Embattled NSW minister Anoulack Chanthivong may be forced to contest a rank-and-file preselection he would almost certainly lose, even though the premier personally intervened to bypass local branches and install candidates in a string of other seats.
At the same time, Chanthivong has declined to confirm whether he plans to recontest his electorate of Macquarie Fields in south-west Sydney.
The Herald has previously revealed Labor had held back the preselections of two ministers – Chanthivong and Lands Minister Steve Kamper – because of fears they could be ousted by local members if their nominations go to a rank-and-file vote.
While Kamper would probably win a preselection, Chanthivong is in far more danger in his south-west Sydney electorate.
The MP, who has been involved in a series of high-profile missteps as fair trading minister, has seen control of his branches slip to the point that Labor sources not authorised to speak publicly have previously said he would “lose to an empty chair”.
In June, the Ingleburn-Macquarie Fields branch – the largest in the electorate – passed a motion to demand “a full rank-and-file preselection process”. They wanted to ensure branch members were “provided with a genuine democratic right, voice and meaningful participation in the preselection process”, the motion read.
Despite a long-standing convention against toppling sitting ministers, the party is increasingly reluctant to save Chanthivong by referring his nomination to Labor’s national executive. The party has done so in seats including Holsworthy, Winston Hills, East Hills, Prospect, Wallsend and Wyong.
As revealed on Wednesday, Minns has earned the ire of some senior branch members over a series of captain’s picks to install favoured candidates. In Winston Hills, Police Association secretary Pat Gooley was announced by Minns a day before nominations opened.
As well as bypassing a local preselection, Minns announced their candidacy – plus those of Zeli Munjiza in the seat of Holsworthy, Tracey Ellen in Wyong and Emily Suvaal in Wallsend – before the party’s national executive had approved the picks.
Multiple sources speaking anonymously to detail internal party matters said it was becoming increasingly unlikely such an intervention is on the cards for Chanthivong, one of only a handful of sitting Labor MPs whose preselection is yet to be settled.
The situation may change, and several party sources described the circumstances surrounding Chanthivong’s future status as fluid.
But, as it currently stands, he would almost certainly lose a rank-and-file ballot. Multiple local Labor sources said Campbelltown Council Deputy Mayor Masood Chowdhury, who, like Chanthivong, is from the right faction, would probably challenge and win a rank-and-file preselection, should one be held.
Chowdhury declined to comment.
Chanthivong’s office declined to comment when asked whether he planned to recontest his seat.
In parliament last month, he declared he would run and listed a series of achievements in an apparent call for support from locals.
“It is only together – and I use that word deliberately – through the encouragement, perseverance and support of my local community that I can do the work that I love, and achieve and deliver great things for our area,” he said.
“Every four years, members reapply for their jobs to ensure that they remain connected to their local community. I am privileged to have been the member for Macquarie Fields since 2015.
“I look forward to representing my community at the next election to ensure it continues to get the services it needs and that we continue to deliver infrastructure and investment together.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
