Insert the words “Labor Policy Action Committees,” after “Federal Electorate Councils,” so that the Rule reads:

(i)      give the following bodies three months’ notice to send items to the National Policy Committee: State Branches, Australian Young Labor, Federal Electorate Councils, Labor Policy Action Committees, and trade unions whose State branches are affiliated with the Party in a majority of States in which they operate, all of which shall have the right to submit items to the National Policy Committee. Bodies so submitting items to the National Policy Committee shall be notified in writing of the Committee’s views on such items;

Rule B.7(e)(v)

Omit the words “a National Policy Committee.” Insert instead “appoint twenty trade union representatives to the National Policy Forum.”

Rule B.9(b)

Omit the subsection. Insert instead:

(b)     The candidate first elected is National President, the candidate second elected is National Senior Vice President, and the candidate third elected is National Junior Vice President. The term of office for each position starts at the commencement of National Conference, and ends at the commencement of the next triennial National Conference.

Rule B.13

Omit the section. Insert instead:

National Policy Forum

13     Objectives

•(a)          The National Policy Forum has the following objectives:

(i)      to facilitate policy debate and development amongst the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, Party members and affiliates,

(ii)     to provide a framework for the partnership between the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party and the wider labour movement,

(iii)    to provide guidance on the causes and aspirations of the modern Labor movement,

(iv)    to oversee the National Secretariat’s policy initiatives,

(v)     to include Party units, Party members and affiliates in the debate on the direction of the Party,

(vi)    to maintain the relevance of the National Platform by conducting reviews,

(vii)   to take into account all policy resolutions passed by State and Territory Conferences,

(viii)  to undertake long-term planning for the implementation of Labor policy, and

(ix)    to provide leadership on matters of public concern and interest.

Membership

•(b)          The National Policy Forum consists of the following voting members:

(i)      the National President and Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, who are co-chairs,

(ii)     one Deputy Chair, elected by National Conference,

(iii)    one Secretary, elected by National Conference,

(iv)    the National Secretary,

(v)     two Assistant National Secretaries, appointed by the National Secretary,

(vi)    the President of Australian Young Labor,

(vii)   twenty federal members of parliament, elected at the beginning of each federal parliamentary term by the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party according to the principles of proportional representation (‘MPs and Senators’),

(viii)  twenty people who are financial members of an affiliated union and financial Party members, elected every three years by the National Executive according to the principles of proportional representation (‘trade union representatives’), and

(ix)    twenty financial Party members, each of whom is a member of a local branch, elected every three years according to the principles of proportional representation by Party members with one year of continuous financial membership prior to the date of calling for nominations (‘rank and file representatives’).

•(c)          The twenty rank and file representatives are to be divided amongst the State and Territory Branches in the following way:

(i)      any State or Territory that has less than five per cent of House of Representatives electorates is allocated one rank and file representative,

(ii)     any State or Territory that has less than ten per cent but greater than or equal to five per cent of House of Representatives electorates is allocated two rank and file representatives, and

(iii)    the remaining rank and file representatives are allocated to the remaining States and Territories according to the relative proportion of House of Representatives electorates in those States and Territories.

•(d)          Only Party members who live in the State or Territory for which rank and file representatives are being elected may vote in a ballot to select rank and file representatives for that State or Territory.

•(e)          Each State and Territory Branch must determine the ballot method for electing rank and file representatives in its jurisdiction.

•(f)            The rank and file representatives for each State and Territory must be elected separately.

•(g)          The National Policy Forum members elected under subsections (b)(vii), (b)(viii), and (b)(ix) must consist of at least 40 per cent women and at least 40 per cent men in accordance with the principles in Rules B.10(a) and (b). If these requirements are not met, the Returning Officer must adjust the selection result under subsection (b)(ix) to give effect to these requirements.

•(h)          State and Territory Branches may require that at least 40 per cent of their rank and file representatives are enrolled in an electorate that is not ‘inner metropolitan’ as defined by the AEC.

•(i)            If there is a tied vote in the National Policy Forum, the Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party has the casting vote.

•(j)             The National Policy Forum may co-opt any person as an ex-officio non-voting member of the Forum as a whole or a Policy Commission.

Responsibilities

•(k)          The National Policy Forum is responsible for:

          (i)      keeping our platform relevant by conducting Platform Reviews,

          (ii)     leading Party debates by forming Policy Commissions, and

          (iii)    providing advice to the National Conference and National Executive on any matter of policy, including the appointment of Party members to the board of the Chifley Research Centre and other non-elected Party policy bodies.

