Labor frontbencher Mark Butler has been elected as his party's national president in a rank and file ballot in which more than 19,000 financial members cast votes.
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The win for the moderate Left-faction member confirms the progressive bent of the ALP membership, which had opted for Anthony Albanese in the 2013 election face-off with Bill Shorten for the party's federal parliamentary leadership, although not in sufficient numbers to overcome Mr Shorten's strong backing in the federal caucus in the complicated process.
Mr Butler, a fresh-faced former unionist from South Australia, is the member for Port Adelaide in the Federal Parliament and the opposition's spokesman on climate change and the environment.
"Over the course of this campaign, Labor members consistently expressed how committed they are to doing everything they can to beat Tony Abbott at the next election," he said in a statement.
"They also constantly stressed that they want more direct say on important decisions made within our party – they want to be able to vote to select Labor candidates for the Senate and legislative councils, for delegates to national conference and more. This ballot – and the leadership ballot of 2013 – clearly demonstrates that providing greater direct influence to rank and file members helps to energise the party, improving our campaigning ability on the ground.
"Over recent years, giants of our party like Bob Hawke, Neville Wran, John Faulkner, Steve Bracks and Bob Carr have recommended such changes to our party.
"The national conference in July is high time for the party to respond to those calls."
Mr Butler replaces Jenny McAllister, who has recently taken up a position as a senator for NSW, filling the casual vacancy left by long-term stalwart John Faulkner.
Mr Butler favours internal reform and is expected to push for changes in the ALP's machinery as president to make it more democratic.
He will chair the party's national conference in Melbourne in July at which difficult debates could occur over asylum seeker policy, where many MPs would like to see the policy of turn-backs adopted.
A push for a binding vote on same-sex marriage is also possible, and would cause significant embarrassment for the ALP as it seeks to pressure Tony Abbott to do the opposite by granting his MPs a conscience vote on the subject.
Mr Butler's victory is being pointed to by some as a sign of the continuing influence of Mr Albanese also as he was a key backer.
Mr Shorten's preferred candidtate, Tim Hammond, a Perth barrister, came second and will assume the role of senior vice-president alongside the third place-getter, another left-backed candidate, Jane Garrett, who continues as junior vice-president.
