Anthony Albanese visits Sorell to confirm Lyons candidate for upcoming federal election
Amid speculation of whether former Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White would take a crack at the federal Lyons seat, Anthony Albanese visits the state and confirms who will run.
Tasmania
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Former state Labor leader Rebecca White will be the party’s candidate for the federal seat of Lyons at the next election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.
In a whistlestop visit to Sorell, Mr Albanese hailed Ms White as a potential cabinet minister if Labor is returned to power.
“Rebecca White is a person of conviction, she’s a person of substance, and she’s a person who fights for what she believes in,” he said.
“That’s why I’ve asked her to stand in the seat of Lyons. I believe very clearly that Rebecca is a future cabinet minister from Tasmania.”
Mr Albanese thanked sitting member Brian Mitchell for his work in the seat over the last eight years and expressed his affection for the state.
“I love Tassie, I love Tassie and I am here to announce two amazing candidates, in Rebecca White and in Anne Urquhart, in Braddon and I don’t mind saying that I’ve encouraged both of them to run, because I want the strongest possible team.”
Earlier in Devonport, Mr Albanese announced Senator Anne Urquhart would be the party’s candidate in Braddon. That seat is currently held by Liberal Gavin Pearce, who is not standing for re-election.
Ms White said she was honoured to be chosen to stand for Labor in Lyons.
“I grew up here, I’m raising my family here, and I’m very much looking forward to representing this community in Canberra,” she said.
“I know that I can bring the experience that I have and the skills that I have to make a real difference in delivering outcomes for our community.
“This is a community that’s made up of people who are my neighbours, they’re my friends and my family and I care very deeply about making sure that regional Tasmanians have a strong voice in Canberra, and that’s what I intend to deliver on.
“The reason I am a member of the Labor Party is because I fundamentally believe in the values of fairness and decency and equality.
“These are things that I see have unfortunately been overlooked by the Liberal government here in Tasmania.
“That’s why I want to go to Canberra — I want to be a part of a Labor government that can improve people’s lives and deliver services and infrastructure that grows our economy.”
Ms White said she would continue to sit in state parliament as a member for Lyons until the federal election was called.
She said she expected a tight contest. Suzie Bower is the Liberal candidate and Labor holds the seat with a margin of just 0.92 per cent.
Mr Mitchell was not present at Tuesday’s announcement but has previously stated he would be happy to make way for a candidate of the calibre of Ms White.
Labor leader Dean Winter said Ms White would be missed, but she had his full support.
“The contribution Rebecca White has made to Tasmanian state politics and the labour movement is enormous,” he said.
“While she will be missed at a state level, I have no doubt she will make a terrific Federal member.
“Rebecca is one of the most talented and hardest working politicians I’ve ever met, and her understanding of the people and issues that make up the electorate of Lyons is unsurpassed.”
Deputy Premier Guy Barnett said Ms White should leave state parliament.
“It is highly inappropriate for a Tasmanian-elected Member of Parliament to campaign as a Federal Candidate – an entirely different Parliament,” he said.
“Tasmanian taxpayers deserve a full-time Tasmanian Member of Parliament who campaigns for their local state issues, not those of Federal Labor.
“Will Ms White do what’s right and stand down to allow a new Member to be elected and represent the people of Lyons at a state level?”
Ms White was Labor’s biggest vote-winner in Lyons in the 2024 state election, polling 15,607 votes, well over the quota required for the election.
When a recount is held in the state seat, Ms White would most likely be replaced by Richard Goss or Ben Dudman in a recount.
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Originally published as Anthony Albanese visits Sorell to confirm Lyons candidate for upcoming federal election
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