jeremy Rockliff and that is unheard of for an opposition leader anywhere in the country.
“Even Albo (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) was never preferred PM in the polls ahead of ScoMo (ex-PM Scott Morrison).”
Another Labor source said the ballot involved rank and file members, not unions, who not surprisingly supported Mr O’Byrne.
“The Liberals are divided and Labor should be united,” she said.
On the primary votes to elect 11 delegates to attend the national conference in Brisbane in August, Mr O’Byrne was a clear winner.
Figures obtained by the Sunday Tasmanian show the primary votes and order of election was:
David O’Byrne 92, Senator Helen Polley 80, Senator Carol Brown 77, party secretary Stuart Benson 64, Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins 44, Braddon MP Shane Broad 27, Bass MP Michelle O’Byrne, 43, Franklin MP Dean Winter, 40, Clark MP Ella Haddad 37, Senator Anne Urquhart 33 and Meander Valley Councillor Ben Dudman 24.
Mr O’Byrne said he believed his high vote and support recognised his important work as a local member for Franklin.
He has previously been a delegate to national conferences and did not believe it would awkward to be there alongside Ms White.
“I have been working hard for the past 18 months in the community and advocating on issues people talk to me about, such as housing and infrastructure, and keeping in contact with members,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“I’ve worked hard to acknowledge what happened and to do the best I can.”
Asked if he should return to caucus he said: “I’m not going to tell the PLP what to do – it is a matter for them.”
Mr O’Byrne believed voters wanted Labor to be united.
Ms White, who as leader automatically attends national conference, declined to comment.
“Labor will not be making comment regarding David O’Byrne and the national conference,” a spokesperson said.
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