Category: Political history

This letter, never sent, was emailed to Premier Morris Iemma and Attorney General John Hatzistergos, dated 2 May 2008. John McCarthy QC helped me on the draft.

The 1930s was a decade of ALP splits and rancorous factional warfare, which made the ALP unelectable. In the 1930s Labor lost three NSW State elections and helped lose the three Federal elections held in that decade. In 1939 Conference returned to the parliamentary party the right to elect its leader.

Letter written by Neville Wran, Barrie Unsworth, Bob Carr, John MacBean and myself, dated 5 May 2008, and circulated to NSW members of the parliamentary Labor Party and more widely.

Part of the culture and practice of NSW Labor is the symbiotic, reinforcing relationship between the leadership of NSW political and industrial Labor. The Wran era, defined by Wran’s period as NSW Parliamentary leader (1973-86), is interesting in throwing light on that dynamic.

“Sparky”, as he was known in Young Labor, joined the Granville Central Branch aged 17. That was the beginning of an immersion in Labor politics, exposure to the personalities, factions, the froth, bubble, snap culture and traditions of NSW Labor.

For 150 years, ambivalence, disagreement and controversy have marked debate about the Eureka Stockade. Even today, not all the facts are agreed on: causes, casualties, consequences. This week’s celebrations in Victoria are an opportunity to reflect on the significance of what happened on December 3, 1854, and why it remains relevant today.

The defection of Seanator Jim Jeffords from the US Republican Party (to caucus with the Democrats) and the observation that many American politicians have ‘party hopped’ raises the question of whether there might be any comparable fluidity of personal, political alignments in Australia.

There has never been a Labor Council Secretary like Michael Costa. Even though his term was the shortest of living memory, his impact is such that Michael is arguably one of the most successful Secretaries ever. Lest this be regarded as farewell hyperbole, let me outline my case.

James Denis Kenny (1906-1967), glassworker and trade union official, was born on 27 November 1906 at Waterloo, Sydney, fourth child of native-born parents James Kenny, wagon driver, and his wife Margaret, née Rowley.

John Archibald McCallum (1892-1973), politician and schoolteacher, was born on 31 July 1892 at Mittagong, New South Wales, second child of Archibald Duncan McCallum, a coach-builder from Scotland, and his Welsh-born wife Catherine Margaret, née Protheroe.