NSW Labor votes on socialism reference

A motion to discuss changing Labor's objective to remove a reference to socialism has passed at the party's NSW conference.

Former immigration minister Chris Bowen moved the motion at the conference on Saturday and it was won by show of hands.

The motion was for the development of a new Labor objective to be put forward by the NSW branch at the 2015 national conference.

Federal MP Tony Burke spoke in favour of the motion.

"We have just been through an entire climate change debate in which Labor is arguing for a market-based mechanism, and the coalition is arguing, no no no, we need government control, direct action," he said.

"What we have at the moment is an objective that is currently out of touch with who we are and what we've done."

Upon joining the Labor party, members pledge themselves to support the objective of "democratic socialisation of industry, production, distribution and exchange".

Saturday's motion, launched by surprise in the afternoon, was opposed by ALP president Jenny McAllister.

"I don't want to start a debate when we start one with a fundamental mischaracterisation of the objective as it stands," she said.

"I am opposed to walking away from our history."

The motion was carried on a show of hands after two votes, after a mistake by the presiding officer declared it lost.