One of the country's biggest unions has been forced to pull a video off YouTube, after social media expressed shock and dismay over its suggestion that union members should reassert their "values" in the ALP over same-sex people, environmentalists and other members.
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The South Australian branch of United Voice originally posted the clip in late May but removed it on Friday afternoon, with the national office quickly distancing itself from the production.
The video, entitled "have your say", begins with a young couple, who share the same "values" and build a house together.
Then a "lawyer" comes by and moves in. "Some students", "some environmentalists", a "same-sex couple", "many religious orders" and "a group called political staffers" - represented as clowns - also move in.
"At first everyone is happy and gets along because everyone under your roof shares the same values. You're even happy to pay most of the bills," the voiceover says.
But the house becomes crowded and noisy and "eventually some differences arise".
The diverse bunch then decides the original owners should leave in order to reduce the numbers - but continue to pay for the costs of the house.
"The same thing is happening to your political party. Your political party is your house, a trade unionist house," the voiceover continues.
"It's time to reclaim the house we built ... we urge you as a trade unionist to stand up and play your part."
The video, which comes ahead of the Labor Party's national conference in July, was circulated on social media on Friday, where commenters expressed confusion and surprise.
On Twitter, people variously described it as "strange," bizarre", "awful" and with "shades of White Australia Policy".
United Voice represents about 120,000 workers in the hospitality, health care and aged care industries. It is generally seen as one of the more progressive unions - backing Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek's recent call for a binding vote on same-sex marriage.
On Friday afternoon, United Voice national president Jo-anne Schofield distanced the national office from the clip.
"The video has been withdrawn by the South Australian branch. I endorse this decision," she said in a statement.
United Voice's SA branch has also been contacted for comment.
