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The Forum > Article Comments > Revitalising brand 'Labor' > Comments

Revitalising brand 'Labor' : Comments

By Corin McCarthy, published 26/7/2005

Corin McCarthy argues the Australian Labor Party needs a broad choice of candidates from the centre and left of centre.

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suebdoo2 - Fully concur.

There is a lot Labor could be doing but isn't. Currently the Libs are backtracking on families in detention - do we hear anything from Labour? Nope.

The Libs are spending our tax dollars to convince us that the IR laws are fair and equitable - all we've had from Beazley has been chest beating - no action. Apparently the Libs ad compaign is unconstitutional - who is putting forward the legal costs to prove this - the unions.

Labor needs more than a broad choice of candidates it needs a transfusion.
Posted by Xena, Friday, 29 July 2005 7:40:36 AM
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Then we must conclude that corporate sponsorship should be eliminated from the political front.

This has so badly tarnished our democracy. In America we have seen so many examples of how their Government is enterwined with big Corporation through campaign donations and favouring of certain business identities.

The same thing is happening before our eyes. By containing both of the parties in what seems to be a two horse race by our media, they are impotent in their positions to be of opposition.

The Westminister system was created for the people so not one authority had an accumulative power. It was to have been spread evening ensuring debate.

You would think with all the tax payer dollars that both these horses have accumulated over the years, we could change legislation and ban the need for political parties to have business sponsorship.

In the reality our Government is taking the advice of business. Australians have not seen anything yet.
Posted by suebdoo2, Saturday, 30 July 2005 8:46:35 PM
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The issue is simple, the Labor Party has not had enough dynamic vote winning candidates, and its overall membership is very far from the average voter's sentiment in the key seats. Labor must find a way of resolving these issues.

Labor's brand needs renewal at federal level and in the process not be dragged to the Left and into the Wilderness. Indeed it must do what Blair was able to do - create an identity that could win a major victory and then keep those in the middle - thereby banishing people like John Howard. Easier said than done you say.

However primaries of the kind used in the US (for Senator or Congressional pre-selection) give control of pre-selection more closely into the hands of those key voters - so long as enough people turn out to vote. They would also create more profile for candidates and for the Labor Party in the run up to elections.

That is the key premise of the piece. I think the commentary has gone of topic somewhat.
Posted by Corin, Sunday, 31 July 2005 12:40:13 AM
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Agreed the Labor Party desperately needs a broad choice of candidates - but where from? We have an education system based around economic 'rationalism' this does nothing to produce inspired, imaginative and visionary people - instead it produces corporate clones - acolytes for the god mammon.

Just where is the Labor Party gonna get its choice of candidates?
Posted by Johnny Rotten, Sunday, 31 July 2005 8:21:00 AM
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I question the political logic within this article by CM.
How many urban high profile local candidates would seriously look at banging their heads up against the wall from the back bench of the Labor party? The imperative here is to get Labor re-elected and not to give local high profile candidates a real voice if Labor won government.

There is why I don't think either of the major parties are attractive to high profile and community connected people at a local level.

Left, centre Left. Left right out?

The Labor party should focus their energies on reconnecting to the real world of people and communities as a party first and not depend and parasite on brokerage from the grass roots.

How much longer will we need to hear them talk of disenfranchising their factional system but then resort back to this calibrator to decide who gets the banana?

If they can't make sense to themselves, how are they supposed to make sense to ordinary Australians?
Posted by Rainier, Sunday, 31 July 2005 5:11:11 PM
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Johnny...

'where from'.. good question. but why even the question ? It presupposes there is some canonical validity for Labor that is unquestionable. Why not think in terms of principle, justice and prevailing cultural rights when discussing this.

For those who think 'religious groups' are what the coalition depends on, should look at what Family First are saying about some aspects of the IR plans of the libs.

Corin, sadly you don't even question "Labor" You just want to see them in power for reasons .... ? "because you do" ? err.. with 12.7 million Australian citizens from the Judao Christian cultural heritage, the last thing Labor should do is put a 'humanist' as its federal leader. They got the predictable result for that one.
Perhaps this little statistic also explains the closeness of the coalition to the 'religious' mob ? Not only is it good politics, its also a reflection of what we are as a nation.

How about we accept our inherited cultural situation (the European), seek in every way possible to give back dignity to our indigenous people NOT WITH "MORE FUNDING" (sorry for the caps, but indigenous people are NOT a political football to throw money at and gain votes).

How about looking at 'free access rights' for indigenous people to all grazing properties and tear down the symbolic barriers of fences which convey a message of rejection in their own country. Why not give more respect to sacred sites ? The only 'multi-cultural' aspect of Australia that I can accept is in regard to our indigenous people.

Instead of asking how 'Labor' can re-brand itself, why not ask how we as a country can redeem ourselves from enslavement to 'us/them' of party politics and look for candidates in any party who will reflect values on which we can build a future with a clear concience ?

By the way, I have a totally clear concience in regard to the need for government to protect our sovereignty and borders. I don't agree with outsourcing detention or jails.
Posted by BOAZ_David, Sunday, 31 July 2005 6:20:58 PM
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