A long-running Senate feud has come to an end with former NSW premier Kristina Keneally making a big move.
Kristina Keneally has confirmed she will seek preselection for a safe western Sydney seat ahead of the next election, ending a long-running internal Senate stoush.
In a statement, Senator Keneally said she was nominating for preselection as Labor’s candidate after the encouragement of branch members.
“In recent days I have had many conversations with branch members in Fowler and others in the local community, and I have been touched by their enthusiasm and support,” she said.
“I want to step up and fight for Fowler in the House of Representatives, for every suburb, every faith community, every small business, every family.”
Senator Keneally will relocate from Scotland Island in the northern beaches to the electorate ahead of the election.
The seat, which takes in Liverpool, Cabramatta and Fairfield, is one of the most diverse in the nation, and the opposition holds it by a 14 per cent margin.
Incumbent Labor MP Chris Hayes is retiring at the next election. He had publicly pushed for local lawyer Tu Le to replace him.
“I had the genuine ambition to be succeeded by someone who reflected not only the aims and ambitions but also the face of the local community,” he said.
Speaking to The Australian, Ms Le said she was disappointed to be elbowed out by Ms Keneally.
“Our diverse communities should be reflected in the Australian parliament,” she said.
“We need more diverse voices in parliament so no one is left behind and everyone is included.”
Senior Labor figures dodged questions on Friday about parachuting Senator Keneally into the safe seat at the expense of a local candidate.
“Ultimately, these are matters for the NSW branch of the Labor Party,” deputy leader Richard Marles told the Today show.
“Are you happy with her taking a safe Labor seat from a local?” host Alison Langdon replied.
“I think it‘s fantastic that Kristina Keneally is going to be an ongoing part of Labor’s team. I think it’s going to be great to see her in the House of Representatives,” Mr Marles said.
Earlier, Labor national president Wayne Swan conceded “preselections are always controversial”.
“We’ll have the contest, we’ll sort it out. These things happen in politics. We’ll work our way through it,” he told Today.
The former NSW premier is well respected within the party and regarded as a likely key player in a future Labor government. She is the opposition home affairs spokeswoman and deputy Senate leader.
However, despite her seniority within the party, Senator Keneally’s future has been up in the air due to an ongoing stoush with right-faction colleague Deb O’Neill for the top spot on the NSW Senate ticket.
Ms O’Neill, a backbencher, has strong institutional backing. If Ms Keneally had lost the battle, it would have made her return to the Senate uncertain – as second place on the Senate ticket is reserved for a member of the party’s left faction.
In 2017, Ms Keneally unsuccessfully contested the federal Sydney seat of Bennelong at a by-election. She was appointed to the Senate to replace Sam Dastyari in 2018.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9wb2xpdGljcy9rcmlzdGluYS1rZW5lYWxseS10by1tYWtlLXN3aXRjaC10by1sb3dlci1ob3VzZS1lbmRzLXNlbmF0ZS1mZXVkL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvMDg1Mzk4YzdhNzg1NjQzNDcwMDRiNThlMmU1MTliZDjSAZoBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvcG9saXRpY3Mva3Jpc3RpbmEta2VuZWFsbHktdG8tbWFrZS1zd2l0Y2gtdG8tbG93ZXItaG91c2UtZW5kcy1zZW5hdGUtZmV1ZC9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzA4NTM5OGM3YTc4NTY0MzQ3MDA0YjU4ZTJlNTE5YmQ4P2FtcA?oc=5
2021-09-10 01:26:45Z
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