Labor pushes to oust party president Ben McGregor over ‘unforgiveable’ act

Labor has voted to dump party president Ben McGregor for bringing the party into disrepute during the state election and wants the national executive to investigate his actions.

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THE Parliamentary Labor Party has no confidence in party president Ben McGregor and wants him to go.

At its meeting in Hobart on Monday, the PLP unanimously voted in support of a motion of no confidence in Mr McGregor because he had brought the Labor Party into disrepute during the 2021 election campaign.

The PLP also all agreed that Labor’s national executive investigate matters relating to him.

“The Parliamentary Labor Party (Tasmanian branch) asks the National Executive to stand down the president immediately whilst the National Executive undertake an investigation at the earliest opportunity,” the motion read.

Outgoing Labor leader Rebecca White abstained from voting on the motion, declaring a conflict of interest because Mr McGregor is taking defamation action against her.

Mr McGregor has threatened to sue Ms White for defamation after she made him stand down as a candidate for Clark because he sent inappropriate text messages to a colleague six years ago.

He has apologised for sending the messages.

Ben McGregor at his announcement that he was withdrawing his candidacy on April 7 over the text message scandal. Picture: David Killick

After she saw the messages, Ms White said Mr McGregor was not a fit person to stand for parliament.

Labor sources said it was agreed at the PLP meeting that Mr McGregor had broken party rules by bringing the Labor Party into disrepute.

“His treatment of a female colleague was totally unacceptable and then to go and attack the leader in the middle of an election campaign was unforgiveable,” they said.

“The unanimous vote shows we were all united and did the right thing.

“It was also about backing our own colleague Rebecca.

“She has been through a very traumatic time due to his actions and the motion shows our support for her.”

Last week supporters of leadership contender David O’Byrne said they wanted Mr McGregor to stay as president.

David O’Byrne ready for Labor leadership

DAVID O’Byrne has thrown his hat in the ring to replace Rebecca White as parliamentary party leader, with a commitment made to unite and heal the divided party.

David O’Byrne headed out to watch his daughter Ava, 14, play football on the weekend and while there, announced he would nominate himself at a party meeting on Monday to take on the “big task” of leading a fractured Labor Party.

“There is no hiding some of the challenges that our party faces,” he said.

“We are not the only party that has differences of opinion and differences of view about how we approach certain circumstances, and that is completely healthy. The issue is when it becomes problematic for us to present a united front.

“We need to do better in our internal processes and we need to work together, because there is so much more that unites the Labor Party than divides us.”

David O'Byrne pays tribute to Rebecca White and announces his intention to run as leader. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr O’Byrne was confident he had “broad support across the party” and would not be beholden to any one faction within Labor.

He said he “absolutely” respected Ms White’s decision not to recontest the party leadership and thanked her for her friendship since the pair were first elected in 2010.

“We’ve been close mates and supported each other through some up and down times in the parliament and it’s been my absolute honour to serve in her party team,” Mr O’Byrne said.

He said his sister and Ms White’s “loyal deputy” Michelle O’Byrne had indicated she would not run for deputy if his bid for the top job was successful.

David O’Byrne has endorsed Anita Dow as the new Labor deputy.

Mr O’Byrne would instead endorse Braddon member Anita Dow as deputy leader.

His main contender for the leadership appears to be Braddon MP Shane Broad.

“I think there are many people in the Parliamentary Labor Party who bring a whole range of skills to not only their role as a local member but to the parliament, and Shane is a skilful politician and he’s a good local member, but ultimately it’s for other people to judge who is the fitter to lead,” Mr O’Byrne said.

Shane Broad Labor member for Braddon. Rebecca White Labor leader announcing candidates for the state election in Launceston. Picture: Rob Burnett

Mr O’Byrne welcomed the national Labor Party administrative committee’s internal review of the Tasmanian branch and hoped to rebuild the “historically strong relationship” between the party and the public by fixing Liberal government housing and health failings and closely scrutinising party policies.

“We want to make sure we take submissions and work through all of the perspectives and approaches to reform inside the party,” he said.

The Franklin member also committed to referring to the administrative committee the “very serious accusations” against party president Ben McGregor, who stood down as a Clark Labor candidate after it emerged he had sent an explicit image and text message containing the word “c***” to a female public servant.

“If there are such serious allegations made against an office bearer of the party they should allow that investigation to take place,” he said.

ALP state president and candidate for Clark Ben McGregor speaks to the media in Hobart on Wednesday, April 7, 2021

The prospective leader hoped his working-class family background would put him in good stead to carry the Labor torch.

“My dad was a tradie painter, my mum was a cleaner,” he said.

“I’ve never forgotten where I’ve come from – it was the Labor movement and the Labor Party that gave my parents secure jobs.”