Politics
IT’S ON: National Union of Workers demands Victorian ALP State Secretary’s head
VEXNEWS has learned that the Victorian ALP President Charlie Donnelly has called a meeting of the branch’s Administrative Committee on Monday evening. We understand they will be pushing for the removal of the party’s State Secretary Steve Newnham, mastermind of Labor’s landslide 2006 re-election and successful subsequent by-elections.
There have been unconfirmed rumours circulating wildly through this week that Mr Donnelly intended to proceed with what some see as a Pearl Harbour style attack. We found the reports rather hard to believe, given Donnelly’s reputation as a serious player.
It seemed likely yesterday that the unionist would only pursue any change in ALP head office in the context of a blessing from his Labor Right factional colleague, Premier John Brumby. A blessing many saw as unlikely as ever coming, given the close association between Newnham and Brumby. Moreover, defying the Premier is not normally standard operating procedure for the moderate Labor Right faction which prizes its role as defending Labor leaders to the hilt and avoiding destabilisation at all costs. Oddly, Donnelly appears to have taken action without the Premier’s approval, creating a situation of destabilisation potentially even greater than the last time the NUW axed a senior party official.
It will make the Labor Unity broad group faction meeting at the offices of the Australian Workers Union at 6pm this evening particularly interesting.
Developing…
UPDATE
■ Mark Madden, the Hulls Chief of Staff and refugees rights activist active in Fitzroy community groups, is apparently being advanced by certain inner-city interests who want him as State Secretary. This might prompt concern from those who wanted a conscience vote on the Assisted Reproductive Treatment bill. Madden – SDA sources tell VEXNEWS – was adamantly opposed to this.
■ We are yet to find a source among patriots who think the move to remove is a good idea including some who have implacably opposed Newnham. “A truly puzzling development,” one remarked.
■ Some say Charlie Donnelly gave undertakings not to remove Newnham – nor to act “disruptively” prior to his union and its offsiders rejoining Labor Unity earlier this year.
■ Others are talking about a split of some kind in the Labor Unity faction, a very unfortunate situation for their group given they had only recently achieved 53% of the Victorian branch defeating their Socialist Left rivals.
■ Some say Robin Scott, the MLA for Preston played a crucial role in encouraging this recent attack on Newnham’s position.
■ We hear reports of gasps of anguish and shock from the Premier’s office who thought there were undertakings in place not to proceed with this.
■ The email that ignited the summer’s first blazing bushfire:
From: rbaker@nuw.org.au
To: dobbynt@bigpond.net.au; marlene.kairouz@parliament.vic.gov.au; nesrene.asmar@hotmail.com; lizzie.blandthorn@minstaff.vic.gov.au; noah.carroll@minstaff.vic.gov.au; lisa@lhmu.org.au; paul.difelice@amwu.asn.au; secretary@sdavic.org; john.eren@parliament.vic.gov.au; andrew.giles@minstaff.vic.gov.au; camcom20@bigpond.com; jeff.jackson@hsuvic.asn.au; jeanne_joh@yahoo.com.au; glen.kelly@aph.gov.au; kimberleykitching@hotmail.com; dleydon@asupsvic.org; Robin.Scott@parliament.vic.gov.au; george.seitz@parliament.vic.gov.au; jshelton@lifebeinit.org; bill.shorten.mp@aph.gov.au; ros.spence@parliament.vic.gov.au; Alexandra.Stalder@aph.gov.au; Lee.Tarlamis@parliament.vic.gov.au; Brian.Tee@parliament.vic.gov.au; alison.vaughan@aph.gov.au; Vicki.Ward@aph.gov.au; jwarren@nuw.org.au; tony.white@minstaff.vic.gov.au; wjwieladek@hotmail.com; Howard@etu.asn.au; au_pina@hotmail.com; sebzwalf@hotmail.com; stephen.newnham@vic.alp.org.au; lisa.carey@vic.alp.org.au; Kosmos.Samaras@vic.alp.org.au
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:28:37 +1100
Subject: Special meeting of Administrative Committee
Dear Administrative Committee Member,
I write to give notice of a special meeting of the Administrative Committee to be held at 6:00pm on Monday 22nd December 2008. I call this meeting in accordance with rule 8.1.4
The location of the meeting will be the ALP Head Office, 360 King Street, West Melbourne.
The purpose of the meeting is to consider the position of State Secretary in accordance with rule 8.1.2(w) and such other business that is properly brought before it in accordance with the Rules.
Therefore I wish to place one item on the agenda of the special meeting of the Administrative Committee.
That the Administrative Committee consider the position of the State Secretary.
