NSW Right endorses Bob Nanva for new Labor boss

The NSW Labor Right faction has endorsed Bob Nanva to nominate for NSW Labor secret­ary, guaranteeing he will get the job.

The NSW Labor Right faction has endorsed Bob Nanva.

The NSW Labor Right faction has endorsed Bob Nanva to nominate for NSW Labor secret­ary, guaranteeing he will get the job, just a day after state Oppos­ition Leader Jodi McKay said no one would be ­appointed until a review­ into the party office was completed.

At the Trades Hall in Sydney on Monday night, it was resolved by the NSW Labor Right that Mr Nanva, the Rail Tram and Bus Union’s national secretary, would become convener of the group and endorsed to nominate for assistan­t secretary and secret­ary.

The Australian can reveal that the three-part motion was moved by outgoing assistant secretary Pat Garcia — who has quit to run Catholic Health Australia — and federal opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen, who skipped an opposition frontbench meeting in Canberra to attend.

Nominations for assistant secretary close on Friday. Mr Nanva will be elevated to secretary after the departure of suspended secret­ary Kaila Murnain, who is negotiating her exit package, and the completion of a review into the party office.

On Sunday, Ms McKay and Anthony Albanese announced an independent review into the party office by ­former federal attorney-general Micha­el Lavarch. It will consider the role of secretary with regard to improving transparency and accountability, and also the party’s legal obligations regarding fundraising and donations.

Ms McKay said the party would not be appointing a new secretary, even though party sources say Ms Murnain­’s departure is imminent.

“But we do realise the urgency of having someone leading the administrative part of our party; which is why that first stage will be completed before we get the whole report,” Ms McKay said.

The Right faction has made it clear to Ms McKay and the federal Opposition Leader that it will continue to exercise its influence on the party­, regardless of what the review recommends.

As it commands about two-thirds of the support of state conference­ and the administrative committee, its candidate is guaranteed appointment.