Deep wounds after preselection battle: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Andrew West, John Stapleton. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 29 Aug 2005: 6.
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Abstract
Michael Daley, 39, a corporate lawyer and lifelong resident of the Sydney beachside electorate of Maroubra, defeated branch official Penny Wright. Even with a 20per cent affirmative action loading, Ms Wright was able to boost her vote only to 110 against Mr Daley’s 140.
Last week, Ms Wright was one of several candidates who challenged the right of more than 100 branch members to vote in thepreselection. The members received anonymous leaflets demanding preselection voters sign statutory declarations affirming their addresses, union membership and record of meetings attended, warning of jail sentences for filing false statements.
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THE candidate for the seat held by former NSW premier Bob Carr has vowed to heal the deep wounds inflicted on the party by one of the most vicious preselection battles in decades.
Michael Daley, 39, a corporate lawyer and lifelong resident of the Sydney beachside electorate of Maroubra, defeated branch official Penny Wright. Even with a 20per cent affirmative action loading, Ms Wright was able to boost her vote only to 110 against Mr Daley’s 140.
Last week, Ms Wright was one of several candidates who challenged the right of more than 100 branch members to vote in thepreselection. The members received anonymous leaflets demanding preselection voters sign statutory declarations affirming their addresses, union membership and record of meetings attended, warning of jail sentences for filing false statements.
Mr Daley is now set to replace Mr Carr, who held the seat for more than 20 years. Mr Daley said the challenges had been poorly considered and had left a bad taste in people’s mouths.
“Still, Maroubra is a jewel in the Labor crown so it’s not surprising that people would be fighting hard for it,” he said. “My challenge now is to heal the wounds that were opened during a pretty tough preselection.”
Mr Daley said being selected was the fulfilment of a childhood dream. “I have always wanted to be a politician, ever since I was seven and saw the opening of (former prime minister Gough) Whitlam’s campaign.”
Mr Daley said no single factor was decisive in his win but the large number of surf club members who had joined the Labor Party had been significant.
Mr Daley, who works as a senior lawyer at the NRMA and is president of Randwick Rugby Club, said he would fight the coming by- election as if it was a marginal seat, despite it being held by a 23.5per cent margin.
“There are no safe seats any more,” he said. “The major platform that I’ll be offering … is that I’m one of them … Maroubra born and bred.”
In the inner-west Marrickville by-election, caused by the retirement of deputy premier Andrew Refshauge, Labor candidate Carmel Tebbutt faces a significant threat from Greens candidate Sam Byrne, who called this weekend for her to stand down as Education Minister for the duration of the campaign, claiming she was neglecting her work.
In the third seat to be vacated after Mr Carr’s retirement, Macquarie Fields in western Sydney, vacated by Craig Knowles, the Liberals have announced as candidate Nola Fraser, a nurse who blew the whistle over the state of Campbelltown Hospital while Mr Knowles was health minister.