Column from the June edition of ‘The Socialist’

10th worst: Bob Hawke, ACTU leader who stopped spontaneous general strike in wake of dismissal of Whitlam. ALP Prime Minister 1983-91 that introduced the wage cutting Accord.9th worst: Bill Shorten, who did nothing to organise workers in industrial action at Beaconsfield after last year?s accident, thereby laying the basis for a deadly repeat this year. Also for a string of strike-breaking against construction and metal workers by sections of his union, the AWU.

8th worst: Trisha Caswell, moved from being an official at Victorian Trades Hall Council to Director of Australian Conservation Foundation, now Chief Executive of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries.

7th worst: Gerry Hand, ‘leftwing’ ex-minister in Hawke Labor government who first introduced mandatory detention for refugees, later investor in casino in Christmas Island.

6th worst: Bill Hayden, ex-federal ALP leader and republican, later accepted post as Govenor-General, the Queens representative in Australia.

5th worst: Michael Costa, ex-ultra left ‘Healyite’ who is now far-right Minister in NSW Labor government who has held Police, Transport and Economic Reform and Infrastructure portfolios. Main driver in an already rightwing government for attacks on workers jobs and conditions and for neo-liberal ‘reform’

4th worst: Vince Gair, ex-ALP Premier of Queensland, expelled from the party for his anti-union stance. Joined the right ALP split, the DLP. Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen stopped Whitlam from creating an extra Senate place and a ALP majority by getting Country Party Senators to keep Gair occupied in their office, drinking beer and eating prawns, as a result, Gair failed to resign his Senate position in time. This delaying tactic was later known as “the night of the long prawns.” The 1974 election marked the electoral demise of the DLP, which lost all of its remaining seats, largely as a backlash against Gair’s actions.

3rd worst: Laurie Short, a key figure in the early Trotskyist movement in Australia, later betrayed his comrades and class and became stalwart of the union right wing and staunch anti-communist.

2nd worst: John Van Camp, one day Victorian Secretary of the militant FEDFA construction union, the next day became Industrial Relations boss for anti-union Grocon Construction Company.

Worst: Billy Hughes, initially a socialist and union activist, then ALP Prime Minister during World War One who pushed hard for conscription losing two referendums (and earning the nickname ‘Little Digger’). Expelled from party for his stance, he then established new government by forming new party (the Nationalists) with fellow expelled-Labor rats and the capitalist Liberal opposition.