NSW Labor leadership: MPs report pressure to allow clear path for Chris Minns

Kogarah MP Chris Minns has announced his third bid to be NSW Labor leader, with some MPs believing party head office is subtly working in his favour.

Labor’s powerful head office is attempting to avoid a potentially messy rank-and-file leadership ballot by indirectly encouraging caucus members to back Chris Minns unopposed, MPs say.

The Kogarah MP on Monday announced he would run for the leadership, declaring the party needed to focus on easing cost of living pressures like tolls.

“We’ll focus on positive politics … and we’ll reorient the party on behalf of working families so that they can get ahead,” he said.

Mr Minns repeatedly said he wanted the leadership to be decided in a vote of rank-and-file members, insisting that he “wouldn’t like to see anything sorted out” to prevent a contested ballot.

Chris Minns announcing he will run for the NSW Labor leadership. Picture: Jonathan Ng

However multiple well placed sources said Sussex St was playing a minimal role compared with the lobbying of MPs in the 2019 leadership ballot — and no MP said they had received a call directly from head office.

That’s despite party operatives working behind the scenes on a bid to prevent a drawn-out and expensive vote of Labor members.

The strategy involves MPs being “encouraged” to not give former leader Michael Daley the 15 signatures required to nominate for the top job.

One MP said caucus members felt “pressured” to do what head office wanted. Another said head office was “indirectly” encouraging members to make “smart decisions” in the best interests of the party by avoiding a contested ballot.

Michael Daley needs 15 signatures to formalise his challenge. Picture: Richard Dobson

Asked whether a public ballot for the leadership would be damaging to Labor, Mr Minns said: “Look, I hope not, I don’t think it has to be.”

“But democracy sometimes is messy,” he added.

Mr Minns said he had only spoken to Labor’s head office after Jodi McKay vacated the leadership last week. The Minns camp is relying on the support of MPs who voted for Ms McKay in the 2019 leadership election. One former McKay supporter who is now backing Mr Minns said on Monday that the Kogarah MP had about 35 votes in the 50-member caucus.

Mr Minns has been defeated for the leadership twice in the past — once against Mr Daley, and once against Ms McKay.