•(l)             The National Policy Forum must:

          (i)      maintain a quorum of a majority of members in order to meet,

          (ii)     meet at least three times per year,

          (iii)    hold at least one meeting outside a capital city each year, and

          (iv)    decide which of its meetings, or parts of meetings, are open to the wider Party, general public and media.

Platform Reviews

•(m)        During each Federal Parliamentary term, the National Policy Forum must undertake a complete review of the National Platform, and recommend platform amendments to the National Conference.

•(n)          The National Policy Forum must involve Caucus Committees in any review of the sections of the platform that fall within their policy areas.

Policy Commissions

•(o)          The National Policy Forum may at any time form a Policy Commission to consider matters referred to it by the:

          (i)      Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, or

          (ii)     National Executive.

•(p)          Policy Commissions must consist of nine voting members from the National Policy Forum. Three of the members of a Policy Commission must be MPs or Senators, three must be trade union representatives, and three must be rank and file representatives.

•(q)          The members of a Policy Commission must be elected by a ballot of the whole National Policy Forum.

•(r)            A Policy Commission’s membership must satisfy affirmative action requirements. If these requirements are not met, the Returning Officer must adjust the election result to give effect to these requirements.

•(s)          Policy Commissions must elect two co-chairs from amongst their nine members. One of the co-chairs must be an MP or Senator, and one must be a rank and file representative.

•(t)            The National Policy Forum may appoint other Party members as non-voting members of a Policy Commission.

•(u)          If there is a significant difference of opinion among the members of a Policy Commission, the Policy Commission may issue a majority and minority report to the National Policy Forum.

•(v)           Any report or recommendation of a Policy Commission must be considered and decided upon by the National Policy Forum before being transmitted to the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party and/or the National Conference for approval.

Resources

•(w)         The National Secretary may appoint a National Policy Forum Co-ordinator to provide administrative support to the National Policy Forum.

•(x)           The National Executive must allocate the National Policy Forum a budget each year that includes funding for editorial support. The Secretary of the National Policy Forum must administer the National Policy Forum’s budget.

•(y)           To the extent that they are applicable, the National Policy Forum must operate according to the standing orders and procedures of the National Conference.

•(z)           The National Policy Forum may adopt procedures to assist in fulfilling its objectives and responsibilities, so long as they are not inconsistent with any express provisions of the National Constitution.

Consequential amendments:

Replace all references to the “National Policy Committee” with “National Policy Forum”.

Replace all references to the National Policy Committee where it is referred to as the “Committee” with “Forum”.

Rule B.15

Omit subsection (d). Insert instead:

(d)     It is a requirement of Party rules that members either correctly enrol with the Australian Electoral Commission to vote in a federal election at their stated address, or not be eligible to do so because they are under 18 years of age or not an Australian citizen. If members are enrolled to vote, and they join a branch, sub-branch or other party body that has specific geographic coverage under State or Territory Branch rules, they must do so using the address at which they are enrolled to vote.

Omit subsections (e), (f) and (g). Insert instead:

(e)     Applicants must personally apply for membership by:

•(i)            Signing their own membership application and organising to post the form back to the State or Territory Branch office with the membership fee, or

•(ii)          Signing their own membership application and personally attending the State or Territory Branch office to submit the application and pay the membership fee, or

•(iii)        If their State or Territory Branch rules permit, signing their own membership application and arranging a person to attend the State or Territory Branch office on their behalf to submit the application and their membership fee (identification is necessary), or

•(iv)         Completing an application form online and paying their membership fee by electronic funds transfer from their personal account, or with their personal credit card, or

•(v)           If their State or Territory Branch rules permit, personally attending their local branch meeting and paying their membership fee to the Secretary during the meeting. The money must be receipted to the member and the member’s attendance recorded in any attendance book. The Secretary must forward the money to the State or Territory Branch office along with the signed application form.

(f)      Members must renew their membership by:

(i)      any of the means in subsection (e), or

(ii)     by phone using their personal credit card, or

(iii)    by signing a standing authority for the renewal of their membership and payment of their membership fees by electronic funds transfer from their personal account, or with their personal credit card.

(g)     Notwithstanding subsection (f), a person’s membership may also be renewed by a family member resident in the same household.

