Labor elects a leader who 60% of their own wouldn't vote for

[IQS.RLOW]

Shorten gets up but doesn't have the support of the ALP membership.

Kevni's land mines are still blowing up in the ALPs face

[Chard]

Ok, just checking if myy my Australian Political Basics is right, but as I understand it your citizens and elect representitives in that he form of MPs, who in turn elect major politifal positions amongst themselves along party lines?

If the above is basically correct, than what matter if the MPs you elect in turn elect someone you disagree with, as the system is essentially working as designed?

[freediver]

People are guided by who the party leader is, partly because they dictate party policy. It is not like the US system where MPs cross the floor on a regular basis.

[IQS.RLOW]

Before the last election the party internally elected who they think is the best to lead them, voted for and along internal petty lines and factions. After the last election just gone, the left leaning ALP changed the rules because they were throwing out leaders whilst in govt like old diapers-changed twice, 1st time because 50% of the party thought he was psychotic and the 2nd time because she was shit in the eyes of the public for lying. So now the caucus has 50% weighting and the membership has 50%.

It could have been worse...imagine a popularly elected leader by the membership trying to lead a party that the caucus didn't want? I actually joined and voted for the most useless guy

All it serves is for ammunition for their opponents. Not that it worries me. I'm not exactly a fan of left leaning parties or their politics.

[wog_girl]

The unions made sure that their puppets remain in control. Screw what the people want - apparently. Good to see the union stranglehold on Labor continue. Shame about the majority of Australians who aren't union monkeys. The Greens look better by the day.

[IQS.RLOW]

Steady on, I think I prefer the outright thuggery of the ALP than the outright buggary of the Greens., although its really the same shit sandwich.

[Hebe]

The new ALP leader was chosen by members, whether directly voting or by people they'd already voted in.

And I suspect union membership will rocket up once Abetz gets his hands on IR. The ALP was built by the unions and workers.

It's not the unions they need to be wary of. It's the factions.

[Outlaw Yogi]

The way I see it, the mining industry got the unions to shaft Rudd to abate his proposed mining tax, and install Gillard because her incompetence made her controllable/malleable via the unions or Howes directly.
If Labor had stood their ground rather than allow themselves to be manipulated by external forces, they could have remained in power for a long time, simply because Howard $#@+ on so many people who had previously supported him.

Shorten, Albanese? .. doesn't really matter, Labor is destined to remain in the wastelands for quite a while into the future now.

I'm glad Peter Beatie failed to gain a seat, that prick has cost every Qlder roughly $1000 or more with his force council amalgamations. Supposedly to save money, but has sent viable councils with million$ in the bank into debt and massively reduced Qlders representation.

Now Labor has appointed rabid feminazi Tanya Plibersek (sp?) as deputy, not because she has talent or ability but because of what's between her legs.

AFAIC Labor deserves to remain in the wasteland, and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if then never get elected again, anywhere.