ACT Labor review says more needed to attract multicultural members

A review of the party's successful 2020 campaign has been sent to members from the branch. But while Labor won, the review said the party needed to do more to attract more members from the multicultural community.

The review, seen by The Canberra Times, said the party had successfully attracted members from the LBGTIQ+ community and that the party should broaden its "Rainbow Labor" initiative.

It was recommended ACT Labor should consider establishing a multicultural action group, which would "support multicultural party members to build their presence in the broader multicultural community".

"While ACT Labor has achieved great success in promoting diversity through the representation of women and LGBTI+ people in both parliamentary and party roles, similar success has not been seen in the representation of people of colour," the review said.

"ACT Labor needs to continue work to ... bring members of the multicultural community into the party and to support them in the party as well as focusing outwards into how to support current members to elevate themselves in their communities."

There a 0.6 per cent swing against Labor at last year's election. The party lost two seats in Ginninderra and Yerrabi - both to the Greens.

The Canberra Liberals had a greater swing against them of 2.9 per cent but the party also lost two seats.

Both Labor and the Liberals lost their seats to Greens candidates, with the party sweeping up six seats at the election.

The review determined a strategy was needed to address the Greens vote, but that further work was required on this, otherwise the Liberals could win.

"Broadly, many Greens voters attributed their vote to a wish to ensure accountability of government without wanting to back a conservative party," the review said.

"This sentiment ultimately risks the possibility of future Liberal governments by diminishing Labor's primary vote."

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The Canberra Liberals' 2020 election review, released in April, said the party should have focused on influencing "soft Green voters".

Labor's review said the party had the opportunity to win back votes from both the Greens and the Liberals.

"There is opportunity for Labor to not only hold its existing seats, but to increase its numbers at the next election," the review said.

"There are at least five marginal seats in which Labor could be competitive."

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