(h)     Members who apply for membership by completing an application form online must not receive voting rights in any election unless:

(i)      they vote in person, with proof of address and photo ID,

(ii)     they comply with the maximum possible relevant State or Territory eligibility requirement for ‘length of membership’, in order to give effect to the principle that no member who applies online may receive voting rights for any election in a shorter period than any member who applies through a local branch, and

(iii)    they comply with the relevant State or Territory eligibility requirement for ‘branch attendance’ if the election is for Party Conference delegates or candidates for public office.

Consequential amendments:

Renumber subsequent provisions in Rule B.15 accordingly.

Rule C.13(a):

Insert after subsection (a)(iii):

(iv)    Labor Policy Action Caucuses or equivalent policy structures.

Omit the words “However, any attendance requirements in State and Territory Branch rules will continue only to be met through attendance at geographically based local branches.”

Rule C.13(e):

Omit subsection. Insert instead:

(e)     MPs and State and Territory Branches should respond to correspondence from Party members and Party units promptly, so that Party members know their contribution has been considered. Before visiting an electorate, ministers and shadow ministers should notify the relevant Party units in that area.

Rule C.14:

Omit subsections (a) and (b). Insert instead:

(a)     State and Territory Branches should model their policy committees on the National Policy Forum to the extent that they should incorporate:

(i)      a formal parliamentary component,

(ii)     a trade union affiliate component, and

(iii)    a link to grass-roots members and grass-roots policy structures.

(b)     All Party members should be eligible to attend State and Territory Policy Committee meetings to contribute specialised knowledge and expertise on policy issues. Policy committees should, where feasible, conduct forums and consultations in regional centres.

Existing Rule C.15:

Omit subsection (d). Insert instead:

(d)     In order to ensure that candidates and MPs fulfil local responsibilities, State and Territory Branches should:

(i)      develop a system for reporting the activities of MPs to their federal electorate bodies, and

(ii)     introduce Public Office Selection Forums for all lower house candidates.

All eligible voters and financial Party members who live in the electorate for which a lower house candidate is being selected should be eligible to attend and participate in a Public Office Selection Forum.

Public Office Selection Forums should be held on the day of voting. They should consist of formal speeches by the candidates and small group question and answer sessions.

Insert after subsection (d):

(e)     The National Executive and State and Territory Administrative Committees may only intervene in local preselections in exceptional circumstances.

New Rule C.15:

After C.14: State and Territory Policy Committees, insert new Rule C.15:

Policy Development

15     Online branches

(a)     The National Secretariat should establish a National Online Policy Branch.

(b)     Attendance at the National Online Policy Branch does not satisfy attendance requirements for voting in Party elections, unless a State or Territory Branch’s rules expressly provide that it does.

Grass roots policy structures

(c)     State and Territory Branches must investigate new grass-roots policy structures.

(d)     State and Territory Branches are encouraged to provide for the establishment of a ‘Labor Policy Action Caucus’ or ‘Labor PAC’ where a group has:

(i)                30 financial Party members (or some other number as determined by the relevant State and Territory Branch),

(ii)     a patron from both the state and federal parliamentary caucuses, and

(iii)    a statement of its name, objectives and rules, approved by its Administrative Committee.

(e)     Labor PACs should enjoy the same level of support from State and Territory Branch offices that constituent units enjoy in that State or Territory. In particular, they should be permitted to:

(i)      promote policy forums in Party publications and bulletins,

(ii)     put motions directly to Party conferences, the National Policy Forum, and State and Territory Branch policy committees, and

(iii)    convene meetings and functions.

(f)      Labor PACs should in no way supplant local branches, many of which continue to provide Labor with a vital link to their communities. Rather, Labor PACs should be a complementary initiative. No powers or resources should be given to Labor PACs that are not also given to local branches.

(g)     Party officials should support these new arrangements. As PACs mature and become part of the party’s structures, party officials should:

(i)      list Labor PACs on application forms for membership (so new members can sign up to them immediately), and

(ii)     provide administrative support for elections and the maintenance of membership lists, as they do for local branches.

(h)     The administrative, financial and fundraising regimes that govern Labor PACs should be determined by each State and Territory Branch.

Engagement between MPs and members

(i)      Except in an election year, ministers and shadow ministers should participate in at least three policy forums each year that are attended by 30 or more Party members or affiliated union members. Of these:

(i)      at least one should be in a non-metropolitan area,

(ii)     at least one should be online, and

• (iii) for federal ministers or shadow ministers, at least one should be outside their home State or Territory.

Consequential amendments:

Renumber subsequent provisions in Part C accordingly.

