November 30, 2023
The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, has proposed a series of reforms to the operation of the ALP.
In a speech to a Per Capita forum at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne, Shorten proposed giving party members more say in the preselection of lower and upper house candidates. He also proposed a system of direct election of National Conference delegates.
“We need to change ourselves,” Shorten said. “We need to change our party. If we don’t change, we are putting our very future at risk.”
One of the new government’s first decisions is to sack Steve Bracks, Australia’s Consul General in New York.
Bracks, Labor Premier of Victoria between 1999 and 2007, was appointed to the post in May by the Gillard government. He took up the position on August 5, the day after the election was announced. He confirmed today that the incoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop had informed him she would be revoking his position.
Peter Beattie’s resignation as Queensland Premier will elevate South Australia’s Mike Rann to the position of longest-serving state premier. Rann was elected in March 2002.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Clare Martin, will become the longest-serving state or territory head of government, having been elected in August 2001. She just eclipses the ACT’s Jon Stanhope, elected in November 2001.
The retirements of Bob Carr (elected 1995), Steve Bracks (1999) and Beattie (1998) have resulted in the Labor governments which dominate the Australian states and territories moving to a second-generation of leaders.
Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop (elected February 2001) resigned due to ill-health in January 2006. Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon (elected September 1998) also resigned due to ill-health in February 2004.
Rann remains the last-elected and only original member of the clutch of Labor Premiers elected between 1995 and 2002.
John Howard remains the longest-serving head of government, having been Prime Minister since March 11, 1996.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has announced his retirement as Victorian Labor leader, Premier and member for Williamstown. The announcement came at 10.40am, following a Cabinet meeting.
Bracks said he had recently made the choice that he could no longer make the commitment to the job. He confirmed that recent events involving his son contributed to his decision.
This is audio of the press conference following the annual Council of Australian Governments meeting.
The press conference was chaired by Prime Minister John Howard. The other participants were the six State Premiers: Steve Bracks (Vic), Morris Iemma (NSW), Peter Beattie (Qld), Alan Carpenter (WA), Mike Rann (SA) and Paul Lennon (Tas). The Territory Chief Ministers were Jon Stanhope (ACT) and Clare Martin (NT).