Australian Labor Party Caucus

The Caucus is divided along formal factional lines, with most voting taking place on a bloc factional basis, especially in the case of appointments, and may involve cross-factional deals. The two biggest factions are the Labor Right and the Labor Left. Each of these factions contains smaller state-based factions, such as (on the Right) the Victorian Labor Unity group and (on the Left) the Victorian Socialist Left. Members who are not associated with either faction are described as Independents. The two main factions hold factional meetings once a week during Parliamentary sitting weeks.

Factional allegiances in the Caucus tend to be closely related to state political loyalties, and also to trade union affiliations. Large unions such as the Australian Workers' Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, regard as "theirs" Members and Senators who formerly held office in those unions, or who have received union support in gaining their preselections, and expect them to act in the union's interests.

The federal caucus has a number of policy-focused committees designed to stimulate debate among caucus members, minimise complacency and ensure federal policy development continues throughout each parliamentary term. The committees are centred around policy areas that roughly align with ministerial portfolios, with some grouped together, and include:

• Education, Employment, Workplace Relations and the Arts Caucus Committee
• Living Standards and Economic Development Caucus Committee
• Multicultural Policy Caucus Committee
• Social Policy Caucus Committee
• Economics Policy Caucus Committee
• Women's Caucus Committee
• Sustainable Australia Caucus Committee
• First Nations Caucus Committee
• International and Legal Affairs Caucus Committee
• Country Caucus Committee