Gray pushes for ALP party restructure

Labor needs to revamp its Federal image in WA in the wake of Saturday’s Senate re-run, Brand MHR Gary Gray admitted on Monday.

Both Labor and the Liberal parties were shunned by voters at the weekend as support surged for the Greens and Palmer United Party.

The ALP attracted less than 22 per cent of the primary vote at the weekend, a historic low for the party.

Labor leader Bill Shorten reacted to the poor result, signalling moves to sever the party’s links with the unions.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Gray distanced himself and WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan from the decision to run union boss Joe Bullock as the party’s number one candidate.

The Labor MP said the decision was based on the party’s “structure”, indicating it was based on the party’s historic ties with the union movement.

“We need to carefully think about the party’s structure,” he said.

“The unions are critically important to the Labor Party, but it is more important that the party stands for fairness, employment opportunities for all Australians.”

Mr Gray also separated the ALP’s Federal arm from its State branch, saying Mr McGowan was a “tireless” leader in WA.

Mr McGowan on Monday said his Federal colleague’s ongoing support of the mining tax had damaged the ALP vote.