Rule C.16:

After C.15: Preselections, insert new Rule C.16:

Community Preselections

16     (a)     State and Territory Branches must consider trialling community selection ballots when selecting lower house candidates.

(b)     Australian Labor:

(i)      recognises that each State and Territory Branch will approach preselections differently,

(ii)     supports State and Territory Branches that undertake a trial of community selection ballots when selecting candidates, and

(iii)    asks State and Territory Branches that undertake community selection ballots to report to the National Executive on the outcome of the trial.

(c)     To vote in a community selection ballot, any person who is not a financial Party member must first sign a declaration stating that they:

(i)      are a Labor supporter,

(ii)     will assist the Labor candidate selected in the ballot for which they are registering as a voter, and

(iii)    are not a member of another political party or one of its affiliated organisations.

(d)     State and Territory Branches should determine the model and procedures to be used in any community selection ballot in their jurisdiction.

Consequential amendments:

Renumber subsequent provisions in Part C accordingly.

Rule C.19:

Omit the section. Insert instead:

All State and Territory Branch rules must be revised in accordance with these National Principles of Organisation as amended at the National Conference held in December 2011, and be submitted to the National Executive for endorsement no later than 31 December 2013.

1. National Conference shall consist of 400 delegates, comprising:
   1. three delegates being the National President and National Vice-Presidents elected under rule 9(a);
   2. four delegates being the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Party in the Senate;
   3. six delegates elected from and by the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party;
   4. delegations from each State consisting of:
      1. the State Parliamentary Leader,
      2. a base component of 12 persons, and
      3. a supplementary component of a number of persons equal to twice the number of House of Representatives electorates in that State as at the previous 31 December;
   5. delegations from each Territory consisting of:
      1. the Territory Parliamentary Leader,
      2. a base component of 2 persons, and
      3. a supplementary component of a number of persons equal to twice the number of House of Representatives electorates in that Territory as at the previous 31 December; and
   6. three delegates from Australian Young Labor.
2. State Secretaries and members of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party who are not delegates to National Conference shall be able to attend National Conference with the rights of delegates except that of voting.
3. All members of the State or Territory Branch shall be eligible to be elected as delegates from that State or Territory.

Proxy Delegates

1. 1. Each State shall be entitled to a minimum of two proxies up to a maximum equal to half the State’s delegation.
   2. The credentials for State Branch proxies shall be circulated in advance and accepted at the commencement of the Conference and no other proxies may be admitted.
   3. It is the responsibility of each State delegation to ensure that the Chair is advised of all changes of delegation during the Conference. No proxy shall participate in the debate of a report in which the delegate he/she is replacing has participated.
   4. State and federal Leaders may each nominate one proxy subject to paragraph (ii) above. Such proxies must be a member of the relevant parliamentary party.
2. All delegates must be elected by a system of proportional representation in a single ballot with affirmative action in accordance with rule 10.
3. Delegates shall be elected within 12 months prior to the date of National Conference.
4. State Branches cannot bind delegates with regard to their vote on any issue before the National Conference.
5. National Conference shall be held every three years in a location determined by the National Executive which shall have the responsibility for determining the time of the National Conference.
6. Special National Conferences may be held for specially stated purposes and shall be called in the manner prescribed by these Rules.
7. 1. The National President and National Vice-Presidents need not be delegates to National Conference, but have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting.
   2. The National Secretary shall not be a delegate to National Conference, but shall have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting.
8. The National Secretary, after receiving instructions from the convening authority, shall observe the following procedure for the purpose of establishing the Conference agenda:
   1. give the following bodies three months notice to send items to the National Policy Committee: State Branches, Australian Young Labor, and Federal Electorate Councils, and trade unions whose State branches are affiliated with the Party in a majority of States in which they operate, all of which shall have the right to submit items to the National Policy Committee. Bodies so submitting items to the National Policy Committee shall be notified in writing of the Committee’s views on such items; and
   2. send to State Branches and other bodies represented at National Conference, agenda and any other documents related thereto at least one month before Conference meets.

