LABOR Party Branch president Jason Shepherd has dismissed suggestions a delay in finalising a candidate for next year’s election is politically motivated.
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On the contrary, the ALP is losing valuable campaign hours while ever it waits to anoint a contender against Liberal incumbent Pru Goward, Mr Shepherd says.
“It’s in our best interest to get a candidate out as soon as possible,” he explained.
“We have a winnable election. We want to get our campaign started as soon as we can.”
Renewed confidence and party reforms have sparked an increase in both Labor Party membership and nominations for pre-selection, he added.
Until the NSW Labor Party executive clears a backlog of pre-selection applications for marginal and metropolitan seats, the Goulburn Branch won’t be allowed to settle on its candidate.
It’s understood three Labor Party members, two based in Goulburn and one at Yass, have formally lodged nominations.
Mr Shepherd’s claim that the 2015 election is winnable – despite an unprecedented Coalition majority – is supported by recent polls and byelection results.
Barry Collier last October captured the southern Sydney seat of Miranda with a 27 per cent swing against the Liberals – the largest ever recorded at a NSW by election.
The ALP’s Collier was afforded the opportunity to run when incumbent Graham Annesley resigned to take up the position of CEO with NRL club the Gold Coast Titans.
Bookmakers have installed the Labor Party as $1.05 and $1.03 favourites to claim the Hunter seats of Charleston and Newcastle respectively at October 25 by-elections.
Both sitting Liberal Party members stood down due to evidence unearthed at Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings.
The final Fairfax-Nielsen NSW political findings publicised prior to pollster’s closure, released in March, indicate a Labor victory in 2015.
Fellow pollster Galaxy Research in May found the Coalition would retain government on a 53-47 two preferred outcome.
“Because of how we’re reforming the party, people are willing to put their hands up,” Mr Shepherd continued.
“We’ve got rid of the people responsible for corruption and we’ve put measures in to make sure they don’t return. Confidence in Labor, particularly in NSW, is coming back.”
The Goulburn Branch president said this year’s federal budget, coupled with Premier Mike Baird’s proposal to lease up to 49 per cent of the state’s electricity system, would be decisive factors when voters head to the polls on March 28 next year.
