This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/16/labor-mp-michael-danbys-preselection-meeting-undemocratic-candidate-says

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Labor MP Michael Danby's preselection meeting undemocratic, candidate says Labor MP Michael Danby's preselection meeting undemocratic, candidate says
(about 1 month later)
A candidate vying to replace the Labor MP Michael Danby has blasted Danby’s decision to call a factional meeting to anoint a successor, warning it has “no resemblance to a democratic process”.A candidate vying to replace the Labor MP Michael Danby has blasted Danby’s decision to call a factional meeting to anoint a successor, warning it has “no resemblance to a democratic process”.
Councillor Mary Delahunty has warned the meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will allow a “select group” of Danby’s supporters to pick his replacement without a full local preselection.Councillor Mary Delahunty has warned the meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will allow a “select group” of Danby’s supporters to pick his replacement without a full local preselection.
The meeting will come ahead of a national executive meeting on Friday that is expected to confirm federal intervention to select candidates in vacant Victorian seats.The meeting will come ahead of a national executive meeting on Friday that is expected to confirm federal intervention to select candidates in vacant Victorian seats.
Controversial Labor MP Michael Danby announces retirementControversial Labor MP Michael Danby announces retirement
Candidates are needed to replace Danby in Melbourne Ports, Jenny Macklin in Jagajaga, and fill the new seat of Fraser in Melbourne’s west, and Bill Shorten’s seat of Maribyrnong if he jumps to the new seat.Candidates are needed to replace Danby in Melbourne Ports, Jenny Macklin in Jagajaga, and fill the new seat of Fraser in Melbourne’s west, and Bill Shorten’s seat of Maribyrnong if he jumps to the new seat.
The Victorian preselections have become a flashpoint of factional conflict. The emerging grouping of rightwing powerbroker Adem Somyurek has sought local preselection ballots while the adherents of the stability pact negotiated between the right’s Steven Conroy and the veteran leftwinger Kim Carr’s socialist left faction favour federal intervention.The Victorian preselections have become a flashpoint of factional conflict. The emerging grouping of rightwing powerbroker Adem Somyurek has sought local preselection ballots while the adherents of the stability pact negotiated between the right’s Steven Conroy and the veteran leftwinger Kim Carr’s socialist left faction favour federal intervention.
Last Tuesday Bill Shorten issued a public warning to factional powerbrokers against targeting sitting MPs in his home state, interpreted as a sign confirming that he will push for the national executive to step in.Last Tuesday Bill Shorten issued a public warning to factional powerbrokers against targeting sitting MPs in his home state, interpreted as a sign confirming that he will push for the national executive to step in.
Note to Nationals: no, the ACCC didn't say build more coal plants | Katharine MurphyNote to Nationals: no, the ACCC didn't say build more coal plants | Katharine Murphy
Late last week Danby, who has announced his retirement at the next election, wrote to a group of about 90 Labor members in the electorate of Melbourne Ports to invite them to a forum at the Elsternwick RSL to hear from the three candidates vying for the seat, renamed MacNamara.Late last week Danby, who has announced his retirement at the next election, wrote to a group of about 90 Labor members in the electorate of Melbourne Ports to invite them to a forum at the Elsternwick RSL to hear from the three candidates vying for the seat, renamed MacNamara.
Delahunty, former Danby staffer Josh Burns and Nick Dyrenfurth, the executive director of the John Curtin Research Centre, have thrown their hats in the ring to gain Labor preselection for MacNamara. While Dyrenfurth is considered Danby’s candidate of choice, all three are members of the Labor right (the Unity faction).Delahunty, former Danby staffer Josh Burns and Nick Dyrenfurth, the executive director of the John Curtin Research Centre, have thrown their hats in the ring to gain Labor preselection for MacNamara. While Dyrenfurth is considered Danby’s candidate of choice, all three are members of the Labor right (the Unity faction).
Danby wrote that attendees should come with “a clear view to indicating your preference for a candidate as we intend to decide who our preferred Labor Unity candidate might be.”Danby wrote that attendees should come with “a clear view to indicating your preference for a candidate as we intend to decide who our preferred Labor Unity candidate might be.”
“I intend to advise beforehand one of the known candidates that I will be supporting,” he said.“I intend to advise beforehand one of the known candidates that I will be supporting,” he said.
But concerns were raised that in an electorate with 500 Labor members, not even all members of the Labor right faction were invited to attend.But concerns were raised that in an electorate with 500 Labor members, not even all members of the Labor right faction were invited to attend.
Neil Pharaoh, the Labor candidate for the state seat of Prahran, told Guardian Australia he had been a member of Labor Unity who had lived in the MacNamara/Melbourne Ports electorate for over six years and had not been invited.Neil Pharaoh, the Labor candidate for the state seat of Prahran, told Guardian Australia he had been a member of Labor Unity who had lived in the MacNamara/Melbourne Ports electorate for over six years and had not been invited.
Delahunty said she would participate in the forum but that did not indicate she accepts the validity of the process.Delahunty said she would participate in the forum but that did not indicate she accepts the validity of the process.
“This is an indication of nothing more than what a select group of people think,” she told Guardian Australia. “This bears no resemblance to a democratic process.”“This is an indication of nothing more than what a select group of people think,” she told Guardian Australia. “This bears no resemblance to a democratic process.”
Rivers of revenue hide all manner of budgetary sins | Greg JerichoRivers of revenue hide all manner of budgetary sins | Greg Jericho
Delahunty said she has asked Danby “how this can possibly fit within the rules”. “I can’t see that a select group of people getting to determine the next candidate [does].”Delahunty said she has asked Danby “how this can possibly fit within the rules”. “I can’t see that a select group of people getting to determine the next candidate [does].”
Danby said “of course” he still supports a full vote of members and claimed he had convened the “large local Labor Unity” meeting to pass a resolution calling on the national executive to allow a full preselection.Danby said “of course” he still supports a full vote of members and claimed he had convened the “large local Labor Unity” meeting to pass a resolution calling on the national executive to allow a full preselection.
“I have been encouraged to hold the meeting by various stakeholders,” he told Guardian Australia. “The meeting to which you refer is only indicative of that [Labor Unity] group’s view.”“I have been encouraged to hold the meeting by various stakeholders,” he told Guardian Australia. “The meeting to which you refer is only indicative of that [Labor Unity] group’s view.”
Danby said that the incomplete invite list may be the result of “names left off by a computer-generated list [such as partners]” and was “no conspiracy”.Danby said that the incomplete invite list may be the result of “names left off by a computer-generated list [such as partners]” and was “no conspiracy”.
Dryenfurth said he will “abide by whatever processes the party has in place”.Dryenfurth said he will “abide by whatever processes the party has in place”.
“I have lived in the electorate almost all of my life, and as a local member I’m looking forward to a full ballot of local members as part of the preselection process,” he said.“I have lived in the electorate almost all of my life, and as a local member I’m looking forward to a full ballot of local members as part of the preselection process,” he said.
“I am a member of the Unity wing of the Labor party and look forward to sharing my views at party forums as no doubt all the candidates are.”“I am a member of the Unity wing of the Labor party and look forward to sharing my views at party forums as no doubt all the candidates are.”
Labor partyLabor party
Australian politicsAustralian politics
VictoriaVictoria
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content