NSW Labor spill rules could drag out leadership stoush: Strategist

A long term strategist has revealed why rules drafted after Kevin Rudd’s leadership spill could drag out NSW Labor’s stoush.

Opponents of embattled Labor leader Jodi McKay are still eyeing a spill as she is forced to reshuffle her frontbench to replace a string of high profile resignations.

It comes as long term Labor strategist Bruce Hawker revealed that when he assisted former PM Kevin Rudd drafting the high stakes leadership spill rules, he was always of the view they should not apply in opposition.

The rules, which will force an expensive and damaging state wide rank and file poll if more than one candidate contests the leadership, are a key reason the internal stoush is dragging out.

Labor leader Jodi McKay on Wednesday. Picture: John Grainger

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Hawker said while in opposition the party should be free to change leaders if required.

“I was never happy about applying the rules to opposition leaders as they haven’t won an election,” Mr Hawker said.

“The cost of running an internal election campaign over six or eight weeks when preparing for a federal election is damaging and another reason why it is better to solve these questions within the parliamentary party.”

Presumptive leadership challenger Chris Minns quit as Transport and Corrections spokesman on Wednesday declaring his position had been made “untenable” after a “dirt dossier was distributed by the Deputy Leader’s office”.

A spokesman for Ms McKay expressly denied claims that anyone in the leader’s office had any involvement in or prior knowledge of the document.

Mr Minns insisted he had “no plans” to move a spill against Ms McKay but said he would “talk to his colleagues “over the next few days” about the future of the party.

Multiple sources confirmed Mr Minns and his supporters still hoped to mount a challenge and his backers were still trying to shore up caucus support.

Chris Minns quit as Labor’s Transport and Corrections spokesman on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

In an apparent pitch for the leadership, Mr Minns said NSW Labor had been “too negative” since the last election. “I don’t think negative politics works, I think we need answers,” he said.

Under the party’s leadership rules, 60 per cent of the caucus must vote to spill the leadership for the position to be vacated.

However after a spill, an MP is able to nominate for the leadership with just 15 votes. Most party sources are of the view that more than one nomination would be disastrous for the party, forcing the messy rank and file vote.

Whittling down an agreement that only one person will stand remains a problem, with Shadow Health Minister Ryan Park still a possible leadership contender.

People that Ms McKay would have counted in her column two weeks ago are now wavering, having told her they may support a spill motion.

A Labor source also said there is frustration among rank and file members that the party’s head office has not resolved the leadership crisis. The source said party members are “looking to Sussex St to get the matter resolved sooner rather than later”.

Ms McKay was making phone calls on Wednesday ahead of a looming reshuffle that could come as early as this week.

Ms McKay is understood to be considering former leader Michael Daley for the Treasury portfolio, but promoting Mr Daley could cause tensions within the party.

Former frontbencher Walt Secord on Wednesday said Mr Daley needs to “recant and apologise for his anti-Asian comments during the 2019 election campaign” before he is allowed back into shadow cabinet.

Ms McKay has lost three senior MPs from her frontbench in less than a fortnight, including Mr Minns and Mr Secord this week.