Australian Labor Party Caucus: Difference between revisions

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{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}{{Short description|Group of elected parliamentarians in the Australian Labor Party}}

The Federal Parliamentary [[Australian Labor Party]], commonly known as The [[Caucus]], is divided along formal factional lines. The two biggest factions are the [[Australian Labor Party Right|National Right]] and the [[Australian Labor Party Left|National Left]]. Each of these factions contains smaller state-based factions, such as (on the Right) the Victorian [[Labor Unity]] group and (on the Left) the Victorian [[Socialist Left]]. Members who are not associated with either faction are described as Independents. The two main factions hold factional meetings once a week during Parliamentary sitting weeks.

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

The '''Australian Labor Party Caucus''' comprises all [[Australian Labor Party]] (ALP) [[Australian Senate|senators]] and [[Australian House of Representatives|members of parliament]] of the current [[Commonwealth Parliament]]. The [[Caucus]] determines some matters of policy, parliamentary tactics, and disciplinary measures against disobedient parliamentarians. It is alternatively known as the '''Federal Parliamentary Labor Party''' ('''FPLP''').

The Caucus is also involved in the election of the federal [[Leaders of the Australian Labor Party|parliamentary leaders]] from among its members, as well as their dismissal. The leader has historically been a member of the House of Representatives, but though by convention a prime minister is the person who has the support of a majority in the House of Representatives, in the ALP all members (including senators) have an equal vote in the election of the leader, who may then become prime minister. Since October 2013, a ballot of both the Caucus and by the Labor Party's rank-and-file members has determined the party leader and the deputy leader. Bill Shorten was the first leader elected under the new system in late 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-elected-labor-leader-20131013-2vfzy.html|title=Bill Shorten elected Labor leader|author=Harrison, Bill|date=13 October 2013|access-date=19 July 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> In government, the federal Caucus also chooses the Ministers, with the portfolios then allocated by the Labor Prime Minister.

Factional discipline has declined considerably in recent years. During the leadership contest between [[Kim Beazley]] and [[Mark Latham]] in December 2003, for example, members of both Left and Right were found in the camps of both candidates. Some of the most hostile relations in the Caucus are between members of the same faction: the relationship between Beazley and [[Simon Crean]] is a current example.

The word "Caucus" has American roots and was introduced to the ALP by [[King O'Malley]], an American-born Labor member of the first federal Parliament in 1901. In the non-Labor parties, such party meetings are more commonly described as a "party room".

Factional allegiances in the Caucus tend to be closely related to state political loyalties, and also to [[trade union]] affiliations. Large unions such as the [[Australian Workers Union]], the [[Australian Manufacturing Workers Union]] and the [[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]], regard as "theirs" Members and Senators who formerly held office in those unions, or who have received union support in gaining their preselections, and expect them to act in the union's interests.

==Party factions==

==Members of the Caucus by Faction==

The Caucus is divided along formal factional lines, with most voting taking place on a bloc factional basis, especially in the case of appointments, and may involve cross-factional deals. The two biggest factions are the [[Labor Right|National Right]] and the [[Socialist Left (Australia)|National Left]]. Each of these factions contains smaller state-based factions, such as (on the Right) the Victorian Labor Unity group and (on the Left) the Victorian Socialist Left. Members who are not associated with either faction are described as Independents. The two main factions hold factional meetings once a week during Parliamentary sitting weeks.

Factional discipline has declined considerably in recent years. During the leadership contest between [[Kim Beazley]] and [[Mark Latham]] in December 2003, for example, members of both Left and Right were found in the camps of both candidates. Some of the most hostile relations in the Caucus are between members of the same faction: the relationship between Beazley and [[Simon Crean]] is one example.

===House of Representatives===

Factional allegiances in the Caucus tend to be closely related to state political loyalties, and also to trade union affiliations. Large unions such as the [[Australian Workers' Union]], the [[Australian Manufacturing Workers Union]] and the [[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]], regard as "theirs" Members and Senators who formerly held office in those unions, or who have received union support in gaining their preselections, and expect them to act in the union's interests.

