Labor paves way for another ALP/Green Government

The ALP is paving the way for another Labor/Green government after the next state election, a close reading of motions to be debated its State Conference reveals.

The ALP’s State Election Review, to be considered at the Conference, tacitly admits that it cannot win the next election saying only that it is “poised to win a minimum of ten seats.”

However in motions dealing with “Minority Government” it is revealed that Labor is planning on forming another Labor/Green government.

Motion 2.2 says “The Parliamentary Labor Party and its members shall not enter into a power sharing or coalition arrangement with any other political party where a member of that political party holds a ministerial or any other position within the Cabinet.”

At first blush that would appear to rule out a coalition with the Greens. But in Motion 2.3 the Administrative Committee subtly ads to the motion.

“In the event the Party finds itself in a position to form a minority government following a state election, the Parliamentary Labor Party shall not form a minority government unless that decision has firstly been referred to referred to the Administrative Committee for endorsement.”

Effectively this means that the Administrative Committee can allow the Parliamentary Labor Party to form a coalition government with Greens as Parliamentary Secretaries or even as Cabinet Ministers.

It is clear that Labor is calculating that it can win ten seats at the next election and the Greens four allowing them to form another Labor/Green government of some sort.

Labor has learnt nothing from the March election where it won just 27% of the primary vote because of the disastrous Labor/Green alliance, yet it will avariciously seek power yet again by getting into bed with the Greens.

Equally disturbing is Recommendation 10 of the Review:

“That the Party institute a regular meeting with the Parliamentary Party and affiliated unions through a Tasmanian Labour Advisory Committee (TLAC) as per the Party Rules. The meeting should be attended by the relevant state and federal parliamentarians, trade union and Party officials. It should be chaired by the Party President.”

Unions represent just 13% of the private sector workforce, yet the ALP is giving them even more influence within Parliamentary Party.

The Labor Party has learnt nothing from the last election.

It wants to get back into bed with the Greens and is intent on giving even greater influence to unions despite the current scandals surrounding various unions – not the least the apparent misuse of funds from the Solicitors Guarantee Fund.
Sam McQuestin State Director Liberal Party of Australia (Tasmanian Division)