Transcript of media conference with Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White; Labor Senator for Tasmania Carol Brown; former Tasmanian Labor Senators Doug Cameron and Nick Sherry, at Salamanca Inn, Hobart, 29 July 2022.
Rebecca White
The Labor Party is serious about winning the election in 2025. We know that this weak Liberal government is failing Tasmanians and failing to get the basics right. The Labor Party owes it to Tasmanians, and to our supporters and members to have a single and relentless focus on holding this weak government to account and demonstrating our ability to lead our state. I can confirm today that the national executive of the Australian Labor Party has made the decision to intervene in the Tasmanian branch to give us the best chance to win in 2025. While the administration of the party is not my direct responsibility, as the party’s leader I believe we must work together to reform our party and its organisation.
The state and federal parliamentary Labor Party jointly welcomed this decision and I’m joined here today by Senator Carol Brown, who’s an Assistant Minister in the Albanese Labor government. This decision is one that will allow the Tasmanian branch to modernise our party organisation, to make it stronger, improve our governance and rules, and prepare it for the next election. To lead this work, I am proud that former Senators Doug Cameron and Nick Sherry have been appointed as co-administrators. They will work alongside Stuart Benson, Tasmanian State Secretary, and a six person branch committee to make the improvements our party needs to see. This decision has been made to give the Labor Party the best chance of returning to government in 2025. And to support the re election of the Albanese Labor government in 2025 with more Labor members.
The Parliamentary Labor Party, my team, has made substantial progress over the past six months. Our caucus is determined and focused on the issues that matter to Tasmania: costs of living, wages, power prices, housing and health care. In more recent polls, we’ve closed the gap between us and the Liberal government from 21 points at the election to just nine. We need all arms of the party to be working smarter and better together on behalf of our supporters, so that we can continue to highlight how this weak government is failing all Tasmanians.
I’ve said before that our party was not at its best last year. But the reform process that we are about to embark on will enable us to build on the progress we have made and get back to our very best. Our members and our supporters need us to, and Tasmanians need us to. We need to build a modern, united party that uphold our values, is clear on our mission, and which welcomes new and constructive voices. A party that builds a broad coalition, that provides a greater role for the community and for rank and file Labor members in the development of our party’s policies and our vision for our state. And above all, a party that is fit to get to govern through the challenges of the 21st century. So I say to our party members, and to the Tasmanian people: we are serious about improving our party, because we are serious about earning your trust to provide the good government we know Tasmanians need, because Tasmania does better when Labor is at its best.
I’d like to now introduce Senator Carol Brown to make some remarks on behalf of the Tasmanian federal Parliamentary Labor Party.
Carol Brown
Thanks, Rebecca. And on behalf of the Tasmanian federal Parliamentary Labor Party we welcome the decision of the ALP national executive to appoint administrators to oversee the operations of the Tasmanian branch of the party. The pace and complexities of modern day campaigning and political activity highlight the need for all political parties to ensure their governance structures and rules and procedures are fit for purpose. The appointment of administrators to oversee the operations of the branch along with extra targeted resources, overseen by the ALP National Secretary will ensure that the party has the best processes and structures in place. A robust, fit for purpose governance framework will also ensure that the Tasmanian branch is united and ready to campaign at a federal level to win back the seats of this Bass, Braddon and Clark while also supporting Brian Mitchell and Julie Collins, who both continue to work hard on behalf of their local communities.
The decision of the national executive will allow our federal PLP team to focus on delivering on federal Labor’s important election commitments to the Tasmanian community and demonstrate what an Albanese Labor government will do for our state. We are also pleased the National Executive supports the continuation of Stuart Benson in the role of State Secretary. We look forward to continuing to work with the local members of the party, elected members and affiliated unions and of course, the administrators. Thank you.
Nick Sherry
Doug and I welcome the opportunity to have been appointed the administrators of the Tasmanian branch of the Labor Party. It’s a significant responsibility. Both Doug and I have worked very closely together, both in our time of senators, but also prior to that, within the national machinery of the Labor Party. Briefly from my perspective, I joined the Tasmanian branch of the Labor Party 50 years ago last November, and I’ve had a fair range of experience. Senator for 22 years, Minister, Assistant Minister for seven years, I was on the Administrative Committee for 31 years, I’ve held a range of roles in the Labor Party: campaign roles, elected officer positions. And in the last 10 years, I’m currently chair of a number of business enterprises, a superannuation fund and a charity on the north-west coast at Devonport. And Doug has a very deep set of skills, skills and experience.
