Keneally under union pressure not to stand for senate seat

  1. 22,864 Posts.
    lightbulb Created with Sketch. 69
    Labor will decide who will replace Sam Dastyari in the federal upper house just before parliament resumes for 2018.
    Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer
    Australian Associated PressJanuary 17, 201811:17am
    Labor will finalise its replacement for resigning senator Sam Dastyari on February 2, just days before parliament resumes for the year
    NSW Labor secretary Kaila Murnain told AAP nominations would formally open next week and close on February 1, and the party's administrative committee would confirm who fills the vacancy the following day.
    Expressions of interest are already open, and close on Friday.
    Mr Dastyari announced he was quitting politics late last year amid scrutiny of his dealings with a Chinese businessman and political donor.
    It is unclear whether former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, who lost her bid to win the Sydney seat of Bennelong in a by-election, will put her hat in the ring.
    Ms Keneally is facing pressure from some influential unions not to stand.
    Transport Workers Union national secretary Tony Sheldon has been mentioned as a possible candidate.
    However, a union spokeswoman told AAP: "Tony Sheldon is focused on his role at the TWU and sees it as a privilege to work with the TWU."
    "He is focused on fighting for better wages and conditions for transport workers, in Australia and internationally, especially improving safety in the country's most dangerous industry."


    Tara Moriarty, secretary of hospitality union United Voice and the fifth-placed candidate on Labor's NSW ticket in 2016, is also considered a possible runner
 
arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch. arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch.