Fed: Unions face power sharing with normal members in ALP
By Shane Wright
CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - Unionists had a central role to play in the future of the ALPbut they would have to share that with rank-and-file members, senior party figures saidtoday.
Opposition Leader Simon Crean and former prime minister Bob Hawke said unions couldnot take their position in Labor for granted.
It follows the release of an internal review headed by Mr Hawke and former NSW premierNeville Wran which made 38 recommendations on party reform.
They include reducing union representation at the party's federal and state conferences,while increasing the chance for unionists to contribute to party policy.
Mr Crean said there had been a deliberate attempt to dilute union power at the conferencelevel, putting it on a more equal footing with rank-and-file members.
But unions would not be shut out as the reforms gave unions the chance to contributedirectly on policy development in areas such as paid maternity leave, he said.
"You can call that strengthening if you like, but it will be strengthening around theirability to have an input into the policy formulation - no veto powers, and a right toparticipate more actively in the issues that matter to them," he said.
Mr Crean said if the party was more inclusive it would be more attractive to votersand potential members.
"Unless we open ourselves up, unless we're more inclusive, unless we're better connectedto what people out there think they won't vote for us," he said.
Mr Hawke rejected Liberal Party suggestions that union power had been increased underhis proposals, saying unions would have to fight rank-and-file members to get their policiesaccepted.
"The important thing is that they will have a better opportunity of making their (unions')views heard and then what weight is given to those views will be a matter for the partyleadership and organs within the party," he said.
Treasurer Peter Costello said Mr Crean was set to adopt changes that would increasethe hold of unions on Labor.
"So, here's Creaney - diagnoses the problem as undue union control and comes up withan answer to magnify the problem and does it in such a contortionary (contortionary) waythat people say that it's a good policy," he told ABC Television.
Labor national secretary Geoff Walsh said the party had learnt from the last federalpoll and would put out its policies well ahead of election day.
"I think everyone accepts that we will see more policy in the period ahead of the electionand perhaps an opportunity to get that out and to push the Labor view over a longer view,"
he said.
AAP sw/kjp/cdh/br
KEYWORD: ALP NIGHTLEAD
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