In 2003, under the leadership of Simon Crean, National Conference reduced the proportion of union delegates at future state and national conferences from 60 to 50 per cent. The impact on the character and control of the ALP was zero. An axiom of organisation is that big blocs versus clusters of smaller groupings will mean the big blocs prevail. In public companies, if the largest holding of shares represents 30–40 per cent, that bloc will control the company. So for the ALP, whether the proportion is 60:40, 50:50, 40:60 or 30:70, the ratio amounts to union control of the conference floor. Control of the floor translates into control of the conference agenda, control of proceedings and control of the atmospherics. The group which controls conference will win the positions elected by conference, most importantly the officers of the party, the ruling executive and the delegates to national conference. Control at conference delivers control of the party between conferences and a dominating position at the conference that follows.

At an ALP conference, it is rare that unions vote together as a bloc. They do not have to. Over the years since 1916, they have imposed a culture that is all-pervasive; a culture of pre-meeting caucuses and caucuses within caucuses; log-rolling to achieve outcomes; the elevation of loyalty ahead of ability. A spoils culture in which the purpose of organisation is self-advancement.