Faction bosses hack out a team THE fallout from the factional allocation of opposition frontbench positions has exposed a deeply embedded cultural problem in the modern Labor Party. It is complex, multifaceted and not easily repaired. Bill Shorten's "new look" team reads more like a government in exile, and the silo mentality of sub-factional leaders protecting their turf prevents the flexibility needed to ensure talent rises to the top. Although there has been criticism that Labor, in particular the Right faction, failed to promote enough women on to its frontbench, self-evidently 11 women in a 30-member shadow ministry comfortably bests Tony Abbott's woeful gender balance.