SA left wing unions slam ALP factional deal while backing alternative candidate
Updated
The South Australian Labor Party is set for more infighting over preselections, with a group of left-wing industrial unions challenging a factional deal to install a new member for a vacancy in the Upper House.
Jamie Newlyn, the branch secretary of the Maritime Union, will nominate for the position set to be created by the retirement of MLC Gerry Kandelaars.
The seat had been expected to be delivered to fellow left-winger Tea Tree Gully councillor Justin Hanson, whose father Wayne Hanson presides over the state branch of the Australian Workers Union (AWU).
But the factional agreement to install Mr Hanson now appears under threat, with Mr Newlyn claiming endorsement from his own union, the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), National Union of Workers (NUW), Health Services Union (HSU) and the Australian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMEIU).
"I am putting my name forward because I believe I can bring the positive, progressive voice and approach to policy — as the members of my union and rank-and-file party members expect," Mr Newlyn said in a statement.
"I am proud of my record representing workers and the state's most vulnerable, and I am thrilled to be the endorsed candidate of the industrial bloc of our party."
The 45-year-old's nomination on the final day of Labor preselections signifies a split in the ALP left, with some industrial unions claiming dissatisfaction with the deal to preselect Justin Hanson.
Mr Newlyn's statement quoted the lead organiser for the National Union of Workers, Tony Snelson saying: "The NUW has been misrepresented in deals that have been made by those from various factions as to who the union will support for preselection and filling casual vacancies, by players who appear out-of-touch with the way democratic processes are undertaken and the values of our union members."
HSU secretary Jorge Navas was quoted as saying his members "will not support deals being done in our name without our knowledge".
AMIEU federal secretary Graham Smith said "my members will be questioning our affiliation to Labor if factional powerbrokers reject a quality candidate, like Jamie Newlyn".
Preselection to be decided tonight
Labor's nominee for the casual vacancy will be decided at a meeting of the ALP's state council tonight.
The chosen candidate will be able to take a seat in the Legislative Council as soon as they are confirmed by a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament.
The new MP is likely to collect a winnable second place on the ALP's group ticket for the March 2018 election.
The Upper House challenge is the second publicly contested preselection for state Labor, which usually prides itself on thrashing out nominees between factions behind closed doors.
Health Minister Jack Snelling is preparing to take on sitting left-wing MP Frances Bedford for preselection in her north-eastern suburbs seat of Florey.
Under a redistribution, the once marginal seat will become safer for Labor, with many electors transferring across from Mr Snelling's seat of Playford.
The Minister's shift would allow another right-winger, former ALP state secretary Michael Brown, to run in Playford.
But the arrangement was originally predicated on the retirement of Ms Bedford, who instead signalled her intention to run again.
Ms Bedford has not ruled out running as an independent if she is ousted for preselection.
Topics: political-parties, parliament, state-parliament, states-and-territories, adelaide-5000
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