7

1. The National Executive of the Party, which shall be the chief administrative authority subject only to National Conference, shall be constituted in the following manner:
   1. the National President and National Vice-Presidents, who are directly elected by Party members in accordance with rule 9(a), have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting, unless elected as a delegate in their own right;
   2. 20 executive members elected by the National Conference;
   3. the National Secretary, who shall be elected by the National Conference, shall not be a delegate but shall have the full rights of a delegate except that of voting;
   4. the Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party or proxy nominated by the Leader. Such proxy must be a member of the Federal Parliamentary Party;
   5. State Secretaries who are not delegates to the National Executive shall be able to attend National Executive meetings with the rights of delegates except that of voting; and
   6. Delegates shall be entitled to nominate their proxy for any meeting or part of a meeting that they are unable to attend and for any ballot in which they are unable to vote.
2. 1. The terms of all those elected by the National Conference shall commence at the conclusion of the National Conference at which they are elected. They shall be subject to re-election at each Conference except the National Secretary who shall be subject to re-election at every second Conference.
   2. Casual vacancies will be filled by the National Executive in accordance with the principles of proportional representation.
   3. Casual vacancies for the positions of National President, National Vice-Presidents and National Secretary shall be filled by a ballot of the National Executive and the National Executive Committee shall institute procedures to hold a ballot.

Powers and Duties of the National Executive

1. Decisions of the National Executive are binding on all sections and members of the ALP subject only to appeal to National Conference. Pending the hearing of any appeal, the decision of the National Executive continues to operate.
2. Subject only to National Conference, the National Executive may exercise all powers of the Party on its behalf without limitation, including in relation to the State Branches and other sections of the Party.
3. Without limiting the plenary powers of the National Executive under rule 7(d), the National Executive:
   1. is the administrative authority of the Party responsible for:
      1. carrying out the decisions of National Conference;
      2. interpreting the National Constitution, the National Platform and decisions of National Conference; and
      3. directing federal members;
   2. must convene triennial National Conferences in accordance with these Rules;
   3. may convene Special National Conferences for specified purposes;
   4. must convene a Special National Conference for a specified purpose when requested by a majority of State Branches;
   5. must elect a National Executive Committee and a National Policy Committee;
   6. may elect such other committees as it may determine from time to time;
   7. must consider any matter submitted to it by a State Branch, Australian Young Labor, the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party or a trade union whose State branches are affiliated with the Party in a majority of States in which it operates (in this rule “affiliated organisation”);
   8. may hear and decide appeals from any affiliated organisation or individual member against a decision of a State Branch alleged to be inconsistent with any national decision or matter; and
   9. may hear and decide appeals by any person seeking to be a candidate for a federal election against a decision of a State Branch affecting that person’s preselection.
4. Without limiting the plenary powers of the National Executive under rule 7(d), if in the opinion of the National Executive any State Branch or section of the Party is acting or has acted in a manner contrary to the National Constitution, the National Platform or a decision of National Conference, as interpreted by the National Executive, the National Executive may:
   1. overrule the State Branch or section;
   2. intervene in the State Branch or section, and take over and direct the conduct of its affairs; and
   3. conduct any preselection that would otherwise have been decided by the State Branch or section.
5. The National Executive must meet at least three times each year. Subject to the National Executive, the National Executive Committee is responsible for convening meetings of the National Executive.
6. 1. The National Executive may meet by telephone and other electronic means provided each member who wishes to participate in the meeting is able to clearly and simultaneously communicate with every other such member.
   2. A resolution agreed to in writing by all voting members of the National Executive has the same effect as a resolution passed at a meeting of the National Executive. In this rule “writing” includes emails, faxes and other electronic means of representing or reproducing words in a visible form.
   3. The National Executive may conduct elections by postal vote.

9

1. The National President and 2 National Vice-Presidents must be directly elected from and by Party members in the 12 months before each triennial National Conference in a single ballot by proportional representation with affirmative action in accordance with rule 10.
2. 1. The candidate first elected holds office in turn as National President, National Junior Vice-President and National Senior Vice-President.
   2. The candidate second elected holds office in turn as National Senior Vice- President, National President and National Junior Vice-President.
   3. The candidate third elected holds office in turn as National Junior Vice-President, National Senior Vice-President and National President.
   4. The term of office in each position is 12 months, beginning at the commencement of National Conference or on the anniversary of that date, except that the term of office in the third position ends at the commencement of the next triennial National Conference.
3. The National President, when available, will chair National Conference and meetings of the National Executive, and conduct such meetings in accordance with the National Conference Standing Orders. The National President will carry out any other duties referred by the National Executive.
4. The National Vice-Presidents in order of seniority will take the Chair in the absence of the National President, and carry out any other duties referred by the National Executive.

