Complex sentence: ALP officials felt given the party's weakened state, Barnard should remain in Parliament, and be given no preferment if he resigned; party president and future Prime Minister Bob Hawke described the decision to appoint Barnard as "an act of lunacy".
Split into simpler sentences: ALP officials felt given the party's weakened state, Barnard should remain in Parliament, and be given no preferment if he resigned. Party president and future Prime Minister Bob Hawke described the decision to appoint Barnard as "an act of lunacy".