Making a mockery of Labor Party pre-selections

 

The shenanigans of the SA branch of the Labor Party just gets worse and worse. The Federal Executive of the Party should intervene to stop this madness.

What follows is a post I received this evening from my friend Maggie Dawkins about her daughter Alice's courageous decision to take on the power brokers and seek preselection for the seat of Spence.

"Alice innocently exercised her right as an ordinary member of the Labor Party to nominate for Spence. What she may inadvertently have stumbled upon is a done deal agreed to by faceless power brokers of the Left and Right factions. Ordinary members have not been consulted, but it is all leaking out as Alice calls the SA Party office to account. It appears that many members may not be comfortable with this done deal, as they are contacting me, not only as Alice’s mum, but also as a board member of Whistle Blowers Australia.
Is the deal correct? Who knows? Perhaps time will tell?
We know that some of it is correct, for example, Nick Champion is moving from the federal seat of Spence to the state seat of Taylor.
Marielle Smith is in the Senate. Marielle, I am informed, wants to move to the federal seat of Adelaide. This will mean that the sitting member, Steve Georganas will need to conveniently retire. Hasn’t Steve been promised another term? Who knows, will Steve go quietly? If he does, and Marielle Smith moves to Adelaide, that will create a Senate vacancy, and it’ll be left powerbroker Karen Grogan or Victoria Fielding for that, so the rumour goes.
Alice said in an ABC radio interview this morning she didn’t feel safe having to deal with the onslaught of a well-orchestrated smear campaign.
When do dirty tricks become intimidation and harassment? Does Alice have to be physically assaulted, or worse, before the women of the Party will break their silence? None have checked to see if Alice is OK?
Where is Penny Wong? Surely the sainted Penny wouldn’t be involved in all this?
Marielle is desperate to attract publicity, here’s your chance, Marielle! After all, Alice worked in your office. You know Alice. You encouraged her.
Amanda Rishworth, you know better. But I get you don’t want to risk the promise of a Ministerial position if Labor wins the next federal election.
Liberal Party women don’t pretend to be anything other than what they are.
Labor women are held to higher standards because they represent higher standards. Penny Wong, Marielle Smith and Amanda Rishworth where are you? I ask that you at least have the decency to rein in your branch Party secretary, call off the dogs, and consider abiding by the national rules.
Why are you so threatened by a young woman with an abundance of energy, policy ideas, a fresh approach to engaging with the electorate and who has the ability to attract members?"
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