BY BRIAN WEBB
Carmen Lawrence, who resigned from the Labor frontbench last December in protest at the party leadership's policies on refugees and the war on Iraq, is now standing for the position of party president.
A postal ballot of all members will determine the president, and could provide many ALP members a chance to send a message of dissatisfaction to leader Simon Crean.
"It's the first time members will have had a say about a senior position within the party, albeit in this case one without power, essentially a symbolic position", said Lawrence.
Although Labor's rank-and-file members will welcome the party rule change as a democratic reform, the party hierarchy has prohibited nominees from campaigning; a move designed to muzzle critics of the leadership.
Despite the restrictions on campaigning, Lawrence is clearly seen as standing for left Labor values.
Her resignation from the front bench over the party's support for mandatory detention of refugees, war and other issues connected with many Labor party members and trade unionists, who sent in 5000 messages of support.
Since resigning, Lawrence has attended numerous meetings and demonstrations in support of refugees' rights and in opposition to the war on Iraq.
"One of the reasons I resigned from the front bench was so I could speak out more. I intend to keep speaking out for what I believe are Labor Party principles", said Lawrence.
According to Matt Collins, convenor of Labor for Refugees (Queensland), this is a major reason why many ALP members will be supporting Lawrence in her campaign for the national presidency.
"Carmen has inspired many rank and file ALP members with her grassroots activism and engagement with movements outside the party.
"If she can win, this will send a very clear message to Labor's leadership that we are currently on a dead-end road and must fundamentally change our way of doing things."
Simon Crean and the rest of the Labor leadership were probably hoping that the anger expressed during the Hawke-Wran review last year would dissipate.
Lawrence's nomination has provided a focus for opposition to Labor's drift to the right. Labor Party members should support her.
Labor Party members will receive ballots and statements of 500 words from each candidate during October. Votes must be cast by November 1 and the result will be announced on November 14.
[Brian Webb is a member of the International Socialist Organisation.]
From Green Left Weekly, August 27, 2003.
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