Letter begins Labor ‘purge’

Jessica Benton
Labor has begun a purge of 24 Geelong members for allegedly campaigning against the party’s Corio candidate at the federal election.
The party has sent the members letters threatening expulsion for supporting independent candidate and former Labor Member for Corio Gavan O’Connor instead of Richard Marles.
The letter ordered the members to either resign or fight for their membership at a party hearing.
An attached letter from Corio federal electorate assembly president Cameron Granger to Labor state secretary Stephen Newnham said the members’ support for Mr O’Connor was “inconsistent with ongoing membership of the ALP”.
Mr Granger told Mr Newnham the members should be expelled to protect the party’s “integrity”.
Jacqueline Henry, who received one of the letters, said she and the other 23 members argued the ALP had damaged its own integrity when it dumped Mr O’Connor at preselection.
“They’ve (ALP) brought the party into disrepute, we had no other choice but to do what we did,” Ms Henry said.
Ms Henry labelled the investigation process unfair.
“I object to the short amount of time we have to respond – we’ve only been given 14 days.”
Mr Marles retained Corio for Labor with a comfortable margin.
The Independent was unable to gain comment from ALP Victori-an secretary Stephen Newnham or Mr Marles before going to press yesterday.