Tasmanian ALP to formalise 'machine control'

BY ALEX BAINBRIDGE

HOBART — Resolutions proposed for the upcoming ALP state conference by party branches will have only symbolic meaning if the ALP leadership gets its way. The ALP hierarchy is seeking to formalise a situation where resolutions adopted at conference "do not take the place of, nor are they to be read in conjunction with, the party's state platform or policies".

While this proposed change will simply formalise the current practice in the party where rank-and file-members have no effective control over parliamentarians, it is a dramatic reflection of the lack of democracy in the ALP.

If rank-and-file members of a political party are not able to democratically decide the policies that will be campaigned on by the leadership of the party and its parliamentary representatives, then it is not really a political party at all. Instead, it is an electoral machine with "policy debate" no more than a side-show to give the illusion that the party is controlled by its members.

Many of the resolutions to be debated at the November 11-12 state ALP conference directly relate to the running of the state government. Examples include drawing ministers only from the lower house of parliament (the current treasurer is from the upper house) and removing the power of the upper house to reject bills. If these resolutions are formally non-binding as well as practically non-binding, one is forced to ask what the point of going through the motions actually is.

On this score, the most flagrant example of recent times is Tasmanian Labor parliamentarians ignoring party policy on the issue of nuclear ship visits. This flouting of party policy was enthusiastically endorsed by business spokespeople. However, the government was elected on a policy of opposing nuclear ship visits.

From GLW issue 427