Andrew Charlton: Western Sydney Labor reject Anthony Albanese’s captain’s pick

Labor sources fear Anthony Albanese’s captain’s pick for Parramatta will alienate migrant communities, calling for local members to be allowed the final say.

Labor sources believe parachuting Andrew Charlton into Parramatta would damage the party’s standing with the Indian community, as the woman locals back for the seat claimed Anthony Albanese has not even called her to talk about her candidacy.

Sources believe a deal has been done to install Mr Charlton as the party’s candidate. They said the agreement had been made without the usual consultation process with senior party figures.

Speculation that Mr Charlton would be installed has already led to backlash, with one Labor source accusing Mr Albanese of “a brazen attempt to whitewash Parramatta”.

“It’s Kristina Keneally all over again and a slap in the face to migrant communities in Western Sydney,” the source said.

Andrew Charlton is a former adviser to Kevin Rudd and adjunct Professor of Economics at Macquarie University.

Durga Owen, who has the backing of outgoing MP Julie Owens and the soft-left faction, called for local members to vote on who the party should run.

“Parramatta’s party members should have a say on the Labor candidate and the best way to do that is a rank and file preselection,” she said.

“Any candidate from anywhere can nominate for the ballot. It would be great if Andrew also nominates.”

Ms Owen said that the Labor leader has never called her to talk about her candidacy.

“I’ve actually never had a conversation with him,” she said.

Durga Owen (centre) has the backing of resigning MP Julie Owens. Picture: Supplied

Labor’s Parramatta federal electorate council secretary James Shaw also called for a rank and file preselection.

They join state MP Lynda Voltz in publicly calling for the party to overturn any deal to parachute Mr Charlton into the seat.

Local party members claimed that when outgoing MP Julie Owens announced her resignation, Mr Albanese promised there would be a rank and file preselection vote to choose her replacement.

Local party members have also written to Mr Albanese and Labor’s national executive calling for an immediate party vote to select a publicly endorsed candidate.

Labor’s head office in NSW has been blamed for failing to resolve a stalemate with who would be selected, with a party source saying Mr Albanese pushed Mr Charlton as a “consensus candidate” to break the impasse.