So the two of us will combine that experience to oversight a set of changes that are needed for the of the Tasmanian Labor Party. And they include such issues as pre-selections, rules. culture. Cultural change is very important. The disappointing behaviours that we have seen over the last 18 months, and which have flowed through to our poor electoral performance both at a state and federal level, that’s got to end. It stops now. So Doug, and I will be working hard on the cultural aspect of behaviour, as well as some fairly obvious operational issues. It’s very important that the administrative wing is united and focused together with our state parliamentary colleagues, Bec and her colleagues, our federal colleagues, Carol, it’s very, very important that we are absolutely united in order to win the state election in 2015. And to improve our position sorry, 2025. It’s it’s very, very important also to improve on the poor result in Tasmania federally, to contribute to the re-election of a federal Labor government. Both elections obviously will fall in May of 2025.
Finally, look, there’ll be extensive consultations with our branch members. Branches continue to meet and operate. There’ll be policy forums for branch members to participate. There’ll be extensive consultations with our affiliated trade unions, and obviously, with our federal and state parliamentary colleagues. So it’s for up to the next three years. So there’s a significant amount of work to do. Certainly, Doug and I don’t underestimate the challenges, but we’re very determined and focused to give our best to the Tasmanian branch in the in the current circumstances. Thank you.
Doug Cameron
Thanks, Nick, Rebecca, and Carol. I am a bit of a blow-in to Tasmania, I think it may be a good thing in the context of this administrative role. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the Tasmanian Labor party other than to say, in general, a Tasmanian Labor Party has made a huge contribution to the development of this state, has made a huge contribution to this country. And that’s why the executive has said we need to make sure that that long-held position that the Tasmanian party has had, continues to be there into the future. And we’ve got a terrific leader in Rebecca, we’ve got some great trade unions down here. We’ve got great branches. We’ve got rank and file members who go out there and every day make a contribution to the state.
And I’m honoured to have been asked to make a contribution to make sure this state can get all of its great opportunities garnered in the near time. We’ve got a federal Labor government, nothing could be better than a federal state government. A government that’s honest, a government that has got accountability and government of credibility to take this the forward with a federal government and make things better for every Tasmanian. I work with the unions, I’ll work with the branches and I’ll work with the rank and file members and business in Tasmania to make sure that they understand that Labor is the best option for Tasmanians, that Labor is the way forward in this great state. And we contribute to making this country even bigger and better than it has ever been. Thanks.
Rebecca White
I’m happy to take any questions.
Journalist – Adam Langenberg
How broken is the culture in the party if you need [inaudible] to review it?
Rebecca White
As I said, we weren’t at our best last year, but we’ve made significant improvements this year. And we want to build on that momentum. This decision will enable us to focus our efforts on winning the 2025 election, it will bring together terrific experience in both Nick and Doug, to lend their expertise and support to help guide the organisational wing of the party to be stronger, to be better connected with our rank and file members, and to work collaboratively with our affiliated trade unions and the parliamentary wings of the party. We need to work better together to be stronger, to build a powerful force to take forward to the next election to beat this weak Liberal government that is letting so many Tasmanians down.
Journalist – unidentified
We’ve heard repeatedly that the Labor Party in Tasmania is doing better than it was a year ago and last year was a low point and things are much better. Now how can that be true if this federal intervention is required?
Rebecca White
It’s evidenced through the disaster you’re seeing play out under the Rockliff government right now that they were 21 points ahead of us at the last election, we’ve closed that go to just nine points at the most recent poll. There can be no doubt that there is a shift in mood across the community that is coming back to Labor. And I’m absolutely determined to build on that, to make sure we continue that momentum, to ensure that we have the best team to take to the next state election. But that requires a really strong movement that is united, from our trade union movement through to our branch rank and file members including our Parliamentary members as well. And that is the reason for this decision today. We have a sole focus on winning the next election, having a strong, united party to do that. Because we know that Tasmania is at its best when the Labor Party is at its best.
Journalist – Adam Langenberg
Why couldn’t parliamentarians and party leadership fix these problems themselves? Why is intervention needed?
Rebecca White
Well we are fixing these problems. These are decisions that have been made in collaboration with our national colleagues. They understand – both from the result at the last state election and federal election -that we need more resources here in Tasmania. This will enable us to have more resources to speed up the reform process, that has already commenced, to improve the culture of our branch, to make us exceedingly competitive for the next state election so that we can beat this weak Liberal government and have a strong Labor government elected that will deliver for all Tasmanians.
