But, once again, this is a factor in all political parties. I'm not sure at the federal level, but the NSW Liberal party currently has some major issues regarding branch stacking, particularly in western and north-western Sydney. It's pathetic that they have followed the ALP down this line, not to the same extent, - and it is mainly the hard right/Taliban wing of the party that are doing this, just as it was the Sussex St hacks who did that for the right of the Labor party in NSW which gave us such wonderful outcomes as Eddie Obeid.
That said, I 100% agree with you regarding the issue of union parachuted "local" members. Craig Thompson is perhaps one of the best examples of how well that pathetic tactic works out. I have some friends who resigned from that branch in disgust at how the proper local member was done over in order to give a union hack a job.
Irrespective of all that, the simple fact is Australia does not elect a PM. We elect a political party. Massive difference. To make out that it is somehow undemocratic is a blatant misrepresentation of how the political system has worked and undermines every single PM ever.
That said, I 100% agree with you regarding the issue of union parachuted "local" members. Craig Thompson is perhaps one of the best examples of how well that pathetic tactic works out. I have some friends who resigned from that branch in disgust at how the proper local member was done over in order to give a union hack a job.
Irrespective of all that, the simple fact is Australia does not elect a PM. We elect a political party. Massive difference. To make out that it is somehow undemocratic is a blatant misrepresentation of how the political system has worked and undermines every single PM ever.