Yours sincerely,
Charles Donnelly
President
Victorian Branch
Australian Labor Party
Discussion
55 comments for “IT’S ON: National Union of Workers demands Victorian ALP State Secretary’s head”
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If I were a betting man, I know who I’d back. Why would you want to remove a chap who has kept Labor in power? Charlie’s lot might think they can win the battle, but they’d lose the war to an opposition that is still eminently beatable in 2010…
What the F***,Why would yoy? and who do you replace him with?
All gone crazy
fucking lunes. It’s all about the egos of pakula and scott. When the party loses government and they have their state sec will they take responsibility or just fuck off to the left again. Maybe a fuck off with giles would be good!
So will the Right split on this?
Mark Madden isn’t in Labor Unity… what a joke…
burn unity burn, you pricks and sellouts deserve each other
I’d love to be a fly on the wall of tonight’s meeting…
Is this the beginning of the end of stability in the Brumby government ?
Stephen Newnham is a great State Secretary. You don’t defeat someone who is brilliant. Under Newnham Labor has won two state elections and has increased it’s representation at the federal level in Victoria. He is a great operator.
Fiona Richardson, Stephen’s wife, is also a great operator. She singlehandedly won control of the Darebin Council for patriots against strong opposition from Robin Scott and Michael Leighton who aligned themselves with the Socialist Left and the evil Greens.
Yule or Yule-tide was a Germanic midwinter festival involving a sacrificial feast that was absorbed into Christmas.
Customs such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, Yule state secretary and others stem from Yule.
In modern times, Yule is observed as a cultural festival and also with religious rites by some Christians and by some Neopagans.
I warned you all about letting them back in…
Pro Newnham
- Bill Shorten
- Fiona Richardson
- Steve Conroy (TWU aligned)
- Michael Danby
- Richard Marles
- Cesar Melhem (AWU)
- John Brumby
- Noah Carroll
Anti Newnham
- Charlie Donnelly (NUW)
- Michael Donovan (SDA)
- Adam Somyurek
- Robin Scott
- David Feeney
- Jeff Jackson (HSU)
- Tim Holding
- George Seitz
Unknowns
- Socialist Left faction, half of them like Newnham (the Carr Left) and half want him and Kosmos Samaras out of head office (Griffin Left)
- UCA (Dean Mighell) faction
- Will the right split into two factions one with AWU/TWU and other with SDA/NUW ?
Stephen Newnham is a great State Secretary. You don’t defeat someone who is brilliant. Under Newnham Labor has won two state elections and has increased it’s representation at the federal level in Victoria. He is a great operator.
Fiona Richardson, Stephen’s wife, is also a great operator. She singlehandedly won control of the Darebin Council for patriots against strong opposition from factional opponents within LU as well as from the Socialist Left.
Debatable about getting rid of Newnham but what isn’t is the timing, in a quiet news period. Does Charlie like seeing his name in the papers?
There are many people who’ll be delighted if Newnham goes:
1) The Greens political party
2) Les Twentyman
3) Ted Baillieu, former real estate agent
I’d like to nominate myself for the head job.
Thank God for Labor’s capacity for self-destruction.
Is this Tim Holding’s big powerplay???
This is going to be huge.
In my opinion Andy, this was totally predictable if the right had been thinking carefully.
The NUW was in Unity then betrays it.
It’s with the Left and then betrays it.
Now it’s in the Right again, you sound surprised that they are betraying Labor Unity people again.
Wake up f**kwits. The networker NUW culture is poison, they are a dangerous bunch of freaks who possess all the dim personality of Tim Holding with none of his smarts.
I am not involved any more and all I do to keep up is read the OC/VexNews. But noone should be surprised. Anyone who trusted the NUW culture has only themselves to blame.
btw, love the new site.
I will once again be the leader of Labor’s biggest faction.
I would make an excellent state secretary…
I’m very proud of myself…
I would like to join the suicide bombers faction.
Gold.
That is bulldust that Fioana Newnham had a victory in Darebin! She was dealing with the evil empire of the Asmars and Left to lock out genuine Moderate candidates! Get your facts straight!
Bye bye Stephen.
what happened at the meeting?
Nothing, very quiet, much airkissing
true, the damned had a few drinkies then slinked off. I larf at orl of them
Anyone who blames the NUW exclusively for this is giving them more credibility than they’re due.
After all, they’re joined by many others inside LU (and a most reasonable lefties) who feel the need for change at Head Office.
This is the price you pay for being more interested with saving your own ass than running a competent and efficient office.
Ever noticed how the NUW always seem to be at the centre of all major splits and factional nuclear fist fights?
2003 – They split from the Right to join the SL and neck Feeney – a hard working State Secretary
2005 – They split from the SL to join the Right and neck Locke – a hard working state secretary, oh and failed to neck Crean.
2008 – They are back at it again. We should label them the National Union of Wanderers, they seem to do a lot of that around necking good hard working state secretaries whilst securing positions for all their highly incompetent stooges.
When the NUW came for the Feeney,
I remained silent;
I was not a Feeney.