Journalist – unidentified
Are you frustrated that at the start of the week, we saw the fourth Liberal resignation in five months, I think. And at the end of the week, we’re still here talking about Labor’s problems?
Rebecca White
I think the Liberal Party should watch out because the Labor Party is getting its house in order, we are determined to win the next election. And while they’re falling apart at the seams, we are united in our determined focus to make sure we’ve got a strong team to take the next election and to work hard on behalf of our supporters and the Tasmanian community between now and then to deliver better outcomes for them.
Journalist – David Killick
It seems there’s a small number of people within the Labor Party who are working against the party’s best interests. How confident are you that the next this period will either force them to see the error of their ways or force them to find something else to do?
Rebecca White
There couldn’t be a bigger statement than the one that’s been made today by the National Executive and by our PrimeMinister Anthony Albanese, about his expectations for how the Tasmanian branch operates. I welcome the decision that’s been made. I welcome the collective support that’s been shown to the Tasmanian branch to ensure we have the resources and the assistance that we need to have a strong focus on winning the next election. We will work collaboratively and consultatively with our members, affiliated members, non-affiliated trade unions, rank and file members, the business community to build a broad coalition of support for the Labor movement, because we understand that this weak Liberal government is letting Tasmanians down. And we want to be a better alternative.
Journalist – unidentified
You talk about wanting to improve the culture of the party. What’s wrong with the culture at the moment?
Rebecca White
Well, as I’ve said repeatedly, we weren’t at our best last year. And one of the things that was identified with the reviews that were underway is the importance to improve our culture, to make sure it is an inclusive party that provides opportunity for all of our rank and file members to participate in the development of policy and the ideas that we take forward. That will set out our vision for our state, we need to ensure that we have improved governance, that we have an appropriate set of rules that govern the party, that there are appropriate mechanisms for the handling complaints and handling of disputes. And that there are appropriate accountability measures in place too for when those things aren’t appropriately followed. All of these actions that can now be progressed under the administration of Doug and Nick and the special branch committee with the support of the National Executive. And all of this is happening because there’s a real understanding that we have a great chance to win government here in 2025. And everyone’s putting their shoulder to the wheel to make sure we can do that.
Journalist – Adam Langenberg
The party president, a leader, stepped down last year, Bastian Seidel quit because of a toxic environment; are you underselling it a bit by just saying ‘we weren’t at their best last year’?
Rebecca White
But we weren’t, and I think other people will comment on the specifics, as you’ve pointed out. But the point I want Tasmanians to understand and our members, particularly, to understand is that this year, we have demonstrated a determined focus on doing our job representing Tasmanians as a Parliamentary Labor Party. The federal party was elected to government. We have a federal Labor government in Australia and our party membership should be able to rejoice in that. That is an extraordinary achievement. What I want is for that momentum to keep building, for us to continue to provide opportunities for broader engagement in the Labor movement, to work collectively together to set out a vision for Tasmania. But make sure we get it make sure we get the basics right and provide the strong leadership that is currently missing for Tasmania.
Journalist – Elliott
Independent Kristie Johnston was today in a community centre meeting with members of the community hearing their concerns. Is it regretful that you have to be focusing on your internal issues instead of spending time with constituents?
Rebecca White
I actually spent this morning in a mobile office in my electorate of Sorell where I was working to collect petitions for an energy, a cap to be put on energy prices, I work every single day in my electorate. And I know that this is one of the things that I found to be particularly encouraging about this year is that my members have been getting on with their job representing their electorates, working hard, holding this government to account, pointing out their failures every single day, we’re doing that and we want to be able to continue doing that, knowing that the entire Labor movement is working together to achieve an election outcome in 2025 that sees Labor elected,
Journalist – unidentified
How do these policy forums work? And how do you guarantee full democracy for rank and file members as part of that?
Rebecca White
I’m really pleased to say there will be a policy forum offered annually for our members to come together, where they can bring forward their ideas for the party and the F& SPLP can work to identify the platform will take forward to the next state and federal elections. The administrators of the party have the task now to make sure that we do that in a way that is inclusive, and is really enfranchising our members to continue to participate. And that values their participation. The Labor Party is nothing without its members. And I want to reassure our members today that we thank them very much for the work they did in the most recent federal campaign, but that this decision is going to give us the best chance to win the next state election and to see a re-elected federal government for Labor at the next election too. It is about giving the rank and file the best opportunity to continue to participate in an inclusive way in a Tasmanian Labor branch.
