Labor MP Nick Champion eager to jump ship to state politics

Labor MP Nick Champion is set to leave federal parliament at the next election, with the ambition of a career in state politics.

Nick Champion has been a federal Labor MP since 2007. Picture: Kym Smith.

Labor MP Nick Champion is set to leave federal parliament at the next election, with the ambition of a career in state politics in South Australia.

It is understood Mr Champion, a Right faction MP aligned to the “shoppies” union, is preparing to retire from Canberra and vacate his seat of Spence, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Labor sources say Mr Champion is eyeing the state seat of Taylor, with incumbent Jon Gee set to retire at the 2022 election. Mr Champion would not confirm speculation he is planning to switch to state politics, but paid tribute to Mr Gee as making a “great contribution to the union movement, the Labor Party and the parliament over the last three decades”.

“It’s vital that Taylor has a Labor candidate with a proven track record of fighting for and delivering to the northern suburbs,” Mr Champion said.

“Over the next few months as state and federal preselections are finalised, I will consult with branch members, unions and the leadership of the Labor Party about where I can make the most meaningful contribution to the Labor cause.”

Mr Champion entered federal parliament in 2007 and is widely regarded as a talented MP who was unlucky to be on the backbench.

He was a shadow assistant minister from 2014 to 2019 in the areas of health, manufacturing and science.

He was overlooked for a more senior frontbench role under the leadership of Bill Shorten as the party focused on promoting more women to senior positions in line with Labor’s affirmative action policies.

He was not given any portfolio after the 2019 election.

Labor sources believe one reason Mr Champion struggled to attain a senior position was because he was outspoken in the immediate aftermath of the 2013 election loss, including publicly urging his party against trying to stand in the way of Tony Abbott repealing the carbon tax.

Mr Champion was supportive of a price on carbon but argued Mr Abbott would suffer politically if he repealed the Gillard government’s reform. He argued Labor should oppose the repeal in the House of Representatives and abstain from a vote in the Senate, letting the Coalition prevail in its election commitment.

“If the Liberal Party want to hang themselves, we should give them as much rope as they need,” he said in 2013.

Mr Champion was identified last year as a member of the pro-resources Otis Group and is close to South Australian right-wing heavyweight Don Farrell.

Senator Farrell said Mr Champion would make a good contribution in any parliamentary chamber.

“Nick would be an asset to any Labor government, be they state or federal,” Senator Farrell said.

“He is a thoughtful advocate on behalf of his constituents and he would do a terrific job in either the federal sphere or the state sphere.”

Mr Champion was an official of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association and president of the South Australian branch of the ALP before entering parliament.

He sits on the ALP’s national executive.