As part of PM Rudd’s push to reform the NSW branch of the Labor party, he has banned property developers from standing as candidates at the state or federal level.

While I welcome the move to stamp out corruption in the NSW ALP, this ban is indeed a very interesting move.

It suggests immediately that the problems of corruption in this ALP branch have a great deal to do with property developers. So I wonder; just what is the connection here?

I have said many times on OLO that our political parties need to make themselves much more independent of big business and the rest of the vested-interest continuous-rapid-growth-promoting fraternity, of which property developers are certainly a significant part. But to ban such a group from becoming ALP candidates and hence MPs seems highly improper.

It surely flies directly in the face of Rudd’s stated desire to make Labor more democratic.

Note the poll at the bottom of this article:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/rudd-seizes-control-of-nsw-labor-in-bid-to-stamp-out-corruption-20130704-2pcym.html

The poll question is: Is Kevin Rudd right to ban all property developers from being Labor political candidates or being involved in Labor preselections?

79% say yes.

Your thoughts…..

Good morning Ludwig.
Property developers have been at the heart of ALP corruption in NSW.
More than reform he is every dream I ever wished for , racing in to it.
Later this month a little self interested grub, who used faults in the NSW ALP will draw our attention to just how bad things got.
Win lose or draw I see a great victory for my party in saying enough.
That grub, one of too many, but at its head, Obead is a land developer and criminal thief in one.
Land developers did great harm in Woolongong, including bribing sitting members and council members.

The elephant in the room is that the real source of the corruption is not the developers, but the ex union officials that were actively soliciting bribes.

He's impressing me with that & if he can stop Academics & ex Lawyers from getting into politics & then let competent people run the joint then he'll get my support.

I think the move to ban property developers from standing as candidates is plain terrific. It counters my negative feelings about Rudd.

On the face of it proscribing a group of people (property developers; and can't builders and tradespeople also be so classed, and what about anyone with bank shares?) seems essentially antidemocratic...

Plus, it deprives me the opportunity of not voting for them.