NSW election: Tri Vo wins ALP Cabramatta vote, Tu Le places joint last

A Labor candidate whose profile soared when a PM captain’s pick bumped her in favour of Kristina Keneally made a comeback bid for the state race. Here’s why she failed again.

Tu Le had nominated to become Labor’s state candidate for the seat of Cabramatta. Picture: John Feder

High-profile Labor figure Tu Le has failed in a comeback bid to become the party’s Cabramatta candidate for the 2023 NSW state election.

Tri Vo, a lawyer from Canley Heights, prevailed over three others, including Tu Le, in an ALP Cabramatta preselection on Saturday morning.

The local lawyer received 39 out of 61 votes in the first round of voting – an outright majority.

Ms Le, also a lawyer, received six votes, while Adrian Wong received 10 and Kate Hoang garnered 6.

Ms Le’s profile reached new heights last year when her bid to become Labor’s federal candidate for Fowler was thwarted by the captain’s pick arrival of former state premier Kristina Keneally.

She had looked to the southwest state seat as a potential comeback candidacy.

Internal election material supplied by winning candidate Tri Vo.

Ms Le took to social media late last year to share how motherhood had helped “refocus her mission to contribute to a more equal society”.

However, her bid fell short amid resistance within the local branch – who voted to expel her earlier this month – and Mr Vo was selected as Labor’s candidate by a landslide.

A branch does not have the power to expel a member.

Mr Vo had received the backing of retiring Cabramatta MP Nick Lalich who, in a reference for the lawyer, wrote: “Tri Vo will make a fantastic representative for Labor in public office”.

Mr Vo’s company website says TriVo Lawyers was established in 2004 with offices in both Canley Heights and Marrickville.

Nomination materials circulated by Mr Vo described himself as a “real local”.

In documents this publication has sighted, Mr Vo’s election as Labor’s candidate for the seat was signed off by the returning officer on Saturday.

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