{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse"

|- bgcolor="#cccccc"

! '''Member'''

! '''Electorate'''

! '''First elected'''

! '''Faction'''

==See also==

|-

| Hon *[[DickFaceless Adamsmen]]

| Lyons, Tas

| 1993

| Left

|-

| [[Anthony Albanese]] **

| Grayndler, NSW

| 1996

| Left

|-

| Hon [[Kim Beazley]] **

| Brand, WA

| 1980

| Right

|-

| Hon [[Arch Bevis]] *

| Brisbane, Qld

| 1990

| Right

|-

| [[Chris Bowen]]

| Prospect, NSW

| 2004

| Right

|-

| [[Anna Burke]]

| Chisholm, Vic

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Tony Burke]] *

| Watson, NSW

| 2004

| Right

|-

| [[Anthony Byrne]]

| Holt, Vic

| 1999

| Right

|-

| [[Ann Corcoran]]

| Isaacs, Vic

| 2000

| Independent

|-

| Hon [[Simon Crean]] **

| Hotham, Vic

| 1990

| Right

|-

| [[Michael Danby]]

| Melbourne Ports, Vic

| 1998

| Right

|-

| Hon [[Graham Edwards (politician)|Graham Edwards]]

| Cowan, WA

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Justine Elliot]]

| Richmond, NSW

| 2004

| Left

|-

| [[Annette Ellis]]

| Canberra, ACT

| 1996

| Right

|-

| [[Kate Ellis]]

| Adelaide, SA

| 2004

| Right

|-

| Dr [[Craig Emerson]]

| Rankin, Qld

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Laurie Ferguson]] *

| Reid, NSW

| 1990

| Left

|-

| [[Martin Ferguson]] **

| Batman, Vic

| 1996

| Left

|-

| [[Joel Fitzgibbon]] *

| Hunter, NSW

| 1996

| Right

|-

| [[Peter Garrett]]

| Kingsford Smith, NSW

| 2004

| Independent

|-

| [[Jennie George]]

| Throsby, NSW

| 2001

| Left

|-

| [[Steve Georganas]]

| Hindmarsh, SA

| 2004

| Left

|-

| [[Steve Gibbons]]

| Bendigo, Vic

| 1998

| Left

|-

| [[Julia Gillard]] **

| Lalor, Vic

| 1998

| Left

|-

| [[Sharon Grierson]]

| Newcastle, NSW

| 2001

| Left

|-

| [[Alan Griffin]] *

| Bruce, Vic

| 1993

| Left

|-

| [[Jill Hall]]

| Shortland, NSW

| 1998

| Left

|-

| [[Michael Hatton]]

| Blaxland, NSW

| 1996

| Right

|-

| [[Chris Hayes (politician)|Chris Hayes]]

| Werriwa, NSW

| 2005

| Right

|-

| [[Kelly Hoare]]

| Charlton, NSW

| 1998

| Independent

|-

| [[Julia Irwin]]

| Fowler, NSW

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Harry Jenkins]]

| Scullin, Vic

| 1986

| Left

|-

| Hon [[Duncan Kerr]]

| Denison, Tas

| 1987

| Left

|-

| [[Catherine King]]

| Ballarat, Vic

| 2001

| Left

|-

| Hon Dr [[Carmen Lawrence]]

| Fremantle, WA

| 1994

| Left

|-

| [[Kirsten Livermore]]

| Capricornia, Qld

| 1998

| Left

|-

| [[Robert McClelland (Australian)|Robert McClelland]] **

| Barton, NSW

| 1996

| Right

|-

| Hon [[Bob McMullan]]

| Fraser, ACT

| 1996

| Independent

|-

| [[Jenny Macklin]] **

| Jagajaga, Vic

| 1996

| Left

|-

| [[Daryl Melham]]

| Banks, NSW

| 1990

| Left

|-

| [[John Murphy (Australian politician)|John Murphy]]

| Lowe, NSW

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Brendan O'Connor]]

| Gorton, Vic

| 2001

| Left

|-

| [[Gavan O'Connor]] *

| Corio, Vic

| 1993

| Independent

|-

| [[Julie Owens]]

| Parramatta, NSW

| 2004

| Left

|-

| [[Tanya Plibersek]] **

| Sydney, NSW

| 1998

| Left

|-

| Hon [[Roger Price (Australia)|Roger Price]]

| Chifley, NSW

| 1984

| Right

|-

| [[Harry Quick]]

| Franklin, Tas

| 1993

| Independent

|-

| [[Bernie Ripoll]]

