Here's a piece by Jenny Mcalister, the ALP's national president (what happened to Blight?)

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/members-want-labor-to-stand-up-for-its-values/story-e6frgd0x-1226159585227

She says:

"One senior union leader was reported yesterday as saying that if a progressive woman were elected as Labor's national president she would have only minimal sway over party policy because "the moderates" in the Labor Party still had the numbers.

Factional leaders might want to worry less about a progressive woman winning the presidency and more about the sentiment of thousands of members and supporters who want a party that stands up for its values and moves towards grassroots campaigning.

Such sentiments are a direct challenge to party powerbrokers who exercise disproportionate influence with little scrutiny."

Speaking of "powerbrokers who exercise disproportionate influence with little scrutiny", I'll just point out that Jenny Mcalister is a long-term member of Emily's List and received support from the group in 2001 to stand as an MP.

http://workers.labor.net.au/87/news83_list.html

"EMILY's List - the financial and political support network - gives extra support, over and above Labor party assistance, to feminist Labor women candidates who support the organisation's pro-choice, pro-equity principles.

Ms Kirner is National Co-convener of the List, which hosted the dinner in Sydney on Monday. Also featured at the dinner were Ros Kelly, former Federal minister, and Sandra Nori, NSW Minister for Small Business and Tourism.

Eight women, so far preselected to contest NSW Federal seats, were introduced at the function. Sharon Greirson will be contesting the safe seat of Newcastle and Jenny McAllister will face Larry Anthony, who has a 0.1% margin in Richmond."

So that's the Party President, the incoming Party President, the PM and every other ALP woman all members of Emily's List.

Is anyone starting to see a pattern?

By the way, Ms Mcallister doesn't list her membership of Emily's List in her Wikipedia entry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_McAllister

Oh yes, Emily's List has 3 candidates running for ALP President in the upcoming elections, according to them.

I thought they weren't a faction?

Anti sit please.
No doubt I will get a kick in a soft spot but I agree.
With every word.
Even the full stops.
More of the female vote can be won by haveing a hot male leader.
The upwardly mobile suited just Gay enough Labor males who pushed this best serve by leaving.
The best, sex not important, should get every nomination.
I will personally bet that part to be kicked, Gillard has turned more Labor women in to conservatives and greens than any ten others.
Conservatives have harnessed this problem, they would never consider such a list.
Who would? and risk another Bronwyn or Julie Bishop?

Dear Belly,

You know more about the political scene here in
this country then I do. I'm coming to all this
rather late in the piece - politics really wasn't
my scene until relatively recently.

Anyway, as I've mentioned in the past one of my
favourite political commentaries came from
DEnnis Pryor in his satirical dictionary of
Australian politics, "Political Pryorities: How
to get on top of Australian Politics."

Regarding - "Women in Politics,"
Pryor has this to say:

"Under the guise of 'useful experience,"
women are given every opportunity to stand
for unwinnable seats at elections.
Those who get into Parliament find it difficult
to become Ministers or to get into Cabinet.
In spite of incessant rhetoric about equal
opportunity the mass of male Parliamentarians
find it difficult to equate women with positions
of power. Many talented women are now seeking
to enter politics via influential positions in
the public service, where discrimination is waning,
rather than through the tedious and hypocritical
process of preselection and elections."

Lexi:"women are given every opportunity to stand
for unwinnable seats at elections."

From http://workers.labor.net.au/87/news83_list.html (in 2001)

"Sharon Greirson will be contesting the safe seat of Newcastle and Jenny McAllister will face Larry Anthony, who has a 0.1% margin in Richmond."

"Unwinnable seats" dear? You're funny. In a self-deluded sort of a way.

Belly, I'm pleased to see that you have the courage to examine this despite the efforts of a couple of the usual suspect entitlement feminists to pretend it's not happening.

The ALP has become owned by two groups that don't even belong to it and they're both owned by middle-class women who work in the public service and think the world owes them whatever they demand: the Greens and Emily's List. They're welcome to it, but it doesn't bode well for the quality of future politics in Australia.

I know Sharon, she is a warrior not from my faction but has guts.
Fact is ALP,look at the Parliament,has more women than any party in history in the house.
And fine female ministers.
So Lexi that bloke is dated.
But just why is the list needed?
And why do we CONSTANTLY send poor performers to Parliament?
We sent a good man, in trouble because he loved and stood by his wife Dela Boscas wife?
She had no chance! of not being a failure!
Branches did not want her PARTY DID! to REWARD John!
Dela Bosca is a good man but she should not have got a start cleaning the place.
I am not destroying party,JUST DEMANDING RENOVATION.
In time,the answers will come, why Gillard, why is she still there,why not party first.
WHY DID THEY DUMP RUDD it can not be said his polling hers is worse.
It never will be those in charge reveling in power they rightfully should use only for those who gave it to them.
But the voters who are owed these answers and action we all, including them, know will take place no matter what they say.