Kaila Murnain

Kaila Murnain is the first female General Secretary of NSW Labor.

Early life and education

Murnain was born in Newcastle, to parents Anne and Neil, and grew up in Narrabri in North Western NSW.[1] Murnain attended Narrabri Public School and Narrabri High School.[2] Her mother, Anne Murnain, contested the federal seat of Gwydir for the Australian Labor Party in 1998 and 2001. Murnain joined the Labor party herself when she was old enough, in 2000, and attended her first party conference at 15 years of age. She campaigned for Australia to become a republic.[1]

Murnain moved to Sydney to attend the University of New South Wales to complete a Bachelor of Social Science. Murnain worked three jobs while studying. She is currently undertaking a Masters of Business Administration at the Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW).[1]

Murnain is engaged to Tom Hollywood, an Army Reservist and Labor staffer who has worked for NSW Labor MLC Sophie Costis.[1]

Career

Murnain worked as an Electorate Officer for Michael Daley MP from 2005-2007. She served as a Policy Advisor for Ageing and Disability Services to Kristina Keneally MP from 2007-2008. In 2008 Murnain began working at the NSW Labor Party head office as an Organiser running campaigns in Local, State and Federal by-elections and general elections.[1] With the support of the Australian Political Exchange Council, Murnain undertook an Individual Study Tour of the United States of America in 2012 and aided the Democratic Party campaign.[3] In 2013 Murain was appointed Assistant General Secretary of NSW Labor.[4]

In January 2016, Jamie Clements, the General Secretary of NSW Labor, resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment. Murnain replaced Clements, and was officially elected by ballot as the first female General Secretary of NSW Labor at the February 2016 Conference. Federal Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, backed Ms Murnain, then aged 29, stating that "She's not to be underestimated. She'll make a strong NSW General Secretary."[4]

In response to a report into the status of women within the NSW division of the Labor Party, commissioned in response to the sexual harassment claim, Murnain stated that her goal as General Secretary is to achieve cultural reform and strengthen Labor's affirmative action rules.[5][1] Murnain introduced the Party's first code of conduct[6][7] and announced the introduction of compulsory ethics seminars for newly elected representatives.[8] At the 2016 NSW Labor Conference delegates voted in affirmative action reforms such as a women's mentoring program and targets for women to have equal representation in all elected party positions - across all council, state and federal electorates - by 2027.[7]

In the lead up to 2016 federal election, Murnain led a campaign strategy similar to Obama's "organising to win" campaign.[9] Labor NSW won 24 of the available 47 seats,[10][11] with half of NSW Labor seats held by women, meeting the affirmative action goal.[12] Murnain brokered a deal between left and right factions of NSW Labor to have Linda Burney, NSW Deputy Leader, run for the Federal seat of Barton, making her the first indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives in Australia.[13][14]

Murnain oversaw the local Government elections in 2016 where Labor regained most Councils across western Sydney, and three by-elections in Canterbury, Wollongong and Orange. Murnain backed Sophie Cotsis to run in Canterbury and Paul Scully in the seat of Wollongong.

Murnain is the national convenor of the Right faction of the Labor Party.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "New Labor general secretary Kaila Murnain wants to drive cultural change in the party membership". Smh.com.au. 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  2. ↑ "New Labor Chief is On Fire : Kaila Murnain Takes Top Post". Dailytelegrpah.com.au. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  3. ↑ Engaging with the community: An investigation into primaries, caucuses and a new organising model. by Kaila Murnain (NSW Labor) 
  4. 1 2 "Bill Shorten backs Kaila Murnain to replace Jamie Clements as NSW Labor general secretary - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  5. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (2016-01-18). "Labor launches historic affirmative action rules in wake of Jamie Clements saga". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  6. ↑ Bramston, Troy (December 5, 2016). "NSW Labor adopts code of conduct for officials, members". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  7. 1 2 "NSW Labor Party votes to adopt bullying "code of conduct"". ABC News. 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  8. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (2016-08-15). "ALP councillors' new school for scandal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  9. ↑ Bramston, Troy (November 23, 2015). "NSW Labor adopts Barack Obama campaign tactics". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  10. ↑ Michael Evans (2016-07-08). "Federal election 2016: How the west was won by NSW Labor Party general secretary Kaila Murnain". The Border Mail. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  11. ↑ 26, scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; corporateName=Australian Electoral Commission; address=50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra, ACT 2600; contact=13 23. "2016 Federal Election - AEC Tally Room". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  12. ↑ "Labor Party Brings in More Women to Take Aim at NSW Seats". Dailytelegrpah.com.au. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  13. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (2016-02-14). "Linda Burney could go federal in factional deal over Hunter". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  14. ↑ "John Graham to replace Linda Burney in NSW Parliament". Afr.com. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  15. ↑ Bramston, Troy (January 10, 2017). "New Labor women reckon they have the ideas — not just the numbers". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
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