Journalist – Elliott
I did have just one more quick question. Madeleine Ogilvie said today it’s fine if Parliament is delayed a couple of days. What’s your position?
Rebecca White
The Labor Party wants to get back to Parliament. I’ve offered confidence and supply to the Premier which means that we will not support a no-confidence motion if one is brought to the Parliament floor. We want to get back to Parliament. We have a bill to cap power prices. And we know how urgently Tasmanians need relief from the cost of living pressures. If the government failed to return to Parliament when it’s scheduled to occur, we can only assume that’s because Jeremy Rockliff is too scared to test his numbers and too scared to provide support to capping power prices in Tasmania.
Nick Sherry
Just on the policy forum, but this is Doug and my first day. So we’ll consult with the party membership, Stuart Benson the State Secretary, Bec and others, and we’ll set out the time frame for the policy forums and a whole set of other processes over the next month or so. So, but first day, both Doug and I obviously have got to have some meetings with Stuart Benson, and you know, we’ll be progressing the consultation and setting out the time-frames, etc. in the next month or so.
Journalist – Adam Langenberg
How unanimous was the feed back to the party’s review into the governance that something like this was needed?
Nick Sherry
Well, what I can say is from my understanding, and also conversations I personally had with people in the Tasmanian branch over the last few months, overwhelmingly party members, leaders, parliamentary members were looking for a short circuit and an effective solution to deal with the issues that have been touched on in the context of intervening. It’s overwhelming. This is not the first time I’ve been through an intervention by the way. 30 years ago I was involved in the rebuilding process of the party after some pretty terrible state election results and non-performance in terms of the federal election at that period of time in ’82-’83.
And I would note with a lot of goodwill, a lot of focus, everyone focused on winning state and federally. Within two election cycles Labor was at it’s highest in terms of state and federal representation. And the Labor Party in Tasmania is the most successful branch of the Labor Party in Australia if you look at our time in office, our federal representation. The last the last three state elections, and obviously the last two federal elections, have seen a poor performance by any judgement. But I think there’s a sense of relief amongst many in the party, that there’s been an effective solution, administration, with Doug and I, and the six member committee, to oversight the process of making sure we have an effective administration, governance, because the state secretary has been, and Bec, the state secretary has been a very, very effective state secretary. But bringing together the three to be focused absolutely on winning the next state election in 2025. And improving our federal representation and ensuring the reelection of an Albanese federal Labor government,
Journalist – unidentified
Is the focus of this just going to be on structure and governance? Or would you potentially be looking at installing people into those key positions that might be better handled to perform the tasks required?
Nick Sherry
Look, there are a set of issues, some of our rules, dispute handling, the way disputes have been handled, obviously, at the appropriate time, pre-selections, but also that the three arms of the party – the parliamentary party, our affiliated unions, party membership – are all focused together to maximise the outcome: win state government and improve our position federally. But look, there will need to be a set of individual consultations and meetings and discussions with a lot of people about focusing on that outcome. There’s no doubt there’ll need to be. Doug and I, you know, we’ve been involved in the party operations for very, very long periods of time. And I’m confident that Doug and I, with the help of the others, on the six person committee and the parliamentary party, we can get an outcome, we can get a very significantly improved outcome. It worked 30 years ago. And I’d be confident that it will work over the next three years.
Journalist – David Killick
There are a few pre-selections to be done in the lead-up to state and federal elections. How will they work?
Nick Sherry
Well, we’ll go through a pre-selection process, but that’s at least two years down the track. So obviously can’t go into any details, time-frames today, that will be set out in due course.
Journalist – unidentified
Part 1 of the review did say Labor was caught off guard by the election. And I mean, they’ve got members falling down by the baker’s dozen, there’s no reason to say that they might not pull another one in a year’s time. So I mean, how prepared are you guys to make the necessary changes early and not get caught off guard again?
Nick Sherry
Yes, look, I note the very cynical calling of the last state election a year early. It was a year early for purely cynical political reasons. Labor will be prepared. You can be absolutely assured Labor will be prepared.
Journalist – Adam Langenberg
If the performance of Stuart Benson and Rebecca is really good, how can it be that if the leadership is so good that this is needed?
Nick Sherry
Well, you’ve got, Bec and Stuart are not responsible for the governance of the party. They don’t elect the people to the Administrative Committee. They don’t handle pre-selections. They have an input and a say. But it’s primarily the governance, administration of the party that is responsible for those key aspects. And that is an area that unfortunately hasn’t performed well. And the National Executive decision is to appoint myself and Doug to resolve those issues, and to combine with our state and federal colleagues, to ensure that we win in 2025 at a state level and federally, obviously, re election of the Albanese government and improve our federal representation from Tasmania.
