Although most members of the Labor Party are not in a faction, they dominate the party more than ever before. Factions provide stability, yet risk curtailing debate and reducing the scope for regular members to become involved.

For Australia’s oldest and greatest political party to thrive, it is important to consider the role that factions play today, and how they will evolve in the future.

Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT. Prior to being elected in 2010, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National University.

Listen to his landmark speech on Labor Factions, recorded at the John Cain Lunch on the 19th of July 2023, hosted by Per Capita.

Watch the full speech and Q&A on the Per Capita YouTube channel.

For more from Per Capita, visit percapita.org.au