Faceless? never! in the 1950,s and 1960,s we knew who they had been.
We know who they are today.
They are the owners of the ALP! representing 20% of the over all population they are the Union heads Right wing Union power brokers.
Yesterday they sorted through the SA union waste paper basket to put yet another Union reject in front of that states senator currently holding a ministry.
As a REWARD! for helping dump Kevin Rudd.
Now tell me if BHP was a member of the Liberal or National party, would followers of those two party,s be pleased.
IF as still recently 6 in every ten seats in conference,to set the party,s future agenda HAD TO BE GIVEN TO BHP?
Now it is 50/50 what chance reform? any want to bet other than unions can get party reforms past the union power brokers?
If we get a run, this thread will witness mass hypnotism.
Or is it mass deception?
A book will tell the truth cranky Kev,should have controlled his bad mouth.
Even should have been forced to.
BUT UNIONS had a plan, right wing self interested power brokers intent on power not serving the party, conspired with an ex lefty, extreme left, to take off the head of a first term Prime Minister.
Labor must reform, given these Representatives of the 20% shafted even them, we must give our movements Union and its child back to the reason we exist RANK AND FILE.

The death of any democracy starts with the introduction of a PARTY system (Labor, Liberal, Greens Democrats or Republicans does not matter) Because the votes of the majority are replaced by the votes of a very few (so called power brokers)
We may get the liberal or Labor party we voted for into power but from that point on we have lost control of the country to a very few individuals.

These individuals even control the selection of candidates put on a ballot (ones they can control).

Democracy has been dead for a long time.
Also the IDEAL of doing something for the public good has long died.

Anyone against this current system is quickly dealt with EG Pauline Hanson (even though hers was a party system it to a large extent did what the majority of Australians wanted.

The Greens are so far on the LOONEY side wanting to use big ocean liners and jets to fly in thousands of welfare for lifers, crying every time a boat sinks when actually the fault is on the people themselves NO AUSTRALIANS forced them to get on the boat. Greed put them on it, They passed many safe countries that could have taken them. There were many countries they could have got to safely that were by far closer than the long journey to Australia.

This part from the National times says it all.
Quote ''The Labor Party is a democratic organization and today, 200 elected delegates have determined who will represent Labor in South Australia at the next election,'' This was from Wong herself.

In other words of all the people likely to vote Labor or be eligible(nice word) to nominate who will represent labor the job was done by 200 people, ONE hundred dollars says that 200 was much less because many of them would have been told who to pick.

This is the problem Philip, our democratic rights are gone for another term, as soon as we exit the polling booth.

Voters must be given more say in day to day issues.

Let me first be honest, I a an activist within the ALP.
An ex trade union official, but forever unionist, proud to have been part of our best,the one that drove Rudd from office.
I too, with our reserve, think Labors policy's,with the faults many had, are the very best recommendation for my party.
Much I say in this thread will bring doubters.
Truth, not blind faith, is worth it.
My only policy complaint [implemented Gillard had brain snaps] is back down on mining tax, we should have got better.
Looking from within, knowing some of the players, but of far more importance knowing what unionists and workers think.
I am forced to tell the SUITS, an intended insult!you got it wrong, have the guts to bring Rudd back or NEVER seek the leadership of a party you raped.
Go back, to my first post, first forget the uninformed posts we will see, we are in the end a two party country.
Both party,s are quite capable of leading us, Labor stands on the ground Liberals once did.
Forget the chanted nonsense about abandoning its roots.
Who in Australia wants a leftist ALP or extreme right wing Liberal party?
Who wants a Union head, empowered by his membership, [not talking about Paul Howes] who acts without their knowledge and against their will?
TRUTH.
Know it, Gillard can NEVER WIN AN ELECTION! if it was the chook raffle down the pub, and she bought every ticket, blokes would line up ten deep to pinch the chook rather than see her get it.
Be there, Conference day! see Union appointed Marshals, follow heads bought only to vote, AS TOLD!
The only action other than drinking they undertake the whole weekend.
It get lonely sitting and hearing every word, not to worry, not working now, no room for me, 50 in every hundred seats are empty some times but taken, by ALP PTY LTD.
Much needs saying, ALP will rise again and it must get Forster parents the dysfunctional mum and dad of todays,ALP power princess betrayed us, do not care less

Belly,
OK, I would like to see the reforms you would advocate specificly.

Butch and Phillip,
The only way for electors to get a say in the day to day decissions of government is by way of Citizens Initiated Referenda (CIR), which if a certain number of electors complain or object to a decission, the government has to hold a referendum on the issue at the next election. This makes the government think before implementing changes.

But, it is a pipe dream because it takes away some power from the politicians and that is the last thing they want. Look how they coluded when they thought One Nation was a threat to their power. Since then they have made it far more difficult for a new party to get up and running.