from state branches. Fifteen executive positions are also elected. The National Young Labor President is a non-voting representative on the Australian Labor Party National Executive. Organisation Each state has its own branch of Young Labor, functioning as a party unit (referred to as New South Wales Young Labor, Victorian Young Labor, etc.). Nationally, the branches are federated to the National organisation, which has its own President and executive. Criticism and Controversy On 8 December 2004, the Sydney Morning Herald published allegations that factional leaders within the Labor Party in New South Wales were “petty, faction obsessed and vindictive.” The article, authored by Aubrey Belford, then a member of the ALP and former editor of the Sydney University student paper, Honi Soit, laments a Young Labor dominated by factional infighting, “Put simply, the party culture encourages young people to devote their energy to pursuing objectives that ultimately have no impact on the real world, and to pursue them through ritual political violence.” On January 23, 2012, President of Queensland Young Labor, Chaiy Donati came under significant criticism following links to the United States Republican Party. Online news source Crikey reported that he helped anti-war and pro drug legalisation Republican candidate Ron Paul in his fight for the primaries in New Hampshire. Ron Paul came second to Mitt Romney on The Republican Party Ballot, and second to Barack Obama on The Democratic Party Ballot in New Hampshire. On his return to Queensland, numerous factional rivalries emerged between members. Despite this Chaiy Donati remained the rights factional leader and in 2013 secured Queenslands Kerrie Kahlon the Australian Young Labor Presidency. Chaiy Donati later returned to the United States in April 2016, this time working on The Democratic Primaries for Bernie Sanders in a close Primary against Hillary Clinton. In 2019, Nick Douros was elected National Secretary of AYL. Douros was formerly a staffer for David Smith (Australian Capital Territory politician) and ACT Young Labor President but resigned from both roles amidst allegations of bullying which were upheld by an internal disputes tribunal. References External links Australian Young Labor official website Australian Young Labor on Facebook Youth wings of political parties in Australia Australian labour movement Australian Young Labor Australian Labor Party Australian Young Labor 1926 establishments in Australia