Rebecca White won’t recontest leadership, with supporter claiming David O’Byrne ‘will win us government’
Rebecca White says she has “mixed emotions” about stepping away from the Labor leadership but hopes her time helps young women realise they “should walk through doors when they are open or kick them down if they have to”.
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DEPARTING Labor leader Rebecca White has endorsed David O’Byrne as her successor and warned the party needs to reform to win the next election.
Speaking at her husband’s café in Richmond on Saturday afternoon, a sad but composed Ms White said she had decided not to run because it was time for a change of leadership.
“Changing the leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party is one thing that needs to occur now, but we need to improve the decision making and governance of the PLP and the broader party,” Ms White said.
“We can’t keep doing things the same way anymore and expect a different outcome.
“We have to make changes now to prepare ourselves to contest the next election competitively.”
Ms White, whose second child is due next month, stressed she was not standing aside because of her pregnancy.
“When I took on the leadership in 2017, (husband) Rod and my daughter Mia was just shy of four months old and at no time did my age or gender, or our young family, impact the decision on whether I should be leader.
“I think that’s testament to the culture of the Labor Party.
“I want young girls and women everywhere to know that they can achieve anything and they should walk through doors when they are open or kick them down if they have to.”
Ms White said she had “mixed emotions”, but was grateful for the support she had received from the Labor Party and the Tasmanian community.
“I believe I have served with integrity and purpose.
“I am also very sad I can’t take the party forward because there is so much we have to do together.
“We have a great caucus and we need to hold the government to account because only Labor can improve the lives of Tasmanians.”
Her biggest achievements, she said was building a fantastic new team – unlike Premier Peter Gutwein’s old faces.
“I am proud of the team we have built, of the impressive new members we have welcomed to the Parliament and our clear commitment to make Tasmania a better and a fairer place,” she said.
“I will always do what I can to support the election of a Labor government because I firmly believe only Labor can offer hope and opportunity to all Tasmanians and ensure people get a fair go.”
Previously, Ms White had said she wanted to stay as leader because she had “unfinished business”.
However, it is believed she agreed to stand aside if the party’s administrative committee agreed to reform, which will be led largely by the party’s national executive.
“There’s no doubt after the election loss we needed to reflect on what had occurred and I see the change of leadership for the state Parliamentary Labor Party as a part of the change that’s necessary now for the Labor Party so we can become more competitive to win the next election,” she said.
“On reflection, I think we’ve all come to understand that there needs to be change in the Labor Party and changing the leader of the Labor Party is one part of that change.
“Yesterday, the administrative committee of the Labor Party made some decisions around the review which will now occur post-election.
“Part of that review will look at what happened in that election and the governance and decision-making of the party.”
Labor’s national executive will appoint the reviewers and help implement the findings of the review.
“It is important we get this right. We need to ensure we have a strong Labor Party to deliver good outcomes for the party,” she said.
Ms White conceded factional fighting over the party’s failure to endorse Kingborough Dean Winter had a “damaging” effect and made it difficult to communicate Labor’s policies to voters.
“There is no doubt it did have a damaging impact on our election prospects and we can’t see that happen again,” she said.
Labor MPs will meet on Monday to discuss the leadership with Ms White praising all her “great” colleagues, but saying she will support Mr O’Byrne.
She said it was unclear if there would be a ballot but her focus was on building a stronger party.
Ms White, who will remain the member for Lyons, would not comment on the future of Labor president Ben McGregor who stood aside as a candidate for Clark after a complaint he had sent inappropriate text messages to a colleague.
Mr O’Byrne is expected to comment on Sunday and Braddon MHA Dr Shane Broad says he is still considering his options,
Former Labor premier Lara Giddings said she was sorry Ms White had stepped down.
“She would have made a fantastic premier,” Ms Giddings said.
“I respect her decision. She has been an excellent role model in leadership for young women and girls.
“Bec can step away knowing she has given 110 per cent all those years and is one of the hardest-working MPs there is.”
Ms Giddings supported a broad ranging review of the Labor Party.
David O’Byrne ‘will win us government’
DAVID O’Byrne is set to become the new state leader of the Labor Party.
It now seems certain that Rebecca White will not recontest the leadership when Labor’s parliamentary members meet on Monday to discuss the leadership.
Mr O’Byrne will be challenged by Braddon MHA Shane Broad but he is not expected to have the support needed.
A special meeting of Labor’s administrative committee was held in Hobart on Friday afternoon and agreed to broad terms of reference for an external review of the party’s performance at the May 1 election.
Ms White, who was elected leader in March 2017, was present at the short meeting but did not speak about her leadership.
Labor insiders say Ms White and Mr O’Byrne have been locked in negotiations all week on the leadership.
LEADERSHIP CONTEST COULD SPLIT THE PARTY WIDE OPEN
Mr O’Byrne was tight-lipped on the leadership yesterday.
“The PLP and the party are working through a process,” he said.
“I’m waiting for meetings to be called and discussions to be had.
“I’m not saying anything. I’m talking to my colleagues as we all are talking together about how best the Labor party in Tasmania moves forward.”
Supporters of Mr O’Byrne say he is very popular with members and will win Labor government at the next election.
“He’s come from core Labor values, he works hard, is dedicated and is highly respected in the community too,” a supporter said.
“His mother (Colleen) is one of Labor’s most favourite life members and the family have spent their lives dedicated to workers.
“He’ll talk to anyone and he is a working-class hero.
“He will win us government.”
The supporter said he hoped Ms White would support Mr O’Byrne.
“David has been loyal to her,” he said.
Ms White had wanted to stay as leader saying she had “unfinished business”.
Some in the Left faction, of which she has been a member, are angry that she sought federal intervention to overturn the decision not to endorse Kingborough mayor Dean Winter and had party president Ben McGregor removed as a Clark candidate for inappropriate texts to a colleague.
The supporter of Mr O’Byrne said he hoped Mr McGregor, who has threatened to take legal action against Ms White, would continue as president.
Some Labor sources say Ms White negotiated an “exit strategy” as part of her decision not to recontest the leadership.
This could be part of the election review agreed to by the administrative committee.
The review will focus on two broad areas including electoral performance and party governance and structure.
Under electoral performance, it will look at “the activities of the leader’s office, party officials, trade unions and membership during the campaign”.
Other Labor sources say Mr O’Byrne is “a wholly owned subsidiary of HACSU (the health union)”.
“He won’t have an easy ride.”
Another source said: “The hard Left, by not supporting Dean Winter’s nomination, created the crisis so Rebecca couldn’t win and now they want to blame her for losing.”
It is the first time Labor has lost three consecutive elections in Tasmania – once seen as a Labor heartland.
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