CONTROVERSIAL Tasmanian union leader Kevin Harkins is facing an unexpected challenge to his safe Labor Senate run. Defeated state minister Lisa Singh is understood to have thrown her hat into the ring yesterday, sending her nomination to the Labor Party’s office in Hobart. Read more HERE
UPDATE: HERE: Harkins pre-selected
The Tasmanian Labor Party has preselected trade union boss Kevin Harkins to run for the Senate at the next election, overlooking ousted state Labor MP Lisa Singh.
The ALP’s administrative committee met in Hobart yesterday to finalise the Tasmanian candidates it wants to contest this year’s federal election.
The Committee’s Tasmanian Senate ticket puts Labor Senator Helen Polley at number one, Kevin Harkins at number two and Anne Urquhart from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union at number three.
The decision comes as a blow to another Labor Senate candidate, Lisa Singh, who lost her Denison seat at the state election.
Another notable omission is Labor Senator Kerry O’Brien.
Senator O’Brien says preselection is a matter for the ALP’s National Executive which will discuss the issue when it meets in Melbourne tomorrow.
The Prime Minister has previously said Mr Harkins would have “Buckley’s chance” of being preselected.
Mr Harkins is not deterred.
