NSW Labor is embarking on one of the most ambitious affirmative action programs in its history, with new rules to boost the number of women in key roles at the grassroots of the party with the aim of transforming the organisation.

The rules, to be put to party members at February's state conference, are in response to the cultural problems highlighted by a landmark report by Jane Needham, SC, into the status of women inside the NSW division.

NSW Labor's new rules to boost the number of women in key roles are in response to the cultural problems highlighted by a landmark report by Jane Needham, SC. Credit:James Brickwood

The report was commissioned in the wake of the sexual harassment saga that saw Jamie Clements resign as NSW Labor general-secretary last week.

Labor's 2015 national conference introduced new affirmative action rules to increase the number of women in leadership roles in the party to 50 per cent, as well as in preselections and union delegations to party conferences.