This was published 3 years ago
Long-serving Labor MP Chris Hayes to quit politics
By Rob Harris
Long-serving Labor MP Chris Hayes will encourage the party to preselect a young lawyer with Vietnamese heritage to replace him after announcing he will quit politics at the next federal election.
Mr Hayes, the chief opposition whip, confirmed on Wednesday he will not recontest his western Sydney seat after more than 16 years in Federal Parliament.
Labor MP Chris Hayes is quitting politics.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Hayes, whose seat is held with a margin of more than 17 per cent, has suffered a series of health issues in the past four years and last year collapsed in Parliament and was admitted to hospital.
In 2017 he spent 15 days in Canberra Hospital after suffering several broken ribs, a broken arm and internal injuries following a motorcycle crash.
“After 16 years, I think it’s time to pull the pin,” he told reporters.
“I unfortunately had a rather neglectful motorcycle accident a couple of years ago and spent a lot of time in Canberra Hospital. And I had a pretty well-publicised incident in the Parliament last year. So I do have a couple of health issues and I do need to go back to hospital to have further corrections. I feel that I am slowing down.”
Mr Hayes is supporting Tu Le, the daughter of refugees who works at the Migrant Employment Legal Service, which advocates for exploited migrant workers in NSW.
Senator Kristina Keneally has ruled out a shift to the lower house ahead of the next election.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
There has been speculation the safe seat will be hotly contested, with senior NSW Right factional figures already discussing a replacement.
NSW senator Kristina Keneally, who is involved in a fierce preselection contest with her colleague Deb O’Neill for the first and third positions on the Labor Senate ticket, this week ruled out shifting to the lower house ahead of the next election.
The contest has created internal ructions, with the senator who fails to secure the top of the ticket facing the troublesome third place on the ticket behind Left-aligned senator Jenny McAllister.
Mr Hayes said his seat of Fowler contained the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the country, a community he had worked closely with since shifting from the neighbouring seat of Werriwa.
“I consider it an absolute honour to be associated with this community that has contributed so much in fundamentally such a short period of time,” he said. “That is the strength of our multiculturalism. And I know issues about diversity have been in the public eye for a while.”
Mr Hayes said he was “quite confident” Ms Tu could easily win a rank-and-file preselection.
He said his replacement in one of the most multicultural communities would reflect the electorate.
“My departure, I think, will give the party the opportunity to consider someone, not only who has the necessary commitment and drive and energy to perform the task of a Member of Parliament representing that community, but also represents the face, the aspirations, of what is one of the most diverse communities in the country.”
Mr Hayes was first elected to Parliament in 2005 after contesting a byelection following the resignation of former leader Mark Latham.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Hayes was one of the few people who “don’t have any enemies in the building”.
“He’s someone who is respected across the board. His contribution has been quite extraordinary,” he said.