The High Court has refused an election-eve bid by Victorian ALP members to end national intervention in the embattled state branch.
Labor's national executive seized control of the Victorian branch in 2020 after allegations of massive branch-stacking.
In May last year, the national executive resolved to conduct candidate preselections in 22 seats for Victoria ahead of the federal election due in May.
Health Services Union secretary Diana Asmar challenged the intervention in the Victorian Supreme Court, but it was dismissed on the basis that the court would not adjudicate on internal disputes within a political party.
The Victorian Court of Appeal determined the preselection dispute was one upon which the courts could adjudicate.
But the court concluded the initial judge was correct in finding the Victorian ALP branch was bound by the ALP's national constitution and the national executive had the power to act in the way it did.
Ms Asmar's application for special leave to the High Court was refused on Thursday afternoon.
