HIGH-PROFILE union boss Bill Shorten will challenge federal MP Bob Sercombe for the Brimbank-based seat of Maribyrnong.
Putting to rest months of speculation, Mr Shorten submitted his name for ALP prese-lection for the safe seat last Friday.
The fight is now on between the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union and the long-time MP for the votes of local ALP branches.
Preselection for the plum seat will come down to the votes of the ALP’s Victorian state committee and around 600 party members.
The winner is assured of a seat in the Federal Parliament at the next election.
Mr Shorten is favoured to win the support of the state committee, which is dominated by his Right faction allies.
The result of the membership vote is less clear, but Mr Sercombe will require a strong local showing to fend off Mr Shorten’s challenge.
Despite reports he is the frontrunner, Mr Shorten told Star in an interview before his announcement last week, that a win was not guaranteed.
“I don’t think I am secure in my numbers – not at all,” he said.
“I don’t think you’ll hear that from any of the people involved (in the preselection contest).
“But you have to take a risk. There hasn’t been a contested preselection in the north-west (of Melbourne) for 10 years, and that’s not doing anybody a favour.”
Mr Shorten, 38, is touted as Labor’s potential deliverer from 10 years of electoral malaise.
The former lawyer and industrial organiser said he was challenging Mr Sercombe to help renew the Labor Party.
“I love the union and the work that I do, but after four federal election defeats and now the new Workchoices legislation, I think it is time to have a debate about renewal, and I’m putting myself forward,” Mr Shorten said.
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“I certainly want to renew Labor and I’d love to renew the government by getting John Howard out of there.”
Mr Shorten refused to publicly criticise Mr Sercombe’s performance in office, who has held the seat of Maribyrnong since 1996.
Mr Sercombe also served seven years as a state parliamentarian for the area.
“I acknowledge his 17 years of parliamentary service and will not say anything else against him,” Mr Shorten said.
“But after losing four federal elections the aim of Labor is to be in power federally.
“You need new blood eventually – and I have the energy and am not afraid of a fight.”
“Labor’s vote (in the West) has eroded over 12 per cent (and) more needs to be done to show that Labor is a real alternative.”
Mr Sercombe, expecting the challenge, said he would fight to keep his seat in parlia-ment.
“We’re a democratic organisation, and any eligible member of the party is entitled to nominate (for preselection),” Mr Sercombe said.
“But it is going to be a contest.
“Bill has support among the state conference – the people who don’t necessarily have an association with our local area – but on the other side of the equation I am confi-dent of having strong local support,” he said.
Maribyrnong’s preselection vote will be held on 5 and 6 March.
