Reposted from senatorjohnfaulkner.com.au
Statement by John Faulkner: ALP Reform Agenda
08 April 2014
Last Thursday I asked the NSW Branch of the ALP to circulate a letter [attached] proposing changes to the Party’s Rules in NSW.
This letter is forthright about the challenges facing the NSW Labor Party and the reforms needed to meet them.
These proposals advance my long-standing commitment to internal democracy and Party integrity.
In 2010 I was a member of the National Review into the ALP, which made a number of recommendations for Party reform.
In December 2012, I promised to pursue outstanding integrity reforms by moving to formally change the Party’s rules at the next possible opportunity.
I considered then, and consider now, essential next steps to be:
- The inclusion of strong integrity measures for elected representatives, Party officials, and members in our rules; and
- Preselection by ballot of the full Party membership in NSW for Senate and NSW Legislative Council candidates.
Labor must clearly demonstrate to all those within and without the Party that we have learnt from the past and that we are fully committed to preventing corrupt behaviour ever again taking hold. To do so we must not only enshrine in our Rules our commitment to ethical behaviour, but also change the processes that enabled individuals with neither Labor values, nor Labor party members’ support, to gain preselection through nothing more than factional anointment.
Current upper house preselection processes in NSW enfranchise only factional leaders.
The NSW ALP Annual Conference in July this year is the first opportunity at either a state or national level to pursue these changes to our rules.
My position on the need for reforms to increase transparency, accountability and democracy within the ALP remains unchanged. As I have repeatedly said, (see links below) Labor’s commitment to democracy and to integrity must be demonstrated within our Party as well as through our policies.
John Faulkner
Labor Senator for NSW
Reimagining Labor: Party Reform. Progressive Australia Conference 2013, Sydney, 3 November 2013
Political Integrity: The Parliament, the Public Service, and the Parties. Integrity In Government Conference, University of Melbourne Law School, 4 December 2012
Party Reform – 46th ALP National Conference 2011, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, 3 December 2011
The Wran Lecture, NSW Parliament House, Sydney, 9 June 2011
Henry Parkes Oration – Apathy and Anger: Our Modern Australian Democracy. Opening Address, Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts, 22 October 2005
Our ALP 
I have already had these motions passed at my Branch, and have it underway for passing in at least 3 other Branches in my area.
The momentum for change is gathering pace as we speak. There will be plenty of items in the Annual Conference agenda, which closes on 2 May, around which we can campaign.
I propose that a mass meeting of members be held some time between now and the Annual Conference, which will be held on 26-27 July. As NSW Convenor of Local Labor, I am suggesting that we could do it in conjunction with OurALP and any other like-minded groups.
Ben, if you could contact me on 0433 462195, or at chrishav2001@yahoo.com.au or on the NSW Local Labor Facebook page, we can discuss this and get the ball rolling.
Chris Haviland