Claims Labor star Terry Campese skipped preselection in key seat

Labor members in a crucial regional seat have claimed the party’s star candidate was a captain’s pick who skipped a proper preselection.

Terry Campese playing for the Canberra Raiders in 2014. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Charles Knight)

Furious Labor branch members in a key regional seat have claimed their party staged a disingenuous preselection after already choosing a controversial former footy player as the captain’s pick.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal former Canberra Raiders captain Terry Campese was announced as Labor’s candidate for the seat of Monaro by leader Chris Minns on December 18 before a rank and file preselection was even kicked off.

Labor members are now furious and questioning the party’s vetting processes after The Telegraph revealed a complaint had been made to the Labor head office about a video in which Mr Campese was filmed sucking alcohol off the body of scantily clad women at a gathering which featured a spanking station.

After already announcing him as the candidate in the media — the party then opened rank and file preselections for the seat on December 20 according to documents seen by the Telegraph, only to create a Facebook page for Mr Campese as a candidate before nominations were even closed on December 23.

“It’s disappointing that Labor’s campaign for Monaro is based on spin … it was always a done deal,” a Monaro Labor branch member said.

Embattled Monaro Labor candidate Terry Campese at home in Jerrabomberra, NSW.

Although a press release announcing the joint event with Mr Campese and Mr Minns labelled him a “preselection candidate” — Mr Minns said the former footy player was the man representing his party in the Queanbeyan region.

“It’s wonderful to be here with Terry … to announce our candidate for the state seat of Monaro in the upcoming election in March 2023 and that will be Terry Campese, standing for the Labor Party in this crucial electorate,” he said.

Mr Campese barred media from a fundraising event at a pub in Canberra earlier in the week. He faces a scandal from footage shot at a sex-themed party.

Labor MP Tara Moriarty added while standing alongside Mr Campese: “We have got a very exciting candidate launch today, someone who will represent that fresh start and represent the community here in Monaro”

Campese captained the Canberra Raiders between 2010 and 2014 and represented Australia on the international stage.

He has also served as captain-coach of Queanbeyan Blues since 2017 while also commentating on the local radio during Raiders games.

In the midst of the video fallout Mr Campese banned the media from attending his fundraising event before being photographed with a woman outside his home holding a box of pizza.

Mr Campese was contacted for a comment.