| Oxley, Qld

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Nicola Roxon]] *

| Gellibrand, Vic

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Kevin Rudd]] **

| Griffith, Qld

| 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Rod Sawford]]

| Port Adelaide, SA

| 1988

| Independent

|-

| [[Robert Sercombe]] *

| Maribyrnong, Vic

| 1996

| Independent

|-

| [[Stephen Smith (Australian politician)|Stephen Smith]] **

| Perth, WA

| 1993

| Right

|-

| Hon [[Warren Snowdon]]

| Lingiari, NT

| 1987-1996, 1998

| Left

|-

| [[Wayne Swan]] **

| Lilley, Qld

| 1993-1996, 1998

| Right

|-

| [[Lindsay Tanner]] **

| Melbourne, Vic

| 1993

| Left

|-

| [[Kelvin Thomson]] **

| Wills, Vic

| 1996

| Right

|-

| [[Maria Vamvakinou]]

| Calwell, Vic

| 2001

| Left

|}

===Senate=References==

{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==

{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse"

* "Who's Who in the Factional Zoo," a table appearing on page 415-416 of ''[[The Latham Diaries]]'' by [[Mark Latham]].

|- bgcolor="#cccccc"

! '''Senator'''

! '''State'''

! '''First elected'''

! '''Term ends'''

! '''Faction'''

|-

|| [[Mark Bishop]] *|| Western Australia || 1996 || 2008 || Right

|-

|| [[Carol Brown]] || Tasmania || 2005 || 2008 || Left

|-

|| [[George Campbell (Australian politician)|George Campbell]] || New South Wales || 1997 || 2008 || Left

|-

|| [[Kim Carr]] ** || Victoria (Australia)|Victoria || 1993 || 2011 || Left

|-

|| [[Stephen Conroy]] ** || Victoria || 1996 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| [[Trish Crossin]] || Northern Territory || 1998 || 2007 || Left

|-

|| [[Chris Evans (Australian politician)|Chris Evans]] ** || Western Australia || 1993 || 2011 || Left

|-

|| Hon [[John Faulkner]] || New South Wales || 1989 || 2011 || Left

|-

|| [[Michael Forshaw]] || New South Wales || 1994 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| [[John Hogg]] || Queensland || 1996 || 2008 || Right

|-

|| [[Annette Hurley]] *|| South Australia || 2004 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| [[Steve Hutchins]] || New South Wales || 1999 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| [[Linda Kirk]] || South Australia || 2002 || 2008 || Right

|-

|| [[Joe Ludwig]] *|| Queensland || 1999 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| [[Kate Lundy]] *|| Australian Capital Territory || 1996 || 2007 || Left

|-

|| [[Anne McEwen]] || South Australia || 2004 || 2011 || Left

|-

|| [[Jan McLucas]] *|| Queensland || 1999 || 2011 || Left

|-

|| [[Gavin Marshall]] || Victoria || 2002 || 2008 || Left

|-

|| [[Claire Moore]] || Queensland || 2002 || 2008 || Left

|-

|| [[Kerry O'Brien (politician)|Kerry O'Brien]] *|| Tasmania || 1996 || 2011 || Left

|-

|| [[Helen Polley]] || Tasmania || 2004 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| Hon [[Robert Ray (Australian politician)|Robert Ray]] || Victoria || 1981 || 2008 || Right

|-

|| Hon [[Nick Sherry]] ** || Tasmania || 1990 || 2008 || Independent

|-

|| [[Glenn Sterle]] || Western Australia || 2004 || 2011 || Right

|-

|| [[Ursula Stephens]] || New South Wales || 2002 || 2008 || Right

|-

|| [[Ruth Webber]] || Western Australia || 2002 || 2008 || Left

|-

|| [[Penny Wong]] **|| South Australia || 2002 || 2008 || Left

|-

|| [[Dana Wortley]] || South Australia || 2004 || 2011 || Left

|-

|}

{{Australian Labor Party}}

[[Category:Australian Labor Party|Caucus]]

<nowiki>**</nowiki> Member of the Shadow Cabinet<br>

[[Category:Political terminology in Australia]]

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Member of the Shadow Ministry

Source: "Who's Who in the Factional Zoo," a table appearing on page 415-416 of ''[[The Latham Diaries]]'' by [[Mark Latham]].

[[Category:Australian labour movement]]