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Chapter 10: Draft Organisational Model

Table of ContenTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 – MAKING THE BEST OF THE SYSTEM WE HAVE
CHAPTER 2 – THE CURRENT DYNAMIC IS ‘PROGRESSIVE VERSUS CONSERVATIVE’
CHAPTER 3 – OUR CURRENT PARTY STRUCTURES ARE INEFFECTIVE
CHAPTER 4 – INDEPENDENTS CAN’T FORM EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 5 – BREAKING INTO THE CARTEL
CHAPTER 6 – PATHWAYS TO SOMETHING NEW
CHAPTER 7 – A POTENT POLITICAL FORCE NEEDS PEOPLE
CHAPTER 8 – PRODUCING LEADERS
CHAPTER 9 – KEEPING IT SIMPLE
CHAPTER 10 – DRAFT ORGANISATIONAL MODEL
CHAPTER 11 – PEOPLE
APPENDIX 1 – HISTORICAL COMMENTARY ON THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM
APPENDIX 2 – AUSTRALIAN COMMENTARY

The purpose of an organisational draft is to provide a reference point for discussion. This draft covers the basic operations and functions. There are many aspects that it does not cover, including: state branches; funding models; gender representation; caucus solidarity; youth politics; and how parliamentary leaders are selected.

Use of Technology

A fundamentally 21st-century organisation would need to use 21st-century technology to operate. Such technology would provide a platform for people to participate, support the organisation and see what is going on. Obviously, the use of technology should be approached with trepidation, but it can’t be ignored.

This could include the ability to:

  1. see candidate profiles and backgrounds
  2. see what is going on in the organisation
  3. get involved with both in-person and online-only events
  4. get involved with campaign events
  5. participate in grassroots organising, networking, and campaigning
  6. vote in preselection and council ballots.

Organisational Overview

There are eight different parts of this organisation.

  1. The Participants: people on the electoral roll that choose to be part of the organisation.
  2. A Selection Council: 7 to 15 members, elected by the Participants.
  3. The Candidate Pool: the pool of people that are seeking to be preselected to represent the party in parliament.
  4. The Party Spokesperson: the main voice of the party.
  5. A Development Academy: an arm of the organisation focused on developing members of the Candidate Pool.
  6. The Candidate Assessors: independent assessors of the abilities of the candidates.
  7. Parliamentary Caucus: the group of elected representatives from the party.
  8. The Party Machine: its operational side for organising and running the organisation.

The Participants

  1. Any interested individual should be able to register using the same proof of identity required to join the electoral roll
  2. There is no upfront cost for becoming a member, nor is there an expiry date on participation
  3. People could be contacted for donations (in a regulated fashion)
  4. Participants get to vote for candidates in primary-style preselection processes
  5. Participants get to vote for the Selection Council members.

A Candidate Pool

A pool of people that have registered to enter the preselection process to stand for election to parliament. Being part of the candidate pool would involve:

  1. having a profile as a candidate
  2. entering the talent development program
  3. subjecting yourself to assessment on performance
  4. going on candidate forums and taking questions from Participants
  5. campaigning to win the support of both the Participants and the Council.

The Selection Council

The draft organisational model has a 7- to 15-member Selection Council, elected 100% by the party participants.

Tasks:

  1. Channel talent into parliament via the split-preselection mechanism with 50% of the preselection vote in each electorate
  2. Allow for expression beyond parliament
  3. Allow factions to be expressed within the umbrella organisation in an open and transparent manner
  4. Allow issues to have a voice
  5. Allow different voices to be heard and express their thoughts and opinions
  6. Give participants a say in the direction of the party
  7. Provide a way for the organisation to renew each election cycle.

How the Council would work:

  1. Its members would be selected democratically by the Participants
  2. Council elections would be held reasonably soon after federal elections
  3. The Council would hold both public and private meetings
  4. There would be no Council president, but a revolving chairperson system. The council members could speak for themselves, but not for the party as a whole.

What the Council would do:

  1. Every new Council would update a short platform document after their election
  2. The Council would get 50% of the votes in preselection of candidates
  3. It would be a mechanism to get high performing ‘Star’ candidates into parliament
  4. It would place ‘Star’ candidates into preselection races against local candidates.

The Party Spokesperson

A party spokesperson is selected each year. This person is 25–30 years old. They are the main public face of the organisation during a year-long term. They speak for the organisation as a whole. They can only be spokesperson once.

Development Academy

The organisation would have an independent training centre for the candidate pool. It would be run by an independent group of trainers and teachers within the organisation. The main focus of the academy is the development of skills that improve performance. It would be responsible for:

  1. organising a talent development program
  2. running short and long courses
  3. doing performance training to become an effective member of executive government.

Assessment Team

An independent group of assessors. Their purpose is to assess the candidate pool on performance-related criteria and provide feedback. The assessment results would be public.

Parliamentary Caucus

The people who represent the party in parliament.

The Preselection Process

Candidates can be nominated for preselection in one of two ways:

  1. They can self-nominate as a Local candidate in their electorate
  2. They can be chosen as a Star candidate to run for a seat by the Selection Council.

Preselection votes would be split: 50% from the members, 50% from the Selection Council. Candidates are selected on a balance of these votes.

During the preselection vote, Selection Council members can vote for whomever they want alongside people in the electorate. To win, all the candidates need to maximise their support from both the local community and the Selection Council.

This allows for situations that produce desired outcomes. It channels talent into parliaments and allows local people to have a say in who represents them.

It’s not about creating the perfect outcomes in all situations, but more about balancing desirable outcomes. There are a number of different ways the voting process could work.