By Mario Xuereb
BILL Shorten’s move from prominent unionist to Labor politician is no big leap.
In an interview with Star last week, the AWU national secretary said as much.
“The Labor Party is not just about unions, but there is no Labor Party without the unions.”
But Mr Shorten is mindful of the need to broaden his appeal with voters – no matter how passionately Labor they are in the western suburbs.
A clogged Western Ring Road, under-funded Sunshine Hospital and immigration red tape are all issues he’d like to see sorted out for the region.
“I’m not just about industrial relations,” he said.
“We (the West) have to get our fair share.”
Mr Shorten moved to the western suburbs 15 years ago, and now lives in Moonee Ponds.
He grew up in Oakleigh and Murrumbeena in the eastern suburbs with his fitter-and-turner father and school teacher mother.
After attending the prestigious Roman Catholic grammar school Xavier College, Mr Shorten studied arts and law at Monash University.
He worked as a lawyer before becoming a union organiser.
“I’ve always been interested in empowering people to have control over their lives,” Mr Shorten said.
“When I was a lawyer, you tend to find people when they are at the end of a process and I realised that I really wanted to intervene in the process.
“That’s why I’ve enjoyed being a union representative for 12 years.”
He still enjoys it. Should he lose the Maribyrnong preselection in one month’s time, Mr Shorten will happily return to the AWU.
“I’m not impatient about leaving the union but I am impatient about Labor losing,” he said.
“I do get impatient when I see stupid decisions being made.”
He likens the ALP’s loss at four successive elections to losing four grand finals.
Mr Shorten said he has a “number of ideas” to improve his party’s national performance.
“On balance, I think the Labor Party needs a bit of hunger and a few more aggressive people in Canberra.
“The ALP needs to oppose more strongly and fight more strongly – these are views I’ve heard in the western suburbs.”
Mr Shorten won’t say if any part of the ALP’s renewal involves him becoming its leader any time soon.
He has affirmed his support for Kim Beazley as Labor’s next prime minister.
Mr Shorten’s support for the Opposition Leader may seem at odds with his call for “renewal and new blood” within the party.
Few would forget that Mr Beazley was “captain” for two of the four “grand final” defeats that Mr Shorten says have spurred his entry into politics.
And contrary to reports he will catapult to the shadow ministry, should he win preselection, Mr Shorten said he is readying himself for the backbench.
“I’ve never had a job where I haven’t had to do my time,” he told Star.
“So I guess my first role will be to be the best Member of Parliament I can and sort out a few issues here.”
