The 2019 preselection for the Federal Seat of Robertson has already caused a stir within the Labor Party.
Ms Anne Charlton was recently announced as Labor’s candidate for the next federal election in Roberston, without a local branch preselection vote.
It is understood that the Federal Parliamentary Leader of the Labor Party, Opposition Leader, Mr Bill Shorten, has endorsed Ms Charlton as the right person to stand for Robertson in the next national election.
It is no secret that Ms Charlton’s candidacy has angered fellow Labor politician and 2016 pre-selection rival, Ms Belinda Neal.
Ms Neal has lodged an appeal with the Australian Labor Party’s National Appeals Tribunal into the denial of a rank-and-file preselection in the Seat of Robertson.
Ms Neal’s husband and former Labor Party Minister for the Central Coast, Mr John Della Bosca, said he welcomed the decision of the National Secretary of the ALP to conduct the hearing.
“The decision and vote of the National Executive was undemocratic and failed to take into account the rights of Central Coast people to have a say about the selection of their candidate,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“The National Executive decision and ballot denied Central Coast people a vote without any consultation and in breach of party rules,” he said.
“In the coming weeks, the National Appeals Tribunal of the ALP will hear the case for a democratic local preselection where Central Coast locals get a say in the choice of candidate for Robertson.
“Until the appeal is resolved, the endorsement of Anne Charlton as the ALP Robertson candidate is effectively void.”
However, sources from within the ALP, whilst acknowledging that the appeal had been lodged, denied that Ms Charlton’s preselection was void as a result.
They said Ms Charlton was the Labor candidate for the seat of Robertson and her endorsement remained.
Ms Neal has been accused of being a “sour grape” after Ms Charlton won the pre-selection for the seat of Robertson in the 2016 Federal election, which was lost to incumbent Member, Ms Lucy Wicks.
Media release, Mar 15, 2017
John Della Bosca,
former Labor MP
Interview, Mar 17, 2017
Australian Labor Party sources
Jarrod Melmeth, journalist