‘Upset’: Expelled federal MP Belinda Neal rejoins Labor

Federal MP Belinda Neal has triggered talk of a political comeback after Labor overturned a ban imposed five years ago.

Expelled federal MP Belinda Neal has triggered talk of a political comeback after Labor overturned a ban imposed five years ago, noting the “painful and emotional distress” the expulsion was causing her and ex-powerbroker husband John Della Bosca.

The pair had been lobbying for Ms Neal to be reinstated since the ban, with the couple producing “a significant number of references” from senior Labor Party figures.

But in reinstating the former Central MP and ex-senator – including allowing the past five years to be recognised as ongoing membership – the Labor review tribunal warned Ms Neal was “on notice” with “any future transgressions” of the rules to result in her past conduct to “weigh very heavily on any consequences to be imposed on her”.

Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca, who is an ex-party general secretary and former senior NSW government minister, were once the power couple of NSW Labor with the pair often referred to as “the Clintons of the Central Coast”.

Political comeback.... Belinda Neal at Ocean Beach on the Central Coast.

However, the pair were forced to fight for their reputations after becoming embroiled in the Iguanagate scandal whereby Ms Neal was accused of becoming involved in an altercation with a staff member at a Central Coast bar in 2008. Ms Neal was later caught on tape in parliament telling ex-federal Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella her unborn child would turn into a “demon” if she thought “evil thoughts” – comments she later blamed on a lapse of judgment – before being ordered to undergo anger management counselling by then prime minister Kevin Rudd.

In August 2017, party officials booted Ms Neal out of the party after an internal review considered allegations of branch stacking levelled at both her and several other party members – claims the ex-senator always denied. At the time, Ms Neal had been attempting to win preselection for the State seat of Gosford.

Belinda Neal with John Della Bosca attending the 45th Annual ALP National Conference.

Over the past five years, Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca have been lobbying the party for her reinstatement, lodging multiple appeals.

In overturning the ban ahead of the NSW Labor State Conference this weekend, the tribunal noted the “emotional stress” Ms Neal had suffered over the past five years as a result of not belonging to the party. While not disclosing identities, the tribunal also noted the number of references for Ms Neal’s reinstatement, one of whom is believed to be former Victorian MP Michael Dandy.

Belinda Neal pictured in Question Time.

“Ms Neal expressed the concern she feels about not being a member of the party. She also detailed her unwavering activity in support of the party,” the tribunal ruling said.

“Mr Della Bosca’s evidence emphasised how the expulsion has caused Ms Neal true emotional stress, over what has now become a significant period of time.

“We accept the present exclusion from the party has caused Ms Neal and also her husband Mr Della Bosca painful and emotional distress. Ms Neal is on notice that the party takes its rules extremely seriously and that if any future transgressions were to be established before this tribunal again, her past conduct would weight very heavily on any consequences to be imposed on her, particularly given the special privilege she has been afforded by the unusual grant of continuity.”

A senior Labor source said the reinstatement of Ms Neal would almost certainly result in the former MP seeking higher office.

“She is highly ambitious and she will absolutely be seeking higher office,” the source said.