Labor favours natural preselection in Kingsford Smith

The key contenders to be the Labor candidate for Kingsford Smith at the upcoming federal election have stressed the importance of rank-and-file preselection.

As speculation mounts over the replacement for the outgoing Peter Garrett, the issue of preselection intensified last Thursday after a Labor National Executive meeting rose the possibility of bypassing rank-and-file preselections should there be a lack of time prior to the election.

The move was targeted at ensuring competitive candidates were drafted into seats that had previously appeared unwinnable. But the plan was eventually vetoed and the rank-and-file contest for Kingsford Smith is now a two-horse race between Randwick Mayor Tony Bowen and NSW Senator Matt Thistlethwaite.

“There hasn’t been a rank and file preselection in Kingsford Smith since 1989,” said Mr Bowen. “The Liberal State Government is cutting services in the electorate and there’s a whole raft of things that we need to do.”

Polling now suggests that Kingsford Smith has transitioned from a Labor stronghold to a marginal seat, making the decision for a candidate vital.

40-year-old Mr Thistlethwaite strongly supports rank-and-file preselection, and believes his parliamentary experience and local background ensure he is a strong candidate.

“I was born here, I grew up here, I went to school and university here, and now I raise my family here. I know the south-east and its people intimately. I know their issues, their frustrations, their hopes and what they expect from a local member,” he said.

“It will be a tough election, but if I am selected as candidate, I will work tirelessly to ensure our community gets better services and we keep our great sense of community.”

It is understood that Mr Bowen received a call from Labor’s NSW Assistant General Secretary Jamie Clements advising him not to run in Kingsford Smith.

But Mr Bowen remains optimistic about his chances at preselection.

“I’ve had a lot of encouragement and support from my branch and elsewhere in the Labor Party. I’ve worked extensively with our community and I’m in a good position to make a difference,” he said.

Both Mr Bowen and Mr Thistlethwaite have flagged access to services as a crucial issue in the electorate.

Mr Thistlethwaite said his community needed quality healthcare.

“In their first term of government, the NSW Liberals have cut funding to the Prince of Wales Hospital, shutting down an entire ward,” he said.

“This means less doctors and nurses for our area. With an ageing population, we need more health services, not less.”

Mr Bowen said his experience as Mayor held him in good stead to represent the area.

“The Liberal State Government is cutting services and there’s a whole raft of things that we need to protect in our electorate,” he said.

“I’m in the position of being the Mayor and have worked in the area for nearly 20 years. I have an understanding of the issues around equality. There’s a lot of work to be done in health.”

James Macdonald, the preselected Greens candidate for the electorate, stressed the importance of sustainability in the area.

“I recognise the deep community concerns around the environment and economic sustainability,” he said.

Mr Macdonald suggested that university funding would be an issue in the seat.

“The disgraceful cuts to tertiary education, supported by both major parties, must be reversed if we are to give everybody a chance at a quality higher education,” he said.

The Labor candidate and Mr Macdonald will contest the seat against the Liberal Party’s Michael Feneley.