http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/30/a-constitution-that-makes-some-sense/ Ambit Gambit Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:31:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/30/a-constitution-that-makes-some-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-2443 Graham Young Fri, 30 May 2008 13:52:04 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3123#comment-2443 Lionheart, I'd be interested to know how you could draft a constitution that wouldn't produce factions or branch stackers. As for features that encourage this. One is the plebiscite for preselections. Another is that you can be a member of a branch in one area but vote in preselections in another as long as you are on the roll in the area where the plebiscite is being held. The gerrymander in the SEC representation at State Council. There's plenty of encouragement in all of this to keep numbers down in particular SECs to help sitting members while propping-up other SECs so that they can send delegates to State Convention. Added to this the management structure is so loose that branches, SECs and FECs only have to meet twice a year leading to power migrating to the centre, where the state director gets to decide who is or isn't eligible to vote in most meetings of the party. And furthermore, anyone who criticises anything about the party to the media, on or off the record, presumably even members of parliament, is liable to expulsion, so how will the rorts be exposed? Lionheart, I’d be interested to know how you could draft a constitution that wouldn’t produce factions or branch stackers.
As for features that encourage this. One is the plebiscite for preselections. Another is that you can be a member of a branch in one area but vote in preselections in another as long as you are on the roll in the area where the plebiscite is being held. The gerrymander in the SEC representation at State Council. There’s plenty of encouragement in all of this to keep numbers down in particular SECs to help sitting members while propping-up other SECs so that they can send delegates to State Convention.
Added to this the management structure is so loose that branches, SECs and FECs only have to meet twice a year leading to power migrating to the centre, where the state director gets to decide who is or isn’t eligible to vote in most meetings of the party.
And furthermore, anyone who criticises anything about the party to the media, on or off the record, presumably even members of parliament, is liable to expulsion, so how will the rorts be exposed?

]]> http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/30/a-constitution-that-makes-some-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-2444 Lionheart Fri, 30 May 2008 12:12:41 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3123#comment-2444 My reading of the draft constitution suggest it would not benefit branch stackers or produce factions. I too would like the ambit gambit to elaborate. My reading of the draft constitution suggest it would not benefit branch stackers or produce factions. I too would like the ambit gambit to elaborate.

]]> http://www.ambitgambit.com/2008/05/30/a-constitution-that-makes-some-sense/comment-page-1/#comment-2445 Joe Fri, 30 May 2008 09:38:22 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3123#comment-2445 So what gems have you found so far? Can you elaborate with a few examples? So what gems have you found so far? Can you elaborate with a few examples?

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