It seems that the era of rank and file branch members choosing the candidate to represent the Australian Labor party at state or Federal elections is now a distant memory.
Rule N-40 allows head office to step into that role - and parachute in a distant candidate of their choosing to satisfy the incestuous needs of the various factions to maintain their numbers.
Such was the case in the Wollongong electorate of Throsby when union heavy weight Jennie George was parachuted in, despite the objections of the branches. She went on to hold the seat for three terms - and has proved to be both popular and effective, but now she is considering retiring.
Another union heavy weight is touted as her replacement - to maintain the faction balance and satisfy the " left " numbers game.
Stephen Jones has no connection with Throsby, a " safe " Labor seat with a margin of I6.5%. It's quite possible he would win the affection of voters and may prove to be a worthy representative. No doubt some will recall the fact that Jennie George was a Melbourne woman whose only experience of Wollongong was attending a conference here in the dim, dark, distant past. She bought a home here, knuckled down - and earned her spurs as our member.
That may be so, but the whole concept of democracy is choice - and that is something the ALP is consistently taking away from the people who fill in voting forms.
Politics is moving away from the wishes of the average man or woman to choose their representative. The party rules supreme and the factional mix dictates who will be nominated.
The ALP will probably get away with it once again, but there have been rumblings at this blatant disregard of a democratic choice, and the power brokers would do well to remember Cunningham - when a disastrous " parachute " choice had one of the safest of safe Labor seats reject the " ring-in " and turn their backs - and vote in the first Green member of the lower house of parliament.
Like a rubber band - choice can only be stretched so far - and then it breaks !
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