NSW Labor has adopted a code of conduct that prohibits bullying and harassment, in an attempt to shake off the scandals that have recently engulfed its head office.
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The traditional theatrical sparring was absent from the opening session of the NSW Labor conference at Town Hall on Saturday morning as party officials spoke gravely of the need to clean up Sussex Street.
Jamie Clements quit as NSW general secretary in January after a prolonged sexual harassment scandal that severely disrupted head office. Mr Clements consistently denied the claims made against him.
The acting replacement, Kaila Murnain, who is expected to become Labor's first female general secretary on Sunday, told the Labor faithful from the floor: "The last six months have been hard, with three separate reviews into governance of our party."
She said change was needed now.
NSW Labor president and former Unions NSW boss Mark Lennon said: "The last seven months have been a very difficult time, not just for head office, but for all of us."
He said the reforms would professionalise the party and "redesign Sussex Street".
Labor should never let robust debate "descend into harassment and intimidation – that is not us," Mr Lennon said.
"A code of conduct will allow us to define what is appropriate behaviour ... it clears up the grey area and leaves no margin for error."
NSW Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney said the public "would be astounded" to hear that Labor was only now changing its rules to ban bullying and harassment.
"We are the party that protects workers, but how well have we actually done it ourselves?"
The NSW party also voted to appoint a director of governance, external training for finance committee members, and use an independent third party to conduct the next NSW Labor leadership ballot.
A 40 per cent gender target will be extended to all electoral councils (one level up from branches) in NSW, and the target gradually increased to reach 50 per cent by 2025. This goes beyond the affirmative action targets adopted at the national Labor conference in 2015.
A formal mentoring program for women, led by former premier Kristina Keneally and former deputy premier Carmel Tebutt, will be introduced to identify and train women in politics.
The gender reforms stem from a review by Jane Needham, SC, which highlighted the need for cultural change.
Ms Murnain said: "By setting the standard for governance, and by becoming an even more inclusive party with diversity in our power structures, we are building a party for everyone."
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union secretary Tim Ayres claimed the reforms would see "the dismantling of the old factional machine".
