Labor MP Michael Danby retirement has Liberals, Greens eyeing his Melbourne Ports seat

THE shock retirement of long-serving federal Labor MP Michael Danby has triggered a fierce battle for the inner-city Melbourne federal electorate, with the Liberals and Greens believing they can win the seat.

THE shock retirement of long-serving federal Labor MP Michael Danby will trigger a fierce three-way battle for his marginal Melbourne seat.

Having held Melbourne Ports, now to be called Macnamara, since 1998, Mr Danby will retire at the next election.

Colleagues hailed him as a “true friend of Israel” and an “important contributor on human rights”.

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Mr Danby retained the seat by a margin of 1.4 per cent at the 2016 election, but suffered a swing. The Liberals and the Greens have been closing the gap in the past two elections, and senior figures within both believe they can win the seat.

The Herald Sun understands former Danby staffer Josh Burns is a leading candidate for preselection, vying with John Curtin Research Centre executive director Nick Dyrenfurth and Glen Eira councillor Mary Delahunty.

Liberal sources said Owen Guest, who in 2016 won the primary vote, polling 41.9 per cent of first preferences, had earned the right to recontest the seat. But other party figures prefer Caulfield lawyer and community advocate Kate Ashmor.

Michael Danby during Question Time in the House of Representatives.

Steph Hodgins-May, who almost overhauled Mr Danby’s primary vote in 2016, will give the Greens perhaps their best chance to win a second House of Representatives seat. A recent boundary change incorporates Windsor, which voted Green in droves at the last state election, in Macnamara.

Mr Danby insisted the decision to go was his.

“I have made this decision, even though the party has committed to re-endorse sitting members, because I believe it’s time for renewal,” the 63-year-old MP said.

“It has been an absolute honour to serve the people of this electorate for two decades and I will be always grateful for the opportunity.”

Labor leader Bill Shorten congratulated Mr Danby on his two decades in parliament and a lifetime of service to the labour movement.

“Michael’s colleagues and his constituents know him as a champion for the arts and a true friend of Israel,” he said.

“Throughout his career Michael has always put fidelity to these principles ahead of any consideration of narrow political self-interest.”

Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz said he was sorry to hear Mr Danby was retiring.

“I’ve known Michael since we were involved in student politics, albeit on different sides, some 40 or so years ago. He’s always shown an uncompromising, clear conviction,” Senator Abetz said.

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