Paul Mercurio to take a spin at state politics

Actor and dancer Paul Mercurio is looking to swap the dancefloor for the floor of parliament, throwing his hat in the ring for the seat of Hastings.

Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) State secretary Luba Grigorovitch has nominated for the seat of Kororoit. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In another surprise move, Paul Mercurio of Strictly Ballroom fame has nominated for Labor in the seat of Hastings.

The well-known dancer is also a councillor on the Mornington Peninsula.

He is one of four people who have put their hands up to be selected.

It comes as the head of the state’s biggest public transport union will nominate for the safe Labor seat of Kororoit in a challenge against former Andrews Government minister Marlene Kairouz.

RTBU state secretary Luba Grigorovitch submitted her forms to run for the party at the 2022 poll just before the final deadline of 10am Friday.

Paul Mercurio has nominated for preselection in Hastings.

Ms Kairouz, an ally of disgraced MP Adem Somyurek, has given evidence to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog and public hearings of heard evidence of alleged misuse of taxpayer funded staff and branch stacking involving her office and her staffers.

She was charged by an internal disputes tribunal within Victorian Labor over membership irregularities and is facing suspension or expulsion from the party but has declared she wants to continue to run in Kororoit, this week slamming factional figures for trying to oust her.

It is understood Ms Grigorovitch had now told members of her union that she is resigning from her role so that she can nominate for the seat, which is currently on a 25.6 per cent margin.

It comes as Transport Workers Union boss John Berger threw hit hat in the ring for preselection as the Labor candidate for the upper house in Southern Metro.

Mr Berger said he had first joined the union in 1996 after working as a baggage handler at Ansett Australia.

“I have had the privilege of representing TWU members and advocating for the rights of transport workers across aviation, gas, logistics, oil, passenger vehicles, road transport and waste,” he said.

Meanwhile, two male AWU candidates nominated against the TWU’s choice of Jana Stewart in Pascoe Vale.

Robert Larocca, a chief of staff for Corrections Minister Natalie Hutchins has nominated along with Moreland deputy mayor Lambros Tapinos.

However, Mr Larocca withdrew within an hour of nominating.

On Twitter, he wrote that he only nominated because there was a vacancy.

“Pascoe Vale is my hood (in state seat terms) so I nominated given there was a vacancy,” he said.

“Now Jana Stewart has nominated I’ve withdrawn.

“I helped her run in Kooyong and look forward to doing everything I can to help her win Pascoe Vale.

“She will make a great contribution.”

In a statement, Ms Grigorovitch confirmed she had nominated for Kororoit.

“I attended my first meeting of the ALP when I was twelve and joined the party when I was fourteen,” she said.

“Since then, I have held several positions in the party and labour movement culminating in my roles as Victorian Secretary, and more recently National President, of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.

“It has been an honour to represent around 8000 members across Victoria as the head of the RTBU and I am committed to continuing to fight for workers’ rights to ensure the people of Kororoit have the best possible conditions of employment and are respected in their workplaces.

“If preselected, I will campaign with integrity and hard work to improve the lives of all Victorians.

“I passionately believe that the Andrews Labor government is best placed to achieve progressive reform and ensure the economic security of all Victorians.

“I look forward to supporting Dan Andrews and his team if my nomination is successful and fighting every day to help empower all working people and build a fairer society.”