A senior ALP figure has called for an extension of the membership ballot for the party’s leadership to Senate and state upper house positions.
Martin Ferguson, who left politics at the recent federal election after 17 years in parliament, today backed the model, which gives rank-and-file members a say in choosing the federal Labor leader.
“The process as been good for the party,” he said.
“It’s enabled us to engage with the membership.
“It’s been very healthy.
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“In fact I think it should be extended to the selections for the Senate and the various upper houses.”
Ferguson told InDaily he cast his vote yesterday in the battle between Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese.
“I voted for Bill Shorten for the good of the future of the party.
“He and Tanya Plibersek get my vote as the better team.”
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Asked for his views on the Julia Gillard interview aired last night, Ferguson said he had not watched it.
Also today, Ferguson, a former federal resources minister, rejected concerns his new roles in the industry breach the ministerial code of conduct.
Ferguson was announced today as the new chairman of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s advisory committee.
He also confirmed his appointment as Group Executive Natural Resources at Seven West.
“I discussed the code of conduct with both my new employers,” Ferguson told InDaily today.
“The code means I can’t lobby for a year on issues that I handled.
“I left my role in March, so that’s some six months to go.
“There are some policy issues that I worked on where it would not be appropriate to engage with the new Minister Ian Mcfarlane in any discussions.”
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