13

1. At its first meeting after each triennial National Conference, the National Executive must appoint a National Policy Committee consisting of a Chair, Deputy Chair and seven other members, all of whom have considerable experience in policy development.
2. The Committee will be responsible for:
   1. coordinating development of the Party Platform;
   2. conducting ongoing reviews of the Platform;
   3. preparing the draft Platform for consideration by National Conference;
   4. actively participating in the formulation of policy at National Conference;
   5. taking into account all policy resolutions passed by State and Territory Conferences;
   6. considering all policy resolutions sent to it by State and Territory Policy Committees and other constituent units; and
   7. in conjunction with State and Territory Policy Committees, conducting regular policy forums in which rank and file participation is encouraged.
3. The Committee has power to co-opt non-voting members with particular expertise to the Committee when examining specific policy areas.
4. The Committee will work closely with the convenors of the State and Territory Policy Committees, and will be resourced by the National Secretariat.

15

1. It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual or group/s to fund Party membership for other individuals or groups of individuals who would otherwise be unwilling to pay their own subscriptions.
2. It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual or group/s to encourage reduced-rate membership to people that may not be eligible for that category of membership.
3. It is an abuse of Party rules for an individual or group/s to recruit members who do not live at the claimed addresses in an attempt to gain advantage at local Party meetings or the outcome of Party ballots.
4. It is a requirement of Party rules for members, where eligible, to join or transfer to the branch or sub-branch which has geographical coverage, in accordance with State or Territory Branch rules, of the address at which the member is enrolled to vote. Members must, at the time of joining or transferring to the branch or sub-branch, either be correctly enrolled with the Australian Electoral Commission to vote in a federal election at their stated address or not be so entitled because they are under 18 years of age or not an Australian citizen.
5. It is a requirement of the Party rules for members to personally apply for membership and renew membership by signing their own membership application or renewal form and either:
   1. organising to post the form back to State Branch office with an appropriate fee;
   2. by personally attending the State Branch office or arranging a person to attend on their behalf and paying their membership fees (identification shall be necessary); or
   3. subject to the rules of a State Branch, by personally attending their local branch meeting and paying their fees to the Secretary during the meeting. In this regard, the money shall be receipted to the member and the member’s attendance recorded in any attendance book. The Secretary shall forward such moneys to the State Branch office along with the signed membership renewal forms.
6. A Party member may also renew their membership by phone or the internet using their personal credit card or by signing a standing authority for the renewal of membership via their personal credit card or bank account.
7. Notwithstanding the above, a Party member’s membership may also be renewed by a family member resident in the same household.
8. All records associated with the payment of membership fees shall be available to any full-time officer of the State Branch upon request.
9. In order to prevent the “bulk renewal” of other members, the National Executive must prescribe membership application and renewal forms for use by all State and Territory Branches that:
   1. require the signature of the applicant or member authorising the application or renewal; and
   2. contain a declaration by any applicant or member paying a reduced-rate subscription that they are entitled to that reduced rate. The declaration must also indicate the basis on which the member is claiming this entitlement. State or Territory Branches may also set standard requirements of evidence to be met by members claiming this entitlement.
10. All State and Territory Branches must implement an appropriate cap or limitation/review procedure relating to the number of members that may validly apply to join the ALP at a local branch or sub-branch meeting. Members who seek to transfer into a branch or sub-branch shall be included/counted for the purposes of determining the number of members to which the cap or limitation applies.
11. Involvement in such abuses will be considered as behaviour likely to bring the Party into disrepute and will result in disciplinary action which may include expulsion under the rules of the Party.
12. All State and Territory Branch rules must, where necessary, establish a tribunal to effectively resolve disputes concerning membership. All State dispute tribunals will operate according to due process and according to the national membership principles and rules.
13. All State and Territory Branch rules must contain a procedure that permits a decision to admit a person as a Party member to be reviewed, where there is an allegation that the person was ineligible to become a Party member.
14. All State and Territory Branch rules must permit 50 members or 25% of the members in a federal electorate, whichever is the lesser, to petition the Administrative Committee or State Executive to investigate any allegations of breaches of this rule in that electorate.
15. In order to ensure that these rules are given effect, the State and Territory Branches of ALP be required to amend, where necessary, their rules to reflect these National Rules. Such amended rules will be presented to the National Executive no later than 1 November 2003.
16. The National Executive must continue: (i) to monitor and enforce compliance with this rule; and (ii) to review the operation of this rule to ensure the integrity of the Party’s membership processes.
17. All States and Territory Branches must provide to the National Executive a complete current Branch membership list by no later than 31 July of each year.