Elise Archer,Attorney-General
The bitter divisions in the Labor Party have widened today with a rebel Labor Left factional leader publicly threatening the endorsements of sitting Labor MLCs over their votes on the Government’s gaming legislation, due to be debated in the Legislative Council.
When she became leader again after David O’Byrne’s resignation, Rebecca White said she would ‘end the infighting’ – this would be a perfect opportunity to show some leadership.
Ms White needs to take control of her party, ignore the threats and ensure that Labor does not flip-flop on their position on the legislation when it comes to the Upper House.
In a direct challenge to Ms White’s leadership, Labor Left faction spokesperson Ali Alishah has used ABC radio to issue new ultimatums to Labor MLCs Josh Willie, Craig Farrell, Sarah Lovell and Jo Siejka.
Mr Alishah threatened that if Labor MLCs did not vote for an inquiry into the Government’s gaming legislation, then their pre-selections would be challenged and that the Left was going to “reclaim the Labor Party.”
I simply note the provisions of s70 of the Criminal Code Act 1924 dealing with unlawfully influencing Parliament and “the free exercise by any Member of either House of [their] duty or authority as such Member.”
Mr Alishah, along with former Labor candidate Fabiano Cangelosi, has waged an ongoing Twitter campaign against his own party’s positions on the gaming legislation, in particular targeting Shadow Finance Minister, Dean Winter.
Rebecca White should publicly reject these extraordinary factional threats today and make her party’s position on the legislation in the Upper House clear.
