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July 15, 2003
a husk of its former self
This article makes for sad reading. It is an insider's account of the stranglehold that factional politics now have over the ALP. The ALP has been become a factional machine.
Chris Schacht, a former ALP Senator from the ALP, makes two good points. First,
'...in the past 15 to 20 years market research in the ALP has become almost an end in itself. Labor Party policy presented at election times is now designed after being "market researched"'.
Secondly, a sucessful career is measured in terms of years served for th faction. All the energies in climbign the ladder are devoted to furthering the faction. Chris says:
"Faction always comes before party or community. After several years of faithful factional service you may be promoted to the front bench because your faction has been allocated a certain percentage of positions. Again, merit is secondary. You keep out of trouble, serve several years as frontbencher, retire to the back bench, and then after a term or two retire from parliament."
So we cannot expect much from the ALP as a reform-based party. As Chris observes, the factional system produces:
"...a new breed of factionally bred and trained ALP officials, are technocrats whose aim is to win elections as an end in itself - not the means to introduce policies that have a coherent vision for a better society."
Is there anything more to be said?
Well, its a tragic life for a young, bright MP who wants to make Australia a better place. Obviously they have misunderstood the point of politics and are in the wrong career.
Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at July 15, 2003 01:33 PM
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Comments
The ALP died as a force for the betterment of 'the battlers' over 70 years ago.
Posted by: dj at July 17, 2003 05:36 PM