Bill Shorten looked like a man between a rock and a hard place at this weeks ALP Conference. One of the deciding issues at the next Federal election will undoubtedly be our policy towards controlling the nation's borders - and as ALP leader this brings him into conflict with the left wing of his party - and the wishes of the voting public.
The mess Kevin Rudd made when he eased the successful control policy John Howard had implemented was plain for all to see. We live in a tough and violent world and mass migration out of Africa and the Middle East is swamping the southern countries of Europe. Our present tow back policy has stopped the boats, but the people smugglers are just waiting to again ply their trade if the opportunities offer.
Shorten grasped the nettle and did an about face. He narrowly won a vote on the conference floor to adopt Tony Abbott's tow back regime as official ALP policy and even adopted the use of orange lifeboats where people smugglers deliberately sabotage their vessels. He is convinced that he needs such a policy in place if he is to attract enough votes to win office at the next election.
There is furious opposition within the party and it's massive left wing is staging a mutiny. It was an ominous sign of where this split is heading when deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, the rival he beat in the leadership scramble after Rudd's resignation, Anthony Albanese and the leader in the Senate, Penny Wong all deserted him and cast their votes against his policy change.
This goes to the very heart of what the Labor party is supposed to represent. Those with long memories will remember where a similar clash of issues resulted in a split that saw the Democratic Labor party emerge and divide the vote to the extent that the ALP spent decades in the wilderness. That old motto of "United we win - and divided we fall " comes into play. At present it seems that there are more divisive issues within leadership ranks than policies on which all agree.
Waiting in the wings is the same sex marriage divide and that huge issue of reintroducing some sort of carbon control mechanism. In particular, the public are confused as to exactly what Bill Shorten means when he talks of a measure that is a thinly disguised repeat of Julia Gillard's carbon tax - but dressed up with a new coat of paint, a new name and trotted out as a new entity that will miraculously solve the global warming problem.
The real problem is that the ALP is not really a political party in a cohesive sense. It is really an umbrella organization under which a vast variety of " causes " shelter. It's backbone was - and is - the trade union movement and yet this has lost mass appeal and is fast concentrating into specific industries where it uses it's muscle to implement what seems like gang warfare. It is an important funding source for the politicians and its voting power is way out of proportion to it's numbers.
Shorten has the job of coach driver and needs to gather together the reins of his multi-horse team to try and get the ALP war wagon on a course that appeals to the voters. The division that became evident on this tow back the boats issue looks far too deep to be papered over and left to be tackled on some future occasion, and yet the rigidity of feeling from the left leaves Shorten's leadership at risk.
The three " mutineers " are at the very apex of power within the ALP and the fact that they have dared to openly vote against their leader is not an expression of confidence. No doubt that behind the scene the phone traffic is number counting and factional alliances are being garnered - with change in mind !
Another sign of the times at this conference was the absence of the luminaries who always make a great entrance to the cheers of the crowd. Neither Bob Hawke nor Paul Keating chose to attend and those empty chairs spoke volumes of the degree of discontent roiling the party.
Bill Shorten has nailed his colours to the mast. This is a practical attempt to infuse the party with policies that the voting public will accept at the risk of violating many of the old shibboleths that underpin the thinking of both left and right extremists.
It is a battle that must warm the heart of Tony Abbott as he watches this disarray enhance the prospects of him gaining a second term in government !
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