Rank and file get say on Neal

Labor's Sydney head office has decided to give rank-and-file members a say on the the  preselection of Belinda Neal

AN academic on the NSW central coast is the candidate most likely to challenge Belinda Neal for preselection for the marginal seat of Robertson after Labor's Sydney head office took the decision to give rank-and-file members a say.

Deborah O'Neill, 49, teaches education at the University of Newcastle and previously contested the state seat of Gosford in 2003.

She came within 57 votes of unseating then Liberal deputy leader Chris Hartcher, with the result taking days to be confirmed, effectively ending Hartcher's designs on the Liberal leadership.

A mother of three, Ms O'Neill is considered by senior Labor sources to be a good local campaigner, having been described by former NSW premier Bob Carr as the star candidate of the 2003 election campaign.

While Labor's head office cannot officially endorse candidates, it is understood Ms O'Neill will run for preselection with the tacit approval of NSW Labor Right powerbrokers.

The move to challenge Ms Neal, the wife of one-time Labor powerbroker and disgraced former NSW minister John Della Bosca, will cause frictions inside a NSW Labor Party already divided.

Labor sources fear Mr Della Bosca will pull out all stops to save his wife.

"He knows where all the bodies are buried, but we have to get rid of her, the polling is that bad," one senior Labor source told The Australian.

Ms Neal shot to national prominence when she and her husband were accused of threatening wait staff at Iguana Joe's restaurant in 2008.

It led the Prime Minister to suggest Ms Neal should undertake anger management classes.

It is understood the NSW Labor Party head office has commissioned polling in the seat of Robertson, which shows Ms Neal is a drag on the vote.

With Tony Abbott's elevation to the Liberal leadership having lifted the conservatives' two-party vote, Mr Rudd can ill afford to put as risk any of his marginal seats, especially in Mr Abbott's home state.

The Liberal Party has presented a decorated local police officer to contest the seat and has high hopes of winning it back at the next election.

The Prime Minister was asked on Sky News yesterday about the potential for Ms Neal to be challenged.

He refused to endorse her against any potential challengers.