After sitting idle in Parliament for almost six months without asking a question in his shadow energy portfolio, Labor leadership hopeful David O’Byrne has not-so-coincidentally sprung into action at the same time Labor members have given his leadership push a big boost.
Confirmation in media today that Labor’s State Conference in a week’s time will debate not one, but two separate motions calling for a direct vote for their leader, indicate that the pro-O’Byrne faction in the Labor Party is now making its move.
There is no doubt at all where this is coming from. Last year a deal was stitched up in the middle of the night, without consulting Labor members, to make Ms White leader. Fast forward a year and Ms White has delivered Labor their third worst election result ever, David O’Byrne is back, and the Labor Membership is moving to make it easier to call a spill for the Labor leadership.
The details of this pro-David O’Byrne motion are absolutely enlightening. “The State Returning Officer shall open nominations for the position of Leader or Deputy Leader….following a written request by four members of the State Parliamentary Labor Party”.
Just four members from the Opposition benches, or, to put it more realistically – just two members outside the O’Byrne family – and the leadership challenge is on!
The story gets even more interesting when you look at which Labor branch has moved these motions on behalf of Mr O’Byrne. It’s not Mr O’Byrne’s branch in Franklin or Ms O’Byrne’s branch in Launceston – it’s the Lenah Valley Branch with close ties to both Scott Bacon and Ella Haddad.
If Mr O’Byrne has both of those Denison MPs on his side and this motion is supported at Labor’s State Conference, he’s already got the numbers for a spill.
After the extent to which he’s been sidelined by Ms White – barely allowed in four and a half years to ask a question of the Treasurer about the budget – it’s not surprising that Mr Bacon has sensed opportunity elsewhere.