Dean Winter’s bid for preselection in Franklin denied

Kingborough mayor Dean Winter has been denied a spot on Labor’s Franklin ticket, with one party insider saying the move “has all but ended Labor’s chances before the campaign has really started”.

LABOR’S chances of winning the state election have been dealt a blow from within with the Left-dominated administrative committee rejecting Dean Winter as a candidate for Franklin.

The popular Kingborough Mayor, who is long-serving Labor Party member, said he had been encouraged to run for preselection by rank and file members, former Labor leaders and current members of the Parliamentary Labor Party.

Mr Winter said he was disappointed not to be on Labor’s Franklin ticket.

“I put my hand up because I thought I had a positive contribution to make,” Mr Winter said.

“I wish Rebecca and the team all the best for the election. I’ll be working my hardest to get the best deal for Kingborough.”

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter has been denied a spot on the Labor ticket for Franklin. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Angry senior Labor Party sources from the party’s Right faction said the failure to endorse Mr Winter had ended Labor’s chances of winning government on May 1.

“This has all but ended Labor’s chances before the campaign has really started,” one source said.

“The hard Left don’t care about winning elections and they’ve all but ended Rebecca’s chances now.

“The stakes were so high I understand they even threatened Anthony Albanese’s leadership if there was any move for federal intervention.”

The Labor Party extended the nomination period for the seats of Bass, Braddon and Clark from Saturday night until 5pm on Sunday.

“That’s because they can’t get enough candidates that are acceptable to the hard Left,” one source said.

Faceless administrators of the ALP should be called to account if we, as a party, don’t preselect @DeanWinter4#politashttps://t.co/58xSjRPQpW

— David Bartlett (@Bartlett_DJ) March 28, 2021

Former Labor premiers David Bartlett and Paul Lennon had backed Mr Winter as a candidate.

Mr Bartlett had called on “faceless administrators to be called to account” if Mr Winter was not endorsed.

Winter faces battle in bid for preselection

KINGBOROUGH mayor Dean Winter is hopeful he can win against his detractors in the Labor Party and take a seat in Franklin.

His biggest challenge will be to get the backing of the party’s powerful administrative committee which is today in the process of deciding Labor’s candidates.

It is expected to be a heated debate but Mr Winter has the strong support of former Labor premier Paul Lennon.

Those opposed to Mr Winter’s nomination believe he has supported some anti-union views on penalty rates and privatisation.

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Dean Winter with wife Allison and children George, 5, and Harriet, 3, at Kingston Beach. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Winter has been an ALP member for 15 years and said he has been encouraged to nominate by rank and file members, former Labor leaders and current members of the Parliamentary Labor Party.

“I’ve been a union member my entire working life and still am today,” he said.

“I ran for the Legislative Council in Hobart in 2012 and was comprehensively beaten and I learnt a lot of lessons from that and decided I needed to get experience outside politics.”

Mr Winter, who is married with two young children, worked for TasICT for three years. including on innovations for business and the NBN before later moving to iiNet and Optus businesses.

He grew up in Kingborough and in 2014 stood for the Kingborough Council and “just snuck in” being elected ninth out of 10 candidates.

After working hard with community groups and clubs he had a resounding victory in 2018 in the mayoral election, securing almost half the vote in a four-candidate race.

“Being mayor is the most rewarding job I have ever had,” Mr Winter said.

“I love it. But ultimately, most of the challenges impacting my community are state issues.

“I grew up idolising Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and later Jim Bacon and Paul Lennon, I worked for David Bartlett and was a Labor candidate during Lara Giddings’ time as premier.

“I passionately believe Labor, at its best, delivers the best outcomes for Tasmanians. I want Labor to start winning elections again and I think I can help deliver that.”

Dean Winter and his deputy Jo Westwood after their resounding election victory in 2018. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Mr Winter hopes his skills and experience in business and local government will win the support of the administrative committee and Franklin voters.

Labor leader Rebecca White was coy on whether she supported Mr Winter.

“There’s a process to be undertaken and I encourage anybody who’s interested in standing for the Labor Party to nominate,” Ms White said.

“I welcome the fact we’ve had such strong interest from across the state.

“At the end of the day, the process will be determined by the administrative wing of the party and I look forward to announcing our candidates very soon.”