Journalist – Laura Beavis
You said that cultural change is vital. What is the recent culture of the Tasmanian Labor branch that needs to change?
Nick Sherry
Well you’ve been reporting on it for the last 18 months. I don’t need to I dissect over the events of the last 18 months. What I do know, it’s been disappointing to party members, the brand of the party has has suffered as a consequence. And that needs to and will change. And look, I do think when you sit down with individuals, and you point out some of the challenges and the consequences of what we’ve seen, like I’d be confident we’ll see a shift in attitudes and views and behaviours So I’d be very confident.
Journalist – unidentified
It would be nice to hear it from you, though. How would you describe the party’s brand and culture in the last year?
Nick Sherry
Well, it’s been disappointing. I mean, it’s been on the public record for the last 18 months. You’ve covered it extraordinarily well. It’s it’s been very disappointing. It’s going to stop today. And the process of consultation rebuilding commences today on those particular issues.
Doug Cameron
On this issue, I think it’s important though to start looking forward. And the party in Tasmania needs to look forward to having great policies on housing, on education, on homelessness, on jobs. These are the issues that Tasmanians want us to be talking about. And that’s what Nick and I and Rebecca will be focusing on. How do we develop the best policies? How do we get good people in there, push those policies forward? And how do we expose how poorly the current Liberal government has been performing? I mean, if this was a bigger Liberal Party, and another state, people would be aghast at the amount of people that have just left. I think they’ve got far bigger problems, and more systemic problems than Labor ever has.
Because Labor can pull together, we can focus on the issues that are important for people in this state, we can make a contribution with an Albanese federal government. And that’s what people in Tasmania should be looking to. How good would it be to have a federal government and a Labor government in Tasmania, working together to improve health, create more jobs, get the TAFE system fixed up and make sure that we’ve got people with a roof over their head? That’s what it’s all about. Nothing more, nothing less. The administration is only a way to do that. And we are determined to make this party a great party making a huge contribution in the state and federally.
Journalist – unidentified
Who’s on the six member committee that’s working with you?.
Rebecca White
Yes, it’s Carol and myself. It’s Rob Flanagan, Senator Helen Polley, Chris Brown and Ross Hart.
Journalist – Adam Langenberg
Just one question about the presidency. Obviously, the election of a new president has been suspended. Is your expectation that a new president won’t be elected until after the 2025 election? Or could you see one before then?
Nick Sherry
We don’t have a president now, obviously we don’t need one. It’s my understanding there won’t be a party president until 2025. All office bearers, the Administrative Committee, have been removed by the National Executive. Doug and I and the the six person Consultative Committee have been appointed with a set of responsibilities that have been outlined. So there is no party president. There’ll be no ballot for party president or vice-presidents until the intervention ends.
Journalist – unidentified
Young Labor’s party president was put off as well. Do they currently have a president? I believe the vote was put off for Young Labor as well.
Nick Sherry
Yeah. All the, all the elections. It includes the Young Labor. I mean, the ballot as I understand. I participated and actually voted in the presidential ballot. Well, that’s gone. Unfortunately, I’m a touch old for Young Labor. I was a member 50 years ago. So yeah, look, that one has gone as well.
Tasmanian Times
No one’s mentioned the F-word and we know that factionalism was wrapped up in a lot of what happened, for example, with the pre-selections in the election last year. So how are you going to address that if you won’t even mention it?
Nick Sherry
Well you’ve just asked about it. Look, every political party has factions and groups who come together to promote particular candidates. The Labor Party is no different from the Liberal Party. You know, we had the Abetz faction running the Liberal Party for the last 30 odd years. So every political party has groups of common interest. What I do know is, and again, in my 50 years, my observation and participation in factions, although I haven’t been a member of a faction for the last 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been a participant at that level, nor have I wanted to be, I’ve been independent. My observation is, look, groups within the Labor Party can play a very important and positive role. If they’re working together in the best interest of the party, they’re a very important mechanism for resolving potential differences and conflicts. So factions working together can be very positive. But unfortunately, if they’re not focused on resolving issues internally and not focused on winning, winning an election or elections, it can be to the party’s detriment. And again, to the extent that’s happened, and I would accept, perhaps, that there needs to be some modification and approach by the groups in the party. I’m confident that will happen.
