Guess who was a founding board member of GetUp? Bill Shorten. He was the head of the Australian Workers Union at the time and personally authorised $100,000 in members’ funds to be given as a donation to GetUp! [SOURCE]

Another founding Board Member was Cate Faehrmann - she’s a Greens NSW MP, and before that was Chief of staff to Greens Leader Richard di Natale. [SOURCE]

Australia’s most militant union the CFMEU gave the largest single donation in GetUp’s history with a $1.2 million gift to GetUp – which in turn campaigned against controls on union thuggery and lawlessness. [SOURCE]

But wait, there's more...

  • One of the three original founders of GetUp is AmandaTattersall - a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW and former staffer for NSW Labor MP.
  • Former Victorian Labor MP Evan Thorley is a major private donor to GetUp.
  • Lachlan Harris, a founding staff member of GetUp, went on to work for Wayne Swan and then became Kevin Rudd’s Senior Media Adviser.
  • GetUp’s National Director from 2012-15 was Sam McLean - he joined Bill Shorten’s staff in 2016.
  • GetUp’s National Director from 2008-12 was Simon Sheikh – he’s a former ALP member, and was a Greens candidate as well.
  • Skye Laris is a former GetUp Campaign Director – she’s also the partner and former Chief-of-Staff to Labor frontbencher Tony Burke.

Just take a look at GetUp’s Current Board – all 9 of the 9 Board members are unionists and/or activists. And 5 are current or former members of the Labor Party. [1]

Phil Ireland

Chairman of GetUp, ALP member, NSW Convenor of Labor Environmental Action Network, former operations director for the United Voice Union.

Carla McGrath

Vice Chairwoman of GetUp, Indigenous Rights activist, Vice Chair of Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC)

Daniel Stone

ALP member, Director of Labor’s digital campaigns for the 2016 federal and 2015 NSW elections, founded Principal Co – which was employed on “Independent” Kerryn Phelp’s campaign in Wentworth.

Min Guo

ALP Member, worked for Labor-aligned law firm Maurice Blackburn

Stephen Monk

ALP links, IT Executive

Karen Iles

ALP Member, Labor for Refugees activist and CFMEU official

Sara Saleh

Refugee Rights Activist, supporter of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement

Alex Rafalowicz

Global Communications Manager at 350.Org, former adviser to Greens candidate, Activist Climate Action Network of Australia

Lyn Goldsworthy

Environmental activist, facilitated Environmental Workshops hosted by the Labor ACT Assembly

“Independent” Zali Steggall’s co-Campaign Manager is Anthony Reed. Anthony Reed is a veteran Labor Party operative and has been a member of the Labor Party for over 20 years. He has also been the media officer for the United Voice Union and the Health Services Union.

[See Proof]

Steggal’s other co-Campaign Manager in Warringah, Louise Hislop, has been schooled in campaign activity by GetUp and Voices for Indi. She has publicly praised GetUp’s left-wing political activists.

[See Proof]

Former GetUp media director Adrian Dodd, who also served as a communications adviser at the ACTU, is helping another GetUp “Independent” Oliver Yates prepare to stand against Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

[See Proof]

GetUp, together with key Labor party operatives and other left-wing groups, provided campaign support on the ground for "Independent" Kerryn Phelps in the Wentworth by-election. They are credited with getting her elected.

[See Proof]

Phelps campaign strategists included Labor’s Darrin Barnett (former Julia Gillard adviser) and Anthony Reed (a Labor operative). Her digital team was a company owned by GetUp board member and Labor member Daniel Stone.

[See Proof]

Case Study: How Policy Payback Works

The recent so-called “Medivac” legislation that weakened Australia’s border protection regime and resulted in the reopening of the Christmas Island Detention Centre is a typical example of how these alliances warp Australia’s political process.

Labor, the Unions and GetUp worked closely together to elect so-called “Independent” Kerryn Phelps.

Kerryn Phelps drafted legislation, in response to a confected “medical crisis” campaign by GetUp, to satisfy the refugee activists who backed her - including GetUp.

Labor supported the legislation, despite security briefings detailing that it was not in the national interest - because they owe GetUp too. After all, GetUp always campaigns for a Labor government.

When some MPs were unsure whether to vote for the legislation as a result of the security briefings, GetUp orchestrated a campaign that bombarded MP offices with emails and phone calls demanding support for the legislation.

The legislation was passed by one vote in the House of Representatives. It’s no surprise that GetUp-backed “independent” Cathy McGowan also sided with Labor and the Greens to vote for it.

Australia’s border protection laws were weakened, despite the fact that the vast majority of voters support the current system or actually want it to be stronger.

This is how the left-wing activists’ agenda was advanced - all due to the cosy, incestuous relationship between Labor, the Greens, so-called Independents and GetUp and their affiliates.