Labor’s Treasury spokesman, Michael Daley, has become the first contender to throw his hat in the ring for the job of New South Wales party leader, after John Robertson’s resignation on Tuesday.
Robertson said he had lost the confidence of senior party colleagues after it emerged he had passed on a request on behalf of the Sydney siege gunman, Man Haron Monis, for family visitation rights in 2011.
Daley and the Labor leader in the state upper house, Luke Foley, have emerged as favourites in the leadership ballot, which is set for 5 January. The deputy leader, Linda Burney, is another possible candidate.
The Treasury spokesman said he was not taking victory for granted. “Leadership ballots are usually very tight and if there are other candidates who declare themselves, I expect this will be a tight one as well,” he said on Wednesday.
“But I’m the only candidate who has so far declared myself and I’m doing it because I’m passionate about NSW and making life better for the people of NSW.”
Foley would need to move to the lower house. News Corp reported that Labor party sources were ready to back him and he would contest the seat of Auburn if he were made leader. The politician, now Labor’s environment spokesman, was understood to be discussing his options with friends and family.
Burney, who is acting leader, would not be drawn on whether she would put her hand up. “I am not saying anything about that at the moment,” she told ABC Radio. “I’m feeling very sad about the loss of John.
“What I can assure you is there will be a very dedicated person in myself to get the party through the next couple of weeks until we can have a ballot for the new leader of the party. I say to people listening, they can have faith in me in terms of steering a steady ship until then.”
She noted the hard work still to be done by the party before the March state election.
Robertson’s predecessor as Labor leader, Kristina Keneally, told Sky Robertson’s resignation was a “welcome break” for the party.
“It’s no secret that John Robertson had really been struggling in the polls, he had failed to make much headway even with a cricket team of Liberal MPs, including the premier, being sidelined by [the Independent Commission Against Corruption],” Keneally said.
