NSW Labor leadership: Party’s federal MPs criticise NSW leadership instability

Senior federal Labor MPs have spoken out about the mess that is the party’s NSW leadership, calling it a “distraction” in a federal election year which could hurt marginal seats.

Federal Labor MPs have demanded an immediate resolution to the NSW leadership rabble, with a warning either Chris Minns or Michael Daley should stand aside for the good of the party in marginal seats.

Kevin Rudd’s rules for a formal ballot of every NSW rank-and-file member in a primaries-style contest are set to be triggered with dumped former leader Mr Daley confirming his intention to run against likely contender Mr Minns.

In an extraordinary intervention federal Labor frontbencher Michelle Rowland said: “It is not only a distraction on NSW Labor doing its job, but I also think that whilst party members have embraced democracy there is also a very strong desire for stability.”

Former Labor leader Michael Daley has announced plans to return to the top job. Picture: Richard Dobson

Chris Minns is also thought to be a contender. Picture: Richard Dobson

She said “leadership” could be shown by one contender standing aside, noting that she was not supporting one candidate over the other.

“Sometimes someone decides to lead by acquiescence. That is a sign of leadership...Someone needs to be the bigger person and decide they will enable this to get sorted,” she said.

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman – who occupies the most marginal seat in the country – said anything other than a quick resolution was an “unhelpful distraction that could well impact on seats like mine”.

“Given we’re in a federal election year, as a marginal seat holder, I think there’s a need for speed in resolving the leadership,” she said.

Federal Labor frontbencher Michelle Rowland says the NSW Labor leadership battle is a distraction.

“I’d prefer to be standing alongside party members taking the fight up to the Morrison government than being forced to turn inwards.”

Ms Rowland was an MP during Labor’s tumultuous Rudd-Gillard-Rudd era, and Ms Templeman was a candidate.

Both cited the division in those years as reasons for a quick resolution.

Mr Daley needs 15 signatures to formalise his candidacy, however, MPs are concerned about his performance in the final week of the 2019 campaign where he stumbled in a debate with the Premier and was embarrassed by remarks about “Asians with PhDs” taking jobs.

“I was the most marginal seat backbencher during (the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years). I found it offensive and it was an affront to Labor values of inclusiveness and getting on with the job of helping people and being a modern forward facing party,” Ms Rowland said.

A mailout ballot would impose significant cost.