Former New South Wales Labor premier Nathan Rees says the federal takeover of the state party represents a seismic shift for the old guard.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday took the rare step of launching a federal ALP intervention into the scandal-plagued NSW branch, saying he is "appalled" by the recent allegations of corruption levelled at former state ministers.
Mr Rudd has demanded the NSW party implement changes within the next 30 days - a process that will be overseen by the ALP national executive.
The changes include a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and a ban on property developers standing as Labor candidates unless they "divest themselves of any major property development interest".
Mr Rees expects it will be strenuously resisted in some areas but he says the intervention is needed to restore public trust in the party.
"In western Sydney where I live, I think the events of ICAC in the last six to 12 months, the public airing of the activities of only a couple of people has probably meant, in polling terms, [about] 2 to 3 per cent in terms of a two-party preferred vote," he said.
"The prime minister has done precisely the right thing here."
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