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John Madigan's DLP office manager suggested 'jumping ship' to Liberals John Madigan's DLP office manager suggested 'jumping ship' to Liberals
(about 5 hours later)
The office manager for the former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) senator John Madigan used her work email account to write to the Liberal party about the possibility of “jumping ship” and applying for preselection.The office manager for the former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) senator John Madigan used her work email account to write to the Liberal party about the possibility of “jumping ship” and applying for preselection.
Madigan announced on Thursday his decision to resign from the DLP, saying he had come to the realisation that the party’s “own worst enemies are within its own ranks”.Madigan announced on Thursday his decision to resign from the DLP, saying he had come to the realisation that the party’s “own worst enemies are within its own ranks”.
Madigan, who will serve out his term as an independent, told the Senate his office manager “systematically ran a campaign of disinformation and disharmony” and made an inquiry to the Liberals about potential preselection.Madigan, who will serve out his term as an independent, told the Senate his office manager “systematically ran a campaign of disinformation and disharmony” and made an inquiry to the Liberals about potential preselection.
But the former staffer, Rachel Carling-Jenkins, said she was simply trying to get a copy of the Liberal preselection material in order to understand the political activities of other parties.
Madigan, one of the crossbench senators crucial to the passage of legislation in the upper house, tabled emails in parliament to provide an insight into the internal drama.Madigan, one of the crossbench senators crucial to the passage of legislation in the upper house, tabled emails in parliament to provide an insight into the internal drama.
They include correspondence on 12 February between Madigan’s then-office manager, Rachel Carling-Jenkins, and a Liberal party official with the subject line “RE: Preselection Application”.They include correspondence on 12 February between Madigan’s then-office manager, Rachel Carling-Jenkins, and a Liberal party official with the subject line “RE: Preselection Application”.
Jane Galanti, the personal assistant to the Liberal party’s Victorian state director, wrote to Carling-Jenkins: “I don’t seem to be able to find you on the membership system, can you please confirm your membership number?”Jane Galanti, the personal assistant to the Liberal party’s Victorian state director, wrote to Carling-Jenkins: “I don’t seem to be able to find you on the membership system, can you please confirm your membership number?”
Carling-Jenkins replied: “I’m not currently a member – but I’ve spoken with Jason Wood (Federal MP, La Trobe) whom I ran against in the last federal election ≠ and I’ve been so impressed with the Liberal party that I’m considering ‘jumping ship’ [smiley face] … Could you perhaps send me a membership application with the preselection form? (Also – is it too late to put up my hand for preselection in the upcoming Victorian state election?)”Carling-Jenkins replied: “I’m not currently a member – but I’ve spoken with Jason Wood (Federal MP, La Trobe) whom I ran against in the last federal election ≠ and I’ve been so impressed with the Liberal party that I’m considering ‘jumping ship’ [smiley face] … Could you perhaps send me a membership application with the preselection form? (Also – is it too late to put up my hand for preselection in the upcoming Victorian state election?)”
In an apparently light-hearted exchange in June, the Victorian secretary of the DLP, Michael Murphy, suggested he was thinking about awarding Carling-Jenkins “the DLP member of the month”. In reply, Carling-Jenkins quipped about the possibility of being named as “DLP member/spy of the month”.In an apparently light-hearted exchange in June, the Victorian secretary of the DLP, Michael Murphy, suggested he was thinking about awarding Carling-Jenkins “the DLP member of the month”. In reply, Carling-Jenkins quipped about the possibility of being named as “DLP member/spy of the month”.
Murphy told Guardian Australia on Thursday he was “very saddened and disappointed” by Madigan’s resignation from the DLP.Murphy told Guardian Australia on Thursday he was “very saddened and disappointed” by Madigan’s resignation from the DLP.
Murphy said Carling-Jenkins, who left Madigan’s office in July and took up the role of state DLP president, was “very capable” and competent.Murphy said Carling-Jenkins, who left Madigan’s office in July and took up the role of state DLP president, was “very capable” and competent.
Murphy said he was one of the senior party figures who had persuaded Madigan to employ Carling-Jenkins earlier this year.Murphy said he was one of the senior party figures who had persuaded Madigan to employ Carling-Jenkins earlier this year.
Comment is being sought from Carling-Jenkins, who is running as a DLP candidate for the upper house in the Victorian state election in November. Carling-Jenkins, who is running as a DLP candidate for the upper house in the Victorian state election in November, said Madigan was “looking for a scapegoat”.
Asked about the Liberal preselection correspondence, Carling-Jenkins said she was approached by an MP and she asked for the documentation.
“They had documents ready to go. I was trying to get hold of a copy. This is something political parties do: find out what people are doing. I was trying to find out what they did with their preselection [but] they never sent me the document,” she said.
“I have always been loyal to the DLP and I always will be.”
Murphy said he could understand how the Liberal preselection matter had the potential to be misunderstood, but it was nothing that an honest conversation could not have solved.Murphy said he could understand how the Liberal preselection matter had the potential to be misunderstood, but it was nothing that an honest conversation could not have solved.
“I spoke to Rachel this morning when I heard that. I know the Liberal party had approached her on a number of occasions and she said no. She said she had requested the preselection documents to have a look at them,” he told Guardian Australia.“I spoke to Rachel this morning when I heard that. I know the Liberal party had approached her on a number of occasions and she said no. She said she had requested the preselection documents to have a look at them,” he told Guardian Australia.
Murphy said nothing came of it and Carling-Jenkins said she was not interested. “I’ve got no basis not to believe that’s the case,” he said.Murphy said nothing came of it and Carling-Jenkins said she was not interested. “I’ve got no basis not to believe that’s the case,” he said.
Murphy said he had received an email notifying him of Madigan’s decision several minutes before the senator announced it to parliament on Thursday.Murphy said he had received an email notifying him of Madigan’s decision several minutes before the senator announced it to parliament on Thursday.
“This has been coming for a while we think,” Murphy said.“This has been coming for a while we think,” Murphy said.
“I asked John several months ago about a rumour I’d heard that he was considering running as an independent. I asked him to confirm that fact and he denied it; he said he would never do anything against the DLP.”“I asked John several months ago about a rumour I’d heard that he was considering running as an independent. I asked him to confirm that fact and he denied it; he said he would never do anything against the DLP.”
Madigan said he was “acutely aware of the historic significance” of his position as the first DLP member in federal parliament for almost 40 years. The anti-communist DLP was formed out of the split in the ALP in the 1950s arising from disputes over the infiltration of trade unions.
But Madigan told the Senate he had “witnessed first-hand attempts by those in the party to assume power at any means even if it means the very destruction of the party itself”.
Madigan said he “could have achieved more with less distraction of party politics, of less distraction from the culture of complaint and disruption and undermining which now exists in the DLP within its senior members”.