When they came for Dennis Lennen,
I remained silent;
I was not a Dennis Lennen.
When they came for Greg Sword,
I remained silent;
I was not a crook.
When they came for Simon Crean,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Simon Crean.
When they came for Steve Newnham
I remained silent;
I was not a country boy.
When they came for me,
there was no one left.
Richmond Theme Song!
Oh we’re from Tigerland
The druggie’s haven
We’re from Tigerland
We’re always dealin’
Down in Swan Street you will see us with a grin
Needle in the skin
If we’re behind
We’ll do a line
And we’ll all get high and win
Oh where from Tigerland
We won’t stop snortin’ til the copper’s siren goes
Like the tigers of old
We’re stoned and we’re cold
Oh we’re from Tiger…
COCAINE AND SMACK!
Oh we’re from Tigerland
Oh we’re from Tiger…
COCAINE AND SMACK!
Oh we’re from Tigerland
And so this is Christmas, ALP-style. Charlie, Donovan and Robin Scott are the modern-day equivalents of the three wise men who have followed my own twinkling, Messianic star. 2009 is going to definitely be (note the split infinitive) the Year of the Timmy!
Time for a change definitely.
I am big enough to fill the chair.
When is the Victorian labor Party going to wake up…….oh, that’s right…..the day after the 2010 state election when the Libs regain government. When are the NUW and the Networkers going to put their over inflatered egos aside for the benefit of “THE PARTY” and not their own interests. And being far, that comment goes to ALL Factions, for fuck sake – WAKE UP – Labor has done extremely well over recent years in victoria standing up against the Howard Regime, now, finally we have a more approachable Federal Government and can achieve great things. But no…..the ego’s within who’s only interest is getting the best for themself- such as HOlding, SCott, Donovan and others will do waht Labor do best and self destruct. For fuck sake “WAKE UP. maybe LU and SL should join forces and kill the networkers once and for all. Than and only than, we might have a chance of winning the next election.
Don’t worry the ALP has the next state election in the bag no what what your internal idiots do to themselves. The Libs are unelectable (unfortunately).
Charlie Donnelly, not content in starting a major bushfire within his own union is not playing with a can of petrol and a box of matches with the ALP. This bloke is completely off his rocker.
Charlie Donnelly must be chucked out of the union movement AND the ALP
Poor JB. He has so many problems. On top of all of this I hear that a certain property developer is going to come out with some amazing allegations about an Ex Hume Councilor and mayor. This is so big that its NSW Woolongong Council all over again.
Oh Charlie! You naughty naughty boy!
NUW are an ungrateful bunch of scum, it took them 5 minutes to white ant a successful team that kindly forgave their numerous past mistakes.
LU should never have let these immoral traitors back in the faction.
They deserve Eric Eeriecott!!!
This is all little Tim Holding’s doing. He has been power building for the past several years using the talents of Geoff Lake (recently elected ALGA President), Judith Grayley, and alike. Little Tim should realise he will never ever be Premier of Victoria and be grateful with what he has got. It is his personal greed for power that has all these egotistical networker frauds deluding themselves that they are destined for greater things. And all this at the expense of the “party”. Don’t worry little Tim, you can be leader of the Victorian Party…….after the nest election. Because that is where you group of selfish pricks are taking us.
Does this mean Brumby will never contest an election? Will the NUW try to control the Parly caucus?Doesn’t Cargill have the job that was created for Feeney after the NUW necked him? Will Newnham get that job?
Labor controlled councils are in a frenzy of Wollongong emulation.
The Ombudsman is also investigating allegations that the former head of the planning department at Labor Unity fiefdom Brimbank council (overseen by networker CEO Nick Foa) gave approvals to his wife who was head of a property development outfit. The former manager is now co-director!
We are brilliant
The Shop Assistants have had enough of the egos in parliament.
Another act of treason by an over zealot small penis dickhead Donnelly. He couldn’t beat the Queenslanders, New South Wales and the rest of the country in his grandeur plans to take over his own union, and now he is trying to take on the Vic Party. What a tosser. We will he ever learn he only attracts losers.
Charlie only got to where he was by knifing people in the back. First it was Dennis Lennon, next was Greg Sword, had a go at Simon Crean failed there, now its Steve Newnham. What a deceitful short arssed weasel you are! Victoria Labor deserves you.
Come on give Charlie a go, he’s only trying to help his friends out in the party. Thow needs half a million for his loss deficit on the VIC NUW, Paluka needs his federal seat he is still waiting on (made no friends in the state upper house) and Charlie still can’t work out why you loose when you defend drug dealers in unfair dismissal cases.
Lord help us if Timmeh is ever Premier.
Who came up with that lamebrain idea anyway?
Lazy bastards don’t work the ones that make an effort are pushed aside for those that sit on their asses you got no one else to blame
the Australian way
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