Australian Labor Party caucus

[Platypus]

I would encourage anyone else who wants to sign up to do so with the LNP, but I won't cap this off absolutely. Just consider that the game will benefit from roughly equal sizes between the parties.

[Cappuccino]

I agree with Platypus in encouraging any new members of the mock parliament to join the LNP (and indeed those already members of the mock parliament to notify others of this parliament's existence and encourage them to join).

To get the ball rolling on this (the sooner each of the parties are sorted out, the sooner we can elect a Speaker of the House and begin Parliament) I think we need to clear up two key issues:
the process of selecting frontbenchers and obviously the party name. The party leader/chair can be elected once we've established these issues.

So hopefully no one is against me initiating the following motions:

Party Name (please preference votes)
[    ] Australian Labor Party
[    ] Progressive Reform Party
[    ] Social Democratic Party
[    ] Write-in: ________________

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[    ] Appointed by Party Leader
[    ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry
Note that under either of the above scenarios, the Deputy Leader would be elected by the caucus just like the Party Leader.

I say we close voting on these two motions in 48 hours- 2pm, Saturday 13th UTC. From there, we can hold elections on the party leadership and deputy leadership and hopefully look toward convening with the LNP to vote for a Speaker/GM and commence parliament shortly after.

[Cappuccino]

Party Name (please preference votes)
[ 1 ] Australian Labor Party
[ 3 ] Progressive Reform Party
[ 2 ] Social Democratic Party
[    ] Write-in: ________________

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[ X ] Appointed by Party Leader
[    ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry

[Dr. Cynic]

Party Name (please preference votes)
[3] Australian Labor Party
[2] Progressive Reform Party
[1] Social Democratic Party
[    ] Write-in: ________________

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[ X ] Appointed by Party Leader
[    ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry

[Hifly]

Party Name (please preference votes)
[1] Australian Labor Party
[4] Progressive Reform Party
[2] Social Democratic Party
[3] Write-in: Christian Social Democratic Workers Party

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[     ] Appointed by Party Leader
[  X ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry

[Hifly]

I would also like to suggest that each member assigns themselves to a faction.
The factions are as follows:
Socialist Left or
Labor Right

Labor Right for me

[Dr. Cynic]

Based on your views, my character, Colin Elliott, would likely end up in the socialist left, even though I don't identify as a socialist.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Party Name (please preference votes)
[1] Australian Labor Party
[2] Progressive Reform Party
[3] Social Democratic Party
[ ] Write-in:

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[ x ] Appointed by Party Leader
[   ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry


In the factions... considering the factional stuff is driven by the social policy slightly more than the economics, I'd probably be part of the left faction, despite not having especially socialist views.

[morgieb]

Party Name (please preference votes)
[1] Australian Labor Party
[3] Progressive Reform Party
[2] Social Democratic Party
[ ] Write-in:

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[ x ] Appointed by Party Leader
[   ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry

[Cappuccino]

So as the others have said, the factional divide in the ALP is much less about economics and is more an issue of the Catholic-dominated Right Faction's conservative social values. And so I'd certainly be a part of the Socialist Left (which, to keep things clear, is something of a misnomer- it is no more 'socialist' economically than the right faction).

[Knives]

Party Name (please preference votes)
[ 1 ] Australian Labor Party
[ 3 ] Progressive Reform Party
[ 2 ] Social Democratic Party
[    ] Write-in: ________________

How should frontbenchers (ministers/shadow ministers) be appointed? (please cross next to preference)
[ x ] Appointed by Party Leader
[    ] Elected by the caucus to each individual ministry

[Cappuccino]

I know we're still a few hours from the cut-off and afleitch hasn't voted yet, but both motions are already guaranteed a majority among the seven people already registered and we might as well keep this moving. So:

The party will be known as the Australian Labor Party with the motion for that name passing 5-1.

Members of the frontbench and their respective ministries will be chosen by the Party Leader, but the Deputy Leader (who, to reiterate, is elected by the caucus) must be given a ministry portfolio as well. This follows the motion on the issue that passed 5-1.

Now, to the leadership. If you're interested, please nominate your character for either the leadership or deputy leadership following the example below. Nominations for the leadership will close in 36 hours, at 6pm Sunday 14th July UTC. Once we've voted on the leader we can hold a deputy leadership ballot, and nominations for the deputy position will be open until after the leadership ballot.

e.g:
Nominating [Character name] for the [party leadership/deputy leadership].

[Cappuccino]

Nominating Dave Astuzia for the Deputy Leadership.

