No doubt every political party has sought to challenge its opponents in ways other than the ballot box but sometimes all it takes is the stroke of a pen

The ALP is as good as unlawful in NSW. Here's why. - The Drum Opinion (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

So when is democracy not democracy that is the question? Australia has a long history of political innovation which is taken up elsewhere

I was going to make my comment . But reading to comment section to your link I found the perfect reply :

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There isn't much democracy to compulsory unionism with a percent of compulsory fees being paid to a political party the payer might not want to vote for. Neither is there much democracy to a bunch of men who are compelled to put their arm into the centre of a circle on the understanding that "you're with us or you're against us". Unions are the last people with a right to lecture about democracy. They would reinstate those abuses in an instant if they could.

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A particularly right wing view. Unions here are a little more democratic than that, but I can't disagree with the need to separate unions from directly influencing the political process. There is nothing to prevent an individual union member from supporting a political party but we don't need the rabid advertising campaigns we saw associated with Work Choices

I take a different view. I have no problem with them acting in association to influence the political process. My problem is when they coerce dues from rank and file ,and then turn the money over to a politician.
It becomes a bigger problem when public service unions (which I think should be against the law ) give contributions to politicians who will sit opposite them at the negotiating table for wages and benefits. To me that is a clear conflict of interest situation.

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Originally Posted by tomder55

I take a different view. I have no problem with them acting in association to influence the political process. My problem is when they coerce dues from rank and file ,and then turn the money over to a politician.
It becomes a bigger problem when public service unions (which I think should be against the law ) give contributions to politicians who will sit opposite them at the negotiating table for wages and benefits. To me that is a clear conflict of interest situation.

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Yes Tom there are conflicts of interest and this is what this leglisation is intended to prevent. If you allow unions then why should public servants be denied representation but those unions should not be making campaign contributions anymore than other unions are.

I think it is interesting that Labor have little faith in being able to gain financial support from the rank and file without it coming via the unions. Unions here have lost a great deal of ground over recent decades and this is a little more ground. My personal view is that the Labor party, which is a party of leftist views founded by the unions, is in dire need of reorganisation and rebirth. It has lost its way and is being swept from power in every election. They are even being criticised by such people as Murdoch.