ID :
11508
Sat, 07/05/2008 - 10:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11508
The shortlink copeid
Neal 'confident' of preselection in 2010
(AAP) - Embattled federal Labor MP Belinda Neal says she has a good chance of obtaining preselection for the 2010 federal election despite reports suggesting the party would not choose her again.
She said that no decision had been made on her future preselection for the NSW Central Coast seat of Robertson, following reports the ALP would move to block her.
A senior NSW Labor official on Friday dismissed as "sheer speculation" a News Ltd
report that Ms Neal had dashed her chances of preselection.
The report came a day after Ms Neal and her husband, suspended NSW education
minister John Della Bosca, were interviewed by police over their alleged involvement
in an argument with staff at Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront restaurant on June 6.
"No decision has been made in relation to my preselection," Ms Neal told the Central
Coast radio station Star FM.
"I can assure the electorate of Robertson that I will be seeking preselection and I
feel quite confident that will be achieved."
Ms Neal said it was "business as usual" in her electorate.
While media had camped outside her electorate office for the past 33 days,
constituents would not be deterred from contacting her, she said.
"I don't think that constituents with real problems have been scared away, but it
must be of concern with the media there and filming, that people's privacy might be
compromised."
Ms Neal said she had received plenty of support from family, friends and
parliamentary colleagues.
"Essentially (they're) saying 'keep your chin up but they support me and they think
this issue has been blown completely out of proportion," she said.
Ms Neal said her preselection would not be "discussed or determined" until 2009.
ALP state secretary Karl Bitar said Ms Neal's preselection was not on the agenda of
Friday's NSW Administration Committee meeting and no decision had been made on the
matter.
"We won't be conducting our federal preselection or making decisions until some time
in 2009, following the outcome of the expected federal redistribution," Mr Bitar
told AAP.
Information contained in Friday's article was attributed to a "well-placed" Labor
figure, but Mr Bitar said he did not know where the information would have come
from.
"There has been a lot of chatter about this issue. I can only put it down to sheer
speculation," he said.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, when asked if he would cut Ms Neal loose because of her
reluctance to speak to police, said he would wait until the police investigation was
completed before deciding on her future.
"Anyone who breaks the law faces serious consequences," he told the Seven Network.
"Once these legal processes are concluded I'll be making a determination myself as
to whether the Member for Robertson has honoured her obligations which she made to
the Australian parliament about her co-operation with this police investigation."
Mr Rudd again failed to back his beleaguered backbencher, saying: "None of us, no
one in elected office has any guaranteed political future".
"But we'll wait until these legal processes independently are concluded," he said.
She said that no decision had been made on her future preselection for the NSW Central Coast seat of Robertson, following reports the ALP would move to block her.
A senior NSW Labor official on Friday dismissed as "sheer speculation" a News Ltd
report that Ms Neal had dashed her chances of preselection.
The report came a day after Ms Neal and her husband, suspended NSW education
minister John Della Bosca, were interviewed by police over their alleged involvement
in an argument with staff at Gosford's Iguanas Waterfront restaurant on June 6.
"No decision has been made in relation to my preselection," Ms Neal told the Central
Coast radio station Star FM.
"I can assure the electorate of Robertson that I will be seeking preselection and I
feel quite confident that will be achieved."
Ms Neal said it was "business as usual" in her electorate.
While media had camped outside her electorate office for the past 33 days,
constituents would not be deterred from contacting her, she said.
"I don't think that constituents with real problems have been scared away, but it
must be of concern with the media there and filming, that people's privacy might be
compromised."
Ms Neal said she had received plenty of support from family, friends and
parliamentary colleagues.
"Essentially (they're) saying 'keep your chin up but they support me and they think
this issue has been blown completely out of proportion," she said.
Ms Neal said her preselection would not be "discussed or determined" until 2009.
ALP state secretary Karl Bitar said Ms Neal's preselection was not on the agenda of
Friday's NSW Administration Committee meeting and no decision had been made on the
matter.
"We won't be conducting our federal preselection or making decisions until some time
in 2009, following the outcome of the expected federal redistribution," Mr Bitar
told AAP.
Information contained in Friday's article was attributed to a "well-placed" Labor
figure, but Mr Bitar said he did not know where the information would have come
from.
"There has been a lot of chatter about this issue. I can only put it down to sheer
speculation," he said.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, when asked if he would cut Ms Neal loose because of her
reluctance to speak to police, said he would wait until the police investigation was
completed before deciding on her future.
"Anyone who breaks the law faces serious consequences," he told the Seven Network.
"Once these legal processes are concluded I'll be making a determination myself as
to whether the Member for Robertson has honoured her obligations which she made to
the Australian parliament about her co-operation with this police investigation."
Mr Rudd again failed to back his beleaguered backbencher, saying: "None of us, no
one in elected office has any guaranteed political future".
"But we'll wait until these legal processes independently are concluded," he said.
