Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has declared he is picking candidates for a long-term Labor government as he defended pre-selection decisions.
Doctor and Wiradjuri man Gordon Reid was announced as Labor’s contender for the NSW Central Coast seat of Robertson on Monday, following the weekend appointment of Cessnock’s Daniel Repacholi as Joel Fitzgibbon’s heir apparent.
Dr Reid will take on Liberal MP Lucy Wicks, who increased her margin to about 4.2% at the 2019 Federal Election.
Robertson is considered a bellwether electorate, having been held by the party in government since 1983.
Mr Albanese said he was overwhelmed with the quality of candidates coming forward.
“I’m very confident that not only will we have a Labor government with a vision for the future, we’ll have a team coming through making us a long-term Labor government,” he stated.
He’s been criticised for “captain’s pick” pre-selections after former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally was parachuted into a safe southwest Sydney seat.
Mr Repacholi – who has represented Australia in shooting at five Olympics – will run in Hunter after Mr Albanese backed his pre-selection without a rank-and-file member ballot.
Mr Fitzgibbon, whose margin was cut to 3% at the 2019 poll, is vacating the coal-mining seat at the next Federal Election.
Mr Repacholi came under fire for old social media posts that described India as a “s***hole” and suggested people against the coal industry should sit in the dark and freeze.
The coal miner and former union delegate apologised unreservedly for the India post, made after he returned from the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
“I’m very confident that Mr Repacholi will be successful at the next election,” Mr Albanese said.
“He’s someone who has been a union delegate, he’s someone who knows what it’s like to do it tough, he’s someone who has been a strong advocate for the rights of working people.”
The Labor Leader signalled more candidates would be locked in this week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has consistently said voters would go to the polls next year, with 21 May the last possible date for a regular election.
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