Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Kristina Keneally and Warren Mundine tipped to replace Mark Arbib in Senate | The Australian #auspol

FORMER NSW premier Kristina Keneally and indigenous leader Warren Mundine have emerged as leading contenders to take Mark Arbib's Senate spot after his shock resignation as assistant treasurer, and from parliament, yesterday.

Senator Arbib said he had decided to quit to help heal the ALP's wounds after the bitter leadership battle between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, won decisively by the Prime Minister yesterday. Senator Arbib said he also wanted to spend more time with his family.

He insisted there was no other reason for his resignation, denying he had any plans to work for James Packer's Crown where his good friend and former ALP national secretary Karl Bitar works.

But former Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson told The Australian last night Senator Arbib had confided in him on Sunday that he was "sick" of being one of the party's hardmen.

"He said to me, 'I'm covered in blood again. I'm sick of it and I'll never do it again'," Mr Richardson said. "Mark was really affected by what happened in 2010 (when Mr Rudd was deposed as prime minister). I know that he never quite got over it. I don't think Mark has ever been completely comfortable in being the hardman -- it suits some, it doesn't suit others.

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"But with his elevation to assistant treasurer, it meant he wasn't home as much. He's got two little girls, and having a senior role in government makes it very hard to devote enough time to your family, as Mark has realised and as I know from bitter experience."

The former ALP NSW secretary has served in the Senate since July 2008.

The NSW branch of the party is expected to meet this week to decide who they will nominate to fill a casual Senate vacancy created by Senator Arbib's resignation. Sources close to Ms Keneally said she was surprised at Senator Arbib's resignation and was "disinclined" to take his Senate seat, given the amount of family time she had regained following her loss of the premier's office last year. But the source said she was not "ruling anything in or out".

Mr Mundine, a former party national president, will be a leading contender. Former NSW ALP president Bernie Riordan will not be considered because of his appointment last week to the Fair Work board.

The Australian understands that Senator Arbib had been on the verge of resigning after the 2010 election result but had been talked out of it. It is understood he believes his exit from parliament will allow the party to move on from Tony Abbott's "faceless men" attack against Ms Gillard.

Senator Arbib told reporters yesterday he was "uniquely placed" to help the party move on from the leadership tensions by leaving parliament and there had been "no pressure from anyone".

Senator Arbib said it was time for caucus members to put any bitterness aside and to put the interests of the party and the Australian people first.

But healing the party "requires more than words, it requires actions and everyone has a responsibility and all of us have a part to play . . . I genuinely hope all members of caucus and rank-and-file party members see this decision as a gesture to help unite and heal." He said his daughter had cried when he told her that he would be away from home more often after being promoted last November to assistant treasurer.

Ms Gillard thanked him warmly for his contribution, especially his work on apprenticeships and indigenous employment.

 

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: JAMES MADDEN

Posted via email from The Left Hack

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