[Greens-Media] Head office imposed candidate to cause problems for Labor in Shellharbour

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
4 September 2006


Head office imposed candidate to cause problems for Labor in Shellharbour 

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said that there could be a backlash against Labor in Shellharbour if they insisted on imposing a head office selected candidate, Lylea McMahon, for the state electorate.

“Many local Labor members would be feeling disempowered, and concerned there will be a backlash against Labor in Shellharbour,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

“There will be many people disillusioned with Labor and if a progressive independent candidate runs in Shellharbour the local Greens group will have to decide if that candidate is preferenced before the head office imposed Labor candidate. 

“There have been many examples where the Greens have preferenced progressive independents before the Labor candidate. 

“Clearly Labor has not learnt the lessons of the 2002 Cunningham by-election when Labor lost the federal seat to the Greens who benefited from an independent taking a significant slice of Labor’s vote. This time a progressive independent and the Greens with an exchange of preferences could mount a credible challenge to Labor. 

“Labor has compounded their decision to exclude local members from determining who the Labor Shellharbour candidate will be by selecting a manager at Bluescope Steel as the Labor candidate. 

“I was told today that rank and file Labor members have been denied a role in preselection for Shellharbour in the 1999 and 2003 election. 

“This is an appalling record. And it is not just Labor members who are angry. 

“Many traditional Labor voters will be unhappy that the Labor candidate has been imposed on them by head office. The Greens candidate will be preselected by local Greens members,” Ms Rhiannon said. 



For more information:  Lee Rhiannon - 0427 861 568 or 9230 3551