Comment on Labor Party's new leadership

11/10/94

Premier Richard Court says it is not surprising that Labor's new leadership should be decided by a backroom deal. 

Mr Court said it was typical of the ALP's operations that two new leaders had been chosen and would be presented as a 'fait accompli' to the members of the party tomorrow.

"It is a strange form of democracy and a repeat of the backroom deals of the WA Inc years," Mr Court said.

"They never seem to learn their lessons from the 1980s. 

"They are trying to portray their new team at the top as 'cleanskins', yet they were both involved in Cabinets supporting and promoting WA Inc deals, including the Swan Brewery saga."

Mr Court said the decision to dump Kay Hallahan from the deputy leadership also made a mockery of the ALP's much publicised 'commitment' to a greater role for women in the party. 

"This is the second major decision the ALP has taken in Western Australia over the past few months which has seen women pushed into the background," Mr Court said.

"Only recently they failed to endorse a front-running woman candidate for the Helena by-election."