Rudd link to State ALP move
A member of prime minister Kevin Rudd's inner circle is set to be parachuted in as Labor State secretary under a plan being hatched by the WA party's dominant Left union faction.
The tenure of current secretary Simon Mead appeared all but over last night when he did not attend the party's State executive meeting, where he would ordinarily deliver a report, and was eulogised by Opposition Leader Mark McGowan.
"He's been a good servant of the party for a long period of time. He did a good job in difficult circumstances," Mr McGowan said after the meeting.
Party sources have told The West Australian that United Voice, the party's dominant Left grouping, was prepared to dump Mr Mead, who is just 11 months into a three year contract.
But that was denied by United Voice Secretary Carolyn Smith, who said Mr Mead initiated a conversation on Sunday about his moving on. Mr McGowan also said Mr Mead made "his own decisions" when asked if he'd been forced out.
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Mr Mead is a United Voice member and the faction used its muscle to ensure he was reappointed at Labor's State conference last July.
Under the plan, he would be replaced by Patrick Gorman, a key consigliere of Mr Rudd's when he was PM, serving variously as chief of staff and senior advisor.
Mr Gorman, who attended the University of WA and Curtin University where he was student guild president in 2005, is currently the director of public affairs at United Voice's national office in Sydney.
Chatter in party circles is that Mr Mead has been offered a six-figure payout with a confidentiality provision.
Mr McGowan would not comment last night on any payout and cast doubt on a confidentially clause by claiming Mr Mead would have more to say about the circumstances in future.
"I have nothing but respect for (Mr Mead)," Mr McGowan said.
"It's tough. We had a Senate election, a whole range of State elections, Federal elections, by-elections, State conferences and the like.
"It's a very difficult job and in many ways a thankless job so I appreciate the role he has played but I'm sure he will have more to say in the future and I will have more to say in the future."
Mr McGowan would not comment on the prospect of Mr Gorman taking over.
Attempts have been made to contact Mr Mead have been unsuccessful.
The plan has tongues wagging across the factions, with some MPs wondering how the transition will be effected under the party's rules.
Mr Mead's position as State secretary was contested at last July's State conference, but he easily beat challenger Bruce Campbell-Fraser.
