Chris Minns launches NSW Labor leadership bid
NSW member of Parliament Chris Minns has launched his bid for the leadership of the state Labor Party, as it looks to find its third leader in six months.
Mr Minns announced his candidacy for leadership at Carss Bush Park in his south Sydney electorate of Kogarah on Thursday morning.
Mr Minns, who was elected to Parliament in 2015 and is Labor's water spokesman, is expected to be challenged for the leadership by Strathfield MP and opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay.
Both MPs are from NSW Labor's right faction, but Mr Minns may face an uphill battle to win the support of his colleagues due to his fractious relationship with NSW Labor's powerful Sussex Street head office, led by general secretary Kaila Murnain.
According to Labor sources, Ms McKay has the "strong backing" of Ms Murnain, which would put Mr Minns as the "obvious underdog".
The NSW Labor opposition has been without an elected leader for two months, after Michael Daley resigned following Labor’s disappointing state election result.
Mr Daley replaced former Labor leader Luke Foley who resigned in November following a sexual harassment allegation.
Mr Minns challenged Mr Daley for the leadership at the time. He secured 12 votes to Mr Daley’s 33 votes.
Mr Daley stood down as leader after the party's poor result in the state poll, in which it picked up just two seats from the Coalition.
Under party rules, if more than one MP nominates for the leadership, the party must hold a ballot of caucus and rank-and-file members, with each having a 50 per cent say in the outcome.
Nominations close on Friday, with the ballot process expected to take up to five weeks. A special caucus meeting will be held in late June when MPs will vote via a secret ballot. The results will be counted once the rank-and-file ballots are returned.
More to come