Federal Labor intervenes in NSW branch
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed the ALP national executive will intervene into the workings of the NSW branch of the Labor party to root out corruption in its ranks.
It’s the first federal Labor intervention into a Labor branch in more than 40 years.
Rudd said the ALP must be modern, more democratic and representative of the community.
It must also be “free of the taint” of corruption that has been exposed in the NSW branch by the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Federal intervention was an unusual circumstance, the prime minister said.
“This is not a decision that has been taken lightly,” he told reporters in Canberra this morning.
Rudd said that as party leader it is his responsibility to address recent appalling behaviour and roll out reform.
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“As a party we must stamp out a culture which has allowed this type of behaviour to take hold,” he said of the matters in NSW which have been investigated by ICAC.
The government will implement a zero-tolerance approach to party members linked to allegations of impropriety.
The new rules will see the instant expulsion from the Labor party of any person against whom corruption allegations are found.
Property developers will be banned from standing as ALP candidates.
And the current disputes and credentials committee will be dissolved to make way for the establishment of an independent judicial body to oversee dispute resolution.
Rudd said he also wanted an internal ombudsman to hear the complaints of members and conduct timely investigations.
Rudd also confirmed that under the reforms at least half the administrative committee, the branch’s major decision-making body, will be comprised of rank and file members with three independent directors.
As well, there would be a charter of rights and responsibilities making clear that the rules were binding on everyone.
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“I regard this as a necessary set of reforms,” he said.
“I also reserve to myself the right to make a further request in the future should further reforms be necessary.”
Rudd praised steps already taken by the branch and by NSW opposition leader John Robertson.
But he said this was the start of reforms and he had asked the national executive to report back in 30 days on implementation of his federal intervention.
Rudd said the time had come to “open the windows and doors” to ensure the wider community is given a fair opportunity to contribute to the process.
The party still wanted the full participation of the trade union movement but there was a more diverse base who also needed a fair voice, he said.
“We must also recognise here is a broader church in Australia who must be represented within the Australian labour movement as well,” he said.
Asked why it has taken federal Labor so long to intervene when there have been repeated allegations against numerous party members over several years, Rudd said it hasn’t been his responsibility to act until now.
“This is something that I have been determined to address, had I the opportunity to do so, for a long time,” Rudd said, adding that he has only been back in the position of prime minister for a week.
He refused to discuss why Julia Gillard did not undertake reform when she was leader.
“I have not the slightest intention of criticising my predecessor on these matters,” he said.
