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25.01.2022 How do you create a Labor Party that is open enough to take in new members quickly and not so open that it can be easily stacked? David Barda has a bold answer to an old problem. Read the full piece, and contribute your own ideas, on www.openlabor.net.au

24.01.2022 We look forward to reading Bracks and Macklin's review, followed by bold action from the national executive. We also look forward to a time when important communications are made directly to members, not leaked via The Age. https://www.theage.com.au//alp-branch-stacking-review-slam

24.01.2022 Want to understand more about the federal intervention's timeline? Have a look here. The window to contribute to Bracks and Macklin's report is pretty narrow! https://www.openlabor.net.au/3856-2/

19.01.2022 The Administrators' final report is in -- you can read it, and members' responses, at https://www.openlabor.net.au/

16.01.2022 Thanks to Andrew Giles, Anna Burke and Janet McCalman for the terrific forum tonight. Thanks also to everyone who came and provided such a fiesty debate. It's clear that there's a real thirst out there for big ideas and meaningful reform within the ALP. There's too much at stake to let this moment pass us by. Thanks also to the Per Capita/John Cain Foundation team for helping us to put the night together. There's more coming, so stay tuned! In the meantime, head to www.openlabor.net.au to continue the discussion -- we want to hear from you!

15.01.2022 Should organised factions be outlawed? Dennis Glover writes: My 38 years of experience working at the highest levels of the party lead me to conclude that the detailed questions relating to specific rule changes to prevent branch stacking and reinvigorate branch organization, participation and so forth, are secondary and somewhat pointless. Let’s face it: everyone knows that technical rule changes designed to prevent stacking and so on will easily be subverted by the party’s ...self-replicating faction-botsas happens, without fail, every time such minor and inadequate changes are tried. Cynicism and bush lawyers (something we are never short of) will find a way, always. The enduring problem (as I suspect everyone knows but thinks it pointless to say) is the continued existence of organized factions. I know of no other party in the world which has factions that are so institutionalized that they have constitutions, binding internal ballots, elected office bearers, paid organizers, and so on. Read the rest at https://www.openlabor.net.au/2020/10/13/organized-factions

11.01.2022 It's encouraging to see that the forensic audit into branch stacking is already having an effect. Payment by traceable means is a must. https://www.theage.com.au//somyurek-goes-dark-as-membershi

10.01.2022 David Barda writes: Since 1964 Labor has commissioned eight or nine party reviews (depending on how you count them). I’ve read them so that you don’t have to.... The Bracks-Macklin review is the most recent in a long history of ALP reviews. As a reforming party, we have always had a healthy capacity for self-reflection. It is worth remembering that, despite the cynicism that sometimes accompanies these reviews, our capacity to acknowledge our failings and renew our party to make is a strength and puts us in stark contrast to our opponents. Titans of the party from Bob Hawke, Bill Hayden, Neville Wran, John Faulkner, Mark Dreyfus and now Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin have all tried their hands at party reform. We thought it might be useful to look back on the reviews to see what they had to say. Read the review of the Reviews at https://www.openlabor.net.au//review-of-reviews-50-years-/

10.01.2022 Hear Anna Burke, Andrew Giles MP and Janet McAlman on what reforms Vic Labor needs and why, in a forum from Open Labor, the John Cain Centre for Democracy and Per Capita. Save the date: 9 Sept at 8pm. Register for free at bit.ly/ALP-reform

08.01.2022 Come to this if you can! It's great to see the Left running their second public meeting on the reform agenda. You can register here: https://forms.gle/bHzcXob9u5f1Nx7V6

08.01.2022 Spots are filling up fast for our free public forum on @viclabor reform with Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin tomorrow night 8pm. Hosted with the Independents, and the John Cain Centre for Social Democracy at @percapita. Register here: bit.ly/MacklinBracks

05.01.2022 You're invited to a forum this Saturday, hosted by the Independents, to discuss the last steps in the federal intervention. Our final submissions are due very soon, and Jenny and Steve are very eager to hear from all of us. Keynote Speakers: Janet McCalman Pre-selections... Eric Dearricott Will one branch per State Seat really help? The keynote speakers will be followed by an opportunity for you to have input on key issues in the current reform discussions: 1. A Growing Party Recruiting and keeping real members 2. Elections, preselections and disincentives for branch-stacking 3. Is the current Branch structure fit for purpose 4. What about the unions? Join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88138587770 Meeting ID: 881 3858 7770 Passcode: 804780

04.01.2022 It's a full house, folks! Looking forward to tonight when we host hundreds of people who registered to hear about the sorts of reforms that can build a better @viclabor. If you missed out head to www.openlabor.net.au for information, and sign up to our campaign to hear about future events.

02.01.2022 Julia Thornton writes: Most of the effort made to date to reform the Victorian ALP has addressed party process and administration. People mention, then shy away from coming to grips with ‘culture’ as too difficult and indeterminate. However until this is addressed, the current behaviours that result in branch stacking will simply find new ways around new rules and accountabilities. Rule changes and process changes are not enough. Educationalists and social psychologists know that preventing bad behaviour is insufficient to promote good behaviour. Simply preventing someone from behaving badly in one respect will not prevent repeated attempts to achieve the same ends differently if the same incentives and motivations are still present. Read more at https://www.openlabor.net.au//overcoming-perverse-incenti/

01.01.2022 Our feedback on Macklin and Bracks' paper is due Wednesday October 14! There's a lot to think about, and a lot of questions to respond to, so here is some advice about lodging your submission: The Administrators would prefer us to respond to the questions on the official website: https://www.viclabor.com.au/change.... The questions on the webform are those on the discussion paper. You are asked to limit you number of words per question to 500 (there are 22 questions). You don't have to answer every question! The easiest thing way to go about this would be to write your answers offline, and then submit them online when you're ready. If you have trouble submitting your response via the website you can send it via email to [email protected] Please make use of the proposals on www.openlabor.net.au if you want some inspiration. We're nearly there! Jenny and Steve are very keen to hear from all of us, so let's make this last week really count. Onwards!