Socialist Party of Australia

The Australian Labour Party (ALP) is a political party in Australia. The party has been in government with the left coalition at the federal level since the December 2018 election. Drunk_King_Robert has been the party's federal parliamentary leader since founding leader Youmaton's departure from the party in October 2018 to form the Social Democratic Party. The party is a federal party with branches in each state and territory.

Factions
The Labour Party has had three factions since it's formation in June and is used as a way to guage the proportional makeup of the party regarding parliamentary seats. The three main factions are the Socialist Left, Social Democrats, and Labour Unity. In reality, the Socialist Left faction overwhelming dominates the membership of the party.

Trade union affiliation is allowed and some affiliated with a particular faction, currently the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) is the only faction affiliated with the party and supports proposals made by the Socialist Left.

Preselections in the party are usually established through the proportionality clause of the Party Constitution and the party attempts to ensure that the factional makeup of the party is reflected in the parliamentary and national executive makeup.

October 2018 faction spilt
In early October 2018, members of the Unity faction of the party voted to spilt off from the ALP and form their own party: Australian Unity Party. As a result, several members of the Socialist Left and Social Democratic factions also spilt from the party. The leader Youmaton and her Social Democrats faction spilt off to form the Social Democratic Party, and a section of the Socialist Left spilt to form the Socialist Party. Socialist Left leader ChairmanMeeseeks took the office of Leader.

In November/December 2018, former members of the Socialist Left faction including Drunk_King_Robert returned to the party.

Federal parliamentary leaders
The federal Leaders of the Australian Labour Party have been as follows (acting leaders indicated in italics):

PM: Prime Minister LO: Leader of the Opposition GOV: Government Coalition Partner OPP: Opposition Coalition Partner CB: Crossbench †: Died in office