The ALP has just announced the result of the Labor leadership election – the first election that gave a say to members.
Overall, Bill Shorten won a large majority amongst MPs, while Anthony Albanese won a large majority amongst members. Shorten’s majority in the caucus was larger, and that produced a 52.02% majority.
| Candidate | MPs | MPs % | Members | Members % | Overall % |
| Bill Shorten | 55 | 63.95% | 12,196 | 40.08% | 52.02% |
| Anthony Albanese | 31 | 36.05% | 18,230 | 59.92% | 47.98% |
| Total | 86 | 30,426 |
Overall, the result was quite close and was ultimately decided by a very solid victory for Bill Shorten amongst fellow MPs.
While Shorten’s victory amongst MPs was decisive, winning almost 60% of the grassroots vote was very impressive from the Albanese campaign. No-one had any experience running such a ballot in Australian politics, and the Albanese campaign were first out of the blocks.
While it was a positive move giving members the vote, it remains to be seen whether Labor members will feel empowered by a result where one candidate won the membership vote by over 6,000 votes and failed to win the election.
Another Kevin Rudd masterstroke. This result will only ferment more dissatisfaction within the R&F membership.
However why did 30% of eligible ALP members failed to vote? Perhaps they were not interested, did not like either candidate or did not get their vote in on time. Were they the phantom members that do not really exist that are only used for branch stacking?
Are Australian’s going to vote for a potential future PM who is a divorced man? I dont think so. If he can’t run your private life properly how can he run the country
I think over 70% turnout in an internal party ballot is pretty impressive.
I agree that 70% turnout is very high.
I’m not sure if the biggest disappointment is the failure of the new leadship process to bring the parliamentary ALP closer to the membership, or if it meant very little because neither faction offered anything substantially different to the other. The membership was clearly energised by the process, but it doesn’t seem that expectations have been met.
Though the candidate I backed didn’t get up, I’m pretty satisfied with the process. The membership did get a boost in numbers and energy and the party does seem united behind the victor. I thought Albo spoke very well after the results were heard.
I am surprised that Albo didn’t get a few more caucus votes. Is there a list of who voted for who?
Now both major party leader are Roman Catholics. Where are the Protestants?
^Because the Pope didn’t give his blessing to anyone else Adrian! Where are the Buddhists I say given that it is the religion of highest growth in the country. Seriously, this is not the 50s, most people don’t really care about a pollies religion unless they overtly attempt to influence policy solely based on religious beliefs.
“Are Australian’s going to vote for a potential future PM who is a divorced man? I dont think so. If he can’t run your private life properly how can he run the country”
70% is high. I don’t think that voters don’t really care if someone has had a divorce, even in the US most voters probably wouldn’t care too much. Seriously, you really are sounding like US right wing conservative with the tenuous guff that you post.
There are substantive examples if you want to be critical of Shorten , perhaps try and post a few if you want to wage an anti-Shorten campaign .
Adrian: I find your comments about divorce disgusting. A personal life doesn’t make someone less of a person or a weaker person. Everyone on all side of politics have something negative happen in their personal life including the PM and everyday people and its pretty pathetic that you would use something like that to put people off Shorten.
Joel: Under the old rules, Albo wouldn’t have a chance at the leadership but members were given a say and thats absolutely amazing when you consider no other party offers anything like this. Members had great opportunites to meet each candidate and it moves away from the notion that a leader is parliamentary only and bring leadership and the party to a broader community. What we also saw was that a party defeated last month with its lowest primary vote, signed up nearly 5,000 members. That is just unheard of and shows that this system is actually favourable.
Its sad to see the libs trash their own members saying they are incapable of voting for the right leader because factions are deep in the hear of the liberal party room and thats what decides the leadership and its pathetic that considering the British Conservative Party gives members a say, the liberal party here still want to live in the age where rich white men with no talent decide leadership
Observer – I am just point out what people think about divorced people. It’s just bed hopping and it is just what the apes do at mating time.
Yappo – Yes where are the Buddhists and Muslims too. Ed Husic did not get a cabinet appointment today. Buddhist and Muslims (about 300,000 – 400,000 each I think) are now are the largest religious groups in Australia after the R C, C of E and us no religion types. The 80,000 -100,000 Jews in Australia are well represented with 3 federal MP’s (all from Victoria).
No, such attitudes to divorcees are these days the province of a tiny, tiny minority.
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