Union boss Paul Howes 'to replace Bob Carr in Senate'
DateSeptember 10, 2013
Clay Lucas, David Wroe
Australian Workers' Union national secretary Paul Howes is firming as a possible replacement for a Labor Senate position, filling a vacancy expected to be created by Bob Carr's resignation.
The Australian Financial Review reported on Monday that former NSW premier Senator Carr, the outgoing foreign affairs minister, was likely to announce his resignation from the Senate, to be replaced by Mr Howes.
Senator Carr was re-elected as the No.1 Labor Senate candidate on Saturday for another six years. He is still overseas, having represented Australia at the G20 leaders' meeting in Russia.
Two Labor sources with close links to Mr Howes confirmed he was likely to be a candidate to fill the vacancy. Mr Howes, who is also overseas, was unavailable for comment on Monday. He would replace Senator Carr, who was drafted by Julia Gillard in March last year to replace another NSW Labor right figure, Mark Arbib.
Rumoured to replace Mr Howes as national secretary of the union is its present assistant national secretary, Scott McDine, who could not be reached for comment on Monday. Mr Howes would join his friend and another NSW Labor right figure, Sam Dastyari, in the Senate.
If Mr Howes does decide to pursue the vacancy, there could be a heated battle for the position. Graeme Wedderburn, who was chief of staff to Senator Carr when both premier and foreign minister, has previously been put forward for a Senate position and is understood to be interested in the vacancy.
