branch stacking

Branch stacking refers to the practice of artificially increasing membership in a political party's local branches to gain influence and control over pre-selections and policy. This often involves recruiting large numbers of new members, sometimes without their full understanding or genuine engagement, to sway voting outcomes within the party. Recent news articles highlight this issue within the New South Wales Liberal Party, where a group of conservative power brokers, known as the Reformers, are under scrutiny by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Evidence suggests these individuals engaged in recruitment drives, sometimes with the support of senior politicians and figures like former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, to shift the party's direction to the right. The ICAC investigation is examining allegations of improper conduct, including the creation of disparaging materials against a minister, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of internal party politics and the pursuit of power through manipulated membership numbers. This situation underscores the ongoing relevance of branch stacking as a contentious tactic that can undermine democratic processes within political parties.