"Having discussed the matter with my friends and family, I feel now is the time for me step into a greater role in the leadership of the party and help guide Australia forward as a socially progressive and economically pragmatic nation. I believe the only way to seek progress in this country is to meet the societal challenges that we face today, by taking real action to defend our environment, by ensuring that everyone has the basic right to marry, and by effectively and compassionately dealing with the desperate people who arrive on our shores by boat seeking asylum. In order to achieve these goals, I have decided I will seek the party's endorsement for Deputy Leader. I wish to also make clear that if a member of the Right Faction is elected to the leadership, I will retract my nomination for Deputy Leader immediately in the interests of having a united leadership group. Any member elected to the leadership will nevertheless have my full support and backing.

It is my great desire to see the Australian Labor Party fulfill its true role as a modernizer and as a beacon for progress that leads me to today announce that I will run for the party's deputy leadership. Thankyou."

The Honourable Dave Astuzia
Member for Grayndler

[Hifly]

Nominating Kevan Jahanshahi for the Deputy Leadership

Dear fellow party colleagues and unionists,

After having consulted with my family and my union, I have come to the decision that I will stand for the position of Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. I have also come to this decision because I believe that Australian Workers come First. As Deputy Leader, I shall be advocating for a crackdown on 457 visas, strengthening union rights, and 100% adult rate pay for workers aged 18+ in order to improve the working conditions of younger Australian employees. As Labor members, we need to remember the history of our party. Our values are Labor. Our name is Labor. I would like to follow in the footsteps of our great leaders such as Chifley and Calwell in continuing to consolidate the position of our party as the party of Labor and working class Australians. As a union man myself, I recognise the importance of our values, and I believe that my background in the field makes me a necessary addition to the Leadership Team.

Yours in Christ,

The Hon. Kevan Jahanshahi

[Knives]

Nominating Willow 'Wongsta' Wong for Party Leadership.

[morgieb]

Nominating Tom Henry for Party Leadership.

[Dr. Cynic]

Nominating Colin Elliott for Deputy Leadership

"After consulting with my family, I have decided that now is the correct time for me to offer myself for a greater leadership role within the ALP. It is my goal to defend the rights of all of those who find themselves oppressed by a system that denies them basic human rights, such as the right to marry whomever they love and keeps their wages low so that they never have a chance to advance in life. This must change and if elected Deputy Leader, I will do all within my power to fight for ordinary Australians. Thank you for your consideration."

The Hon. Colin Elliott
Member for Watson.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Name: Frank Connor
Age: 59
Party: Labor
Faction: Right
Address: Moonee Ponds, Vic.
Electorate: Maribyrnong
Place of Birth: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Occupation: AWU official
Property Owned: A house in Moonee Ponds, a flat in Canberra and odd little plots of land here and there. Continues to own Connor's Quality Cars (see below), which has proven to be something of a gift to satirists.
Religion: Roman Catholic

Brief Biography: Connor grew up in the slum district of Summer Lane, before moving a council estate at Tile Cross in the 1960s. He left school at 15 and worked for many years at the Longbridge car works (where he was a shop steward in the Transport & General Workers Union for about a year). Laid off during the early 1980s, he emigrated to Australia in 1987. Settling in the Melbourne suburb of Moonee Ponds he worked as a second hand car salesman ('Connor's Quality Cars'), before finding employment with the Australian Workers Union. A talented backroom organiser, Connor played a very minor role in the AWU's amalgamation with the FIM&EE but somehow managed to convince sufficient people that his role was critical, and thus his career was made. Connor rose rapidly through the AWU before turning his attention to politics, and in 2004 he orchestrated the ousting of the incumbent for the division of Maribyrnong in a particularly blatant factional coup. His subsequent political career has followed a similar trajectory to his career in the labour movement.

Other entries have been filled out but will not be posted in public.

[Hifly]

Other entries have been filled out but will not be posted in public.

for the game? but surely they have to?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Mr Connor values his privacy. The information has been passed on to Hugh.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

A picture of Mr Connor has been added to his profile. Let's see if anyone gets the joke

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Andrew Lawson will not be seeking a leadership role

[Cappuccino]

So the leadership ballot will be between Willow Wong of the Left Faction and Tom Henry, who is as yet unaligned. Only members registered up to this point- of which there are 8 -will be eligible to vote. The ballot will close in 30 hours (9am, 16 July UTC) and will be followed by a limited nomination period and then a vote on the Deputy Leadership.

Votes edited more than 20 minutes after posting will be rendered void. Please make clear your vote for one of the candidates by naming them in bold below.

[Dr. Cynic]

Tom Henry

[Hifly]

Tom Henry