Iemma opts out of Barton race

FORMER NSW premier Morris Iemma has said he will not be nominating for preselection to contest the federal seat of Barton.

FORMER NSW premier Morris Iemma has told senior Labor figures that he will not be nominating for preselection to contest the federal seat of Barton at the next election.

It is believed that a desire to spend time with his family and Labor's poor standing in opinion polls, reaffirmed yesterday by the latest Newspoll, are behind Mr Iemma's decision not to seek to replace outgoing Labor MP Robert McClelland.

Mr McClelland, who has held the southern Sydney seat since 1996, said last month he would not be seeking re-election.

A former attorney-general, Mr McClelland was dumped from cabinet last year after he actively supported former prime minister Kevin Rudd in his leadership challenge to Julia Gillard.

Newspoll findings that the net gain for the government of a switch back to Mr Rudd would be "marginal" yesterday sparked a new row within Labor.

Gillard supporters suggested the poll showed a change was not worth the trouble while Rudd supporters argued that a switch could save more than a dozen seats.

Newspoll found 24 per cent of voters said they would be more likely to vote Labor if Mr Rudd became leader while 62 per cent said it would make "no difference"; 13 per cent said a switch back to Mr Rudd would make it "less likely" they would vote Labor.

Political commentator and former Labor strategist Graham Richardson said even a 2 per cent increase in Labor's vote could mean "10 to 15 more bums on seats" in parliament.

Gillard supporters said the significant message from the poll was that a leadership change would not give Labor a significant bounce and even then there was no guarantee that any lift from Mr Rudd would be enduring.

Mr McClelland, 55, is reportedly in the running to be appointed by Barry O'Farrell's NSW government as a commissioner with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

The Labor Party is expected to open nominations for the Barton preselection at a meeting of the party's administrative committee meeting as early as this Friday.

The two frontrunners to replace Mr McClelland are Rockdale Mayor Shane O'Brien and former Iemma media adviser Kirsten Andrews. The two Labor insiders are expected to mount a spirited and closely fought contest. Ms Andrews will benefit by a 20 per cent boost to her final vote tally under the party's affirmative action rules.

A preselection ballot is likely to be held next month, six months before the September 14 election.

Mr McClelland, however, may resign the seat before then and cause a by-election, although scheduling of a by-election is a matter for Speaker Anna Burke.

Mr O'Brien, 41, is the assistant general secretary of the NSW Public Service Association.

Ms Andrews, 40, has worked as an adviser to several state and federal ministers, including Environment Minister Tony Burke, who is backing her candidacy.

Barton is held by Labor with a margin of 6.9 per cent.