It's not the usual fate for a Labor branch stacker. Normally those skilled in the art of "multiple recruitment" earn a seat in Parliament, or a special place as a party puppet master and kingmaker.
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But aspiring numbers man Haykel Handal, 27, has suffered the rare distinction of being kicked out of the ALP after a tribunal found him guilty of stacking. He and three comrades were expelled this week after a year-long internal investigation found they had used anonymous debit cards to pay for dozens of party memberships.
A party tribunal found he had used the cards to pay for 31 new or renewed memberships in the federal seats of Maribyrnong, Gellibrand and Melbourne.
So rare are such expulsions - despite the perennial inquiries and promises of reform - that one Labor veteran said he could not recall anyone being booted out of Labor for branch-stacking. In fact, others have been feted for their talents.
Notorious recruiter George Seitz, who died in June, not only held a plum seat in parliament for 28 years, the party exempted him from its rules to allow him to continue in parliament after retirement age.
In an interview from hospital just before his death, the western suburbs warlord claimed the careers of 20 Labor MPS, including current leader Bill Shorten in his seat of Maribyrnong.
Like Seitz, Mr Handal's recruiting territory included the seat of Maribyrnong, among others. But unlike the old warrior now passed, Mr Handal is relatively new to the stacking game.
Labor sources have described his methods as "clumsy", " brazen" and "patently obvious".
"If you are going to branch stack, branch stack well," said one.
Branch stacking involves factional players signing up people or renewing memberships in bulk. Cash for payment of membership dues, often comes from unions and their slush funds.
For factional warlords, the "stacks" represent numbers in Labor, to be traded in factional and sub-factional deals; they're especially important in pre-selection battles.
Mr Handal previously worked in the office of Richard Marles, a federal frontbencher, prominent player in Labor's right wing faction, and aspiring party leader.
Marles, no stranger to branch-tacking controversy, thanked Handal for helping his re-election to parliament in an early 2014 speech to parliament.
While the Somali-born Handal has been side-lined from the ALP, those familiar with the challenges of "multiple recruitment", are confident he will return.
Such a "multiple recruitment specialist" had a great future in the ALP, observed one seasoned operator. Maybe the makings of Australia's first Somali-born parliamentarian? Maybe even a minister.
