ALP Factions

In each of the six Australian states, the ALP has state branches, the main bodies that run state and federal elections. The ALP is a party driven by the factions. The main factions are Left and Right. In the Victorian branch, the Left is called the Socialist Left and the right is called Labor Unity. Other state branches have their own naming conventions. There is also the Independent faction, and other small factions mushroom from time to time but are invariably breakaway groups of a main faction. The Victorian Socialist Left faction is one single body, while Labor Unity is a coalition of sub-factions. Labor Unity works hard to dominate the Victorian branch as its members believe that ceding control to the Left faction would make the ALP unelectable. It is an unsubstantiated claim.
The factional operators enter into negotiations to cut deals. In federal seats where deals cannot be agreed, there will be elections with factions nominating candidates for the election. In the end, the strength of each faction in the Victorian branch is measured by the percentage share of the delegates at the state conference.
The party has a two-fold democratic pre-selection process. Any member of the Victorian branch can stand for pre-selection for any federal or state electorate. If there is more than one candidate there will be an election. All current members with more than twelve months’ membership vote in the pre-selection process and then the 100-member Public Office Selection Committee (POSC) votes.