“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?” – “reward high profile local candidates” with what? – the wilderness!

Rainer talks about a reconnection with communities. There is a vast resource of people who see no vision from Labor whatsoever - you know this - and now elections are seen ‘out here’ as a mere batten change. They don’t want Howard but they also don’t want the brand.

If Labor wants this resource of it must begin now to engage, find out who these people are, their real aspirations and stop pigeonholing voters with that march you do: left, right, left, right and yes “create an identity” from that resource once you actually know what it is. They don’t know you either.

This is basic stuff and I wonder if it’s simply a matter of “Oh! We know that works well so we’ll do something else!

Labor can choose to continue with this pseudo democracy or stop competing on Howard’s terms - your choice!

While I agree Labor needs to have transparency at preselection level, the party needs to realise that ALL matters require greater transparency in order to maintain public trust. Squabbling about branch stacking has a place, but much of it only plays into Howhard's hands. We need to have a clear consistent voice on the economy and security....THAT is the national agenda. It needs to be easily and simply expressed (Kim??) and understood, fully funded...or at least clearly showing where the money is to come from, but most importantly it NEEDS TO BE BALANCED AND HUMANE. We NEED to be safe and secure, but we WANT to feel GOOD again.... and we need to reflect the values of the labour movement....RESPECT for human beings, and all that that implies. Here's a possible slogan for you....'Vote Labor. Restore the Balance!'

Ditto Hutlen!

This is a repost of my comment from the McMahon article--

Never has so much been written and said about the chronic and infectous illness plaguing the bloody Labor Party.

Never have so many Labor supporters and commentators put up suggestions and counter opinions on how to fix this illness.

And finally, never have so many 'once were Labor supporters' been so utterly disinterested.

A tit bit from that famous dead parrot sketch seems appropriate: (perhaps we should rename it the Dead party sketch?)

Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?

Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!

Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.

Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.

Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!

Mr. Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.

Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ebarnes/python/dead-parrot.htm

I think most of you haven't discussed the true premise - membership is now so out of touch that Labor members do not reflect the electorate it connects with to win elections.

There are two ways of re-connecting:

1. increasing centralisation and a move to the middle (or in Labor's case to the Right; or

2. having a pre-selection system that could capture public sentiment better than it currently does.

I have put forward that primaries would be the best means of doing this. Creating a very difficult couple - more "centrist" candidates and also more diversity. Also it is obvious to me at least that the process of having to get the public involved - reflects well on the only tennet of the Labor tradition - it being a mass movement.

When you consider that unions only reflect 19% of workers now - it seems obvious that for Labor to be a mass movement it must seek more direct methods for involving "suburban" "normal" people in the process.

Thanks for all you comments,

Corin

Corin

While I agree with much of your post and indeed much of your article. I'm not sure if your 'Labor' is the same as everyone else's 'Labor'.

You stated: "1. increasing centralisation and a move to the middle (or in Labor's case to the Right"

I agree with increasing centralisation, I don't know if you've noticed but Labor moved to the right years ago with Hawke/Keating and hasn't really found its place since. It has lost touch with its traditional supporter base as a result.

As for the swing away from Unions - the current IR changes may bring back alot of former union members as they endeavour to secure their jobs.

And just what do you mean by ""suburban" "normal" people"? More information on this please.

Most people agree that Labor has lost public sentiment. It makes me wonder just what Beazley's advisors are telling him.

Part of the problem is also out of Labor's control - the current global unease as a result of terrorism. War favors the conservative and is part of the reason for Howard's success.

We still need to fasten our seat belts for the foreseeable future.

Mass resignations in both Qld and NSW govts suggests something is afoot. I don't know what, but it smells like future preselection wars to me