It might sound a little odd to party outsiders but I love the experience of having a rank and file ballot for the leader of the Federal Labor Party. And it seems I am not alone: the party’s 44,000 strong members are talking about nothing else. People are genuinely inspired by the chance to have their say in the leadership of their beloved political party.
We are all, of course, confined to being very polite about each candidate, which I think has been liberating for a party that has recently behaved like an ill-disciplined child, hurling abuse at colleagues and running away to ‘dob’ to the media whenever the other side had a small victory.
The equivalent of parental discipline – a shattering electoral defeat – has caused everyone to take a good hard look at themselves. Although some argue that the last thing Labor needs now is another ballot or open contest, I absolutely disagree. The problem with the culture of our term in government is that there was a contest most of the time but it wasn’t open.
It was conducted (by both sides) behind doors, through media leaks and subterfuge. There is nothing wrong with debate and even competition within a political party. In fact people expect politicians to have differing views on different subjects. But internal debates and differences should always be conducted with respect. Respect for each other’s views and opinions.
The current ballot process has been polite and respectful. This has meant we are, at last, free as a party to focus on the stuff that matters. What are the positive attributes of a good leader? What qualities does a candidate need to lead a party during a time of renewal after electoral defeat? How do you ensure that our party never again slips into the toxic culture that we all witnessed with horror over the last 6 years? For me, respectfully and politely, the best candidate for this job is Anthony Albanese.
You will hear Albo say a lot during the campaign that with him as leader ‘what you see is what you get.’ It isn’t a line. It is true. Anthony Albanese is one of the most authentic politicians I have ever met.
I am not one of those cynics who argues that very few people in politics have integrity or genuine commitment, because that is clearly not the case. But, what is harder to find in a politician is someone who will say exactly the same thing to whoever asks it, whether it is in the politician’s interests or not.
So although Albo is not the only politician that operates from personal principle, there is something quite unique about his ability to stay true to what he believes – and to fight for it – whatever the audience. He is right: what you see is totally what you get.
These are much needed qualities during a time of renewal and they are also much needed qualities when you are trying to rebuild trust within a caucus that has been so shaken by internal divisions. You need to create a culture where people can speak their mind openly and honestly. Albo does this by example and always has. I admire him for that.
I also admire the fact that his politics were formed at an early age out of his own lived experience. He was the son of a single mother on a disability pension, growing up in council housing. His early life experience is fundamental to his character and it also deeply informs his politics.
Like other great Labor leaders he had the intelligence at an early age to translate his personal experience into an analysis of society as a whole. He was able to look at his own life and see what should be changed. He also had enough gumption and compassion to want to change how things worked for others as well.
Albo’s politics are a healthy mix of ‘old-fashioned Labor values’ and new thinking around progressive causes. He is not stodgy or conservative when it comes to the issues that inspire a new generation of voters.
He believes in the traditional Labor values of making sure that people have equal economic opportunity, access to employment and fair working conditions, decent education, affordable housing and a welfare safety net.
Alongside these traditional ‘Labor values’ he has always embraced the new politics of progressive causes, whether it be women’s rights, equal rights for LGBTI people, disability reform or the broader peace movement.
In ballots I like to think that consistency and reliability is rewarded. Albo has spent his political life on the side of the ‘rank and file’ in party disputes. He has supported affirmative action for women candidates. He has always taken the progressive line that the majority of rank and file branch members expect of their parliamentary representatives. And most of all he has taken the fight ‘to the Tories’ as one of our best Parliamentary performers and most talented negotiators. He is the right person to lead the party.