A look at the three major splits in Australia’s oldest political party, their impact on politics at the Federal and State level, and which of the flow-on effects are still being felt today.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

COURSE OUTLINE

• The 1917 Split: A fresh look at what caused the Labor split of 1917 and whether it could have been avoided. Why was it different from earlier political defections? An insight into the issues, the characters involved, and the consequences.
• The 1931 Split: This course considers the Labor split of 1931 Split – actually two splits: one to the left and one to the right. Why weren’t lessons learnt from the earlier, cataclysmic, split in the Labor Party. How long were its effects felt, and whether the underlying political and economic issues still with us today.
• The 1954/1955 Split: For the third time in less than 40 years, Labor split at the national level, keeping it out of power for decades in most (but not all) states. How great was the influence of external factors both in the party and in the workplace – the ‘communist menace’, the church and the ‘industrial groups’. Are some of the flow-on effects still evident today.