Hobart City Councillor Ryan Posselt snubbed for Labor preselection

Hobart City Councillor Ryan Posselt hoped to run for Labor in the state election, but this time he’s been overlooked. See the full list of Labor candidates.

Josh Willie MLC, current Labor Member for Elwick, announced he will vacate his seat to run for Clark for a place in the House of Assembly at the next state election. Picture: Mireille Merlet

Derwent Valley mayor Michelle Dracoulis will run for Labor at the next election – but Hobart councillor and paramedic Ryan Posselt is a notable omission from the list of 30 candidates pre-selected.

Mr Posselt, who announced he would seek pre-selection for Clark this week, said he could not comment “at this time”.

It is believed he had the backing of the Health and Community Services Union which left the Labor Party last year.

City of Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Former Sorell councillor Meg Brown, who works for David O’Byrne, has been pre-selected in Franklin

Labor leader Rebecca White named 30 candidates who she described as “extremely talented and passionate individuals from all walks of life who share a common goal – making Tasmania a better place to live”.

She made no mention of Mr O’Byrne but MLC Sarah Lovell said she had “great confidence” in the national executive who selected the candidates.

“This team is ready to stand up for their local communities and help Labor form government at the next election so we can get to work on the right priorities for Tasmania,” she said.

“After 10 years of Liberal government, many hardworking Tasmanian families are doing it tough, with cost-of-living pressures worse than ever, a record housing waitlist and a failing health system.

“Labor is focused on easing the cost-of-living, putting a roof over the heads of Tasmanians and repairing the health system.”

Labor named a full list of candidates for Franklin and said it intends running a full team of seven candidates in all electorates. The remaining candidates will be announced in due course and as their work permits.

Candidate	Electorate
Roshan Dhingra	Bass
Janie Finlay	Bass
Will Gordon	Bass
Dr Jenny Hewson	Bass
Adrian Hinds	Bass
Michelle O’Byrne	Bass
Shane Broad	Braddon
Anita Dow	Braddon
Samantha (Sam) Facey	Braddon
Adrian Luke	Braddon
Chris Lynch	Braddon
Stuart Benson	Clark
Simon Davis	Clark
Ella Haddad	Clark
Rebecca Prince	Clark
Susan Wallace	Clark
Josh Willie	Clark
Ebony Altimira	Franklin
Simon Bailey	Franklin
Megan Brown	Franklin
Kaspar Deane	Franklin
Philip Pregnell	Franklin
Toby Thorpe	Franklin
Dean Winter	Franklin
Jen Butler	Lyons
Ben Dudman	Lyons
Casey Farrell	Lyons
Carole McQueeney	Lyons
Michelle Dracoulis	Lyons
Rebecca White	Lyons

REJECTED: David O’Byrne loses bid for Labor Party preselection

December 1, 1:45pm

The Labor Party’s national executive has rejected former leader David O’Byrne’s bid for preselection for the seat of Franklin.

“This is devastating news for me,” Mr O’Byrne told the Mercury.

“While I acknowledge that my candidature does not come with a clean slate I had hoped that my years of commitment to the party and hard work in the community would balance the scales.

“This combined with the electoral success over a number of elections would give me a chance to again be part of the parliamentary Labor team and contribute to the campaign to return Labor to government.

“I have never presented myself as the perfect person.

“I have made mistakes and I have owned them, but I have never given up and walked away from the work to which I am deeply committed.”

Labor MP David O'Byrne. Picture: Kenji Sato

Mr O’Byrne said he would take time to consider his political future.

“I have never voted against the Labor Party position in the parliament and have strongly advocated on the issues that the people Franklin care deeply about, applying those Labor values.

“I believe I have the trust of the people of Franklin and believe I can assist Labor in Tasmania as not only a good local member but also an experienced parliamentarian and former minister.”

Mr O’Byrne, who stepped down as leader in 2021 after being accused of misconduct by a female colleague during his time in the union movement more than a decade ago, has been an ALP member for nearly 30 years.

“I was brought up in a family who knew the Labor movement fought for better services, in health, education and housing and that every worker deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work,” he said.

“The Labor tradition of delivering quality services and building a strong economy and a party that stood for and believed in the principles of solidarity.”

The party’s national executive, which included Mr O’Byrne’s sister Michelle, decided on the Tasmanian candidates on Friday.

It comes as the latest opinion poll showed Labor support had dropped in favour of independents.

Originally published as Hobart City Councillor Ryan Posselt snubbed for Labor preselection