Ella George to become Labor Party candidate for Lara at 2022 state election
Ella George, a family violence policy worker and former staffer of Labor’s John Eren and Richard Marles, is expected to become the party’s state election candidate for Lara when its national executive meet on Monday.
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Ella George, a family violence policy worker and former staffer of Labor’s John Eren and Richard Marles, is expected to become the party’s state election candidate for Lara when its national executive meet on Monday.
The executive is also expected to rubber stamp the 2022 state election candidacies of Police Minister Lisa Neville in Bellarine, Christine Couzens in Geelong and federal-turned-state MP Darren Cheeseman in South Barwon.
Upper house MP and Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney, first elected in 2006, is also expected to be approved for a 2022 candidacy, as she seeks a fifth term in parliament.
The Geelong Advertiser understands Ms George, 33, was the only person to nominate for preselection in Lara, after incumbent John Eren announced he would retire at the 2022 election.
The daughter of a public school teacher, Ms George grew up in Melbourne and studied at Monash University. She holds Masters degrees in diplomacy and trade, and in marketing.
She lives at East Geelong and moved to the Geelong region 2.5 years ago.
Senior Labor figures are impressed by Ms George’s potential due to her deep understanding of policy development and significant experience in lobbying.
It is understood Ms George views the economic recovery from Covid and equal access to government services as areas that need to be focused on in the lead up to next election.
Sources said Ms George’s candidacy would excite Labor’s base as it moves to retain Lara, a seat its held since 2002.
A source said Ms George would be a strong advocate for the people of Lara because she is passionate about equality, and because of her past experience as a political staffer.
A senior Labor source said the transition between Ms George and Mr Eren would be smooth because she had worked for him as an advisor in 2017 when he was Veterans Minister.
“I have every confidence in her ability because she knows and understands the political system,” the source said.
Ms George has also worked in the offices of former Senator Stephen Conroy and federal deputy Labor leader Richard Marles in 2010 and 2019.
Ms George currently works at the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria in family violence policy development.
Within the Labor Party she is well regarded because of her emotional intelligence and political acumen.
Labor sources said Ms George was mooted as a replacement for Mr Eren more than a year ago.
One source said: “Ella is very much a friend of Richard Marles and John Eren.”
A woman has not held the seat of Lara since it was created at the 2002 election.
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Originally published as Ella George to become Labor Party candidate for Lara at 2022 state election
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