The ALP’s NSW head office has backed a decision to deny union boss Arthur Rorris a vote in Saturday’s controversial Wollongong preselection, which re-endorsed Noreen Hay.
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NSW ALP general secretary Jamie Clements told the Mercury that being on the membership list didn’t mean a person automatically got a vote.
‘‘I understand that Arthur Rorris did not satisfy the rules to qualify for a preselection vote on this occasion,’’ Mr Clements said.
‘‘That isn’t a matter for myself or head office, it’s a matter under the rules.
‘‘The reason he didn’t get a challenge vote was because nobody sought to challenge him onto the list.’’
Mr Clements said a provisional voters’ list was determined by party branches and each candidate was responsible for putting their supporters on the document.
The process didn’t sit well with Mr Rorris, who is secretary of the South Coast Labour Council.
‘‘If the general secretary of the NSW ALP is saying that democracy in the branch works by the candidates choosing who can vote in elections, and the members having no right to determine that, then it’s a sad day in the party,’’ Mr Rorris said.
Mr Clements didn’t comment on claims a number of long-term ALP members were denied a vote due to membership issues.
Discussing Ms Hay’s preselection win, a number of Mercury readers believed the future of the seat lay in the hands of Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery.
One even asked where they could sign up to donate to the councillor’s state election campaign.
The former church minister ran for election in 2011, when he chipped away at Labor’s huge margin and left Noreen Hay holding the Wollongong seat by just 682 votes after preferences were distributed.
However, Cr Bradbery said he was between ‘‘a rock and a hard place’’ and was still considering his options about running for NSW Parliament in March.
‘‘As a Lord Mayor of this city, I have a lot more influence than I might going into state Parliament,’’ he said.
‘‘This city covers four state seats, two federal electorates and I have access to a federal senator, so I have to weigh up what’s going to secure the best outcome for this city.
‘‘But, at the same time, I’m concerned about the calibre of the person who represents this city and we must make sure we have the best candidates, so that is playing on my mind.’’
