CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is the value bet to win Labor pre-selection as the Federal Candidate for his hometown of Queanbeyan, following the appearance of a new and perfectly groomed moustache.
This comes after the region’s long-serving Federal Labor MP, Mike Kelly, has ended months of speculation by making the “gut-wrenching” decision to resign from Parliament to focus on recovering from health issues that stem back to his days in his decades working as a soldier and peacekeeper in Somalia, Iraq and Bosnia.
Mike Kelly is known for being a good bloke with an impressive moustache, two traits that a very rarely seen in politicians on either side of politics in 2020.
It is for this reason that Labor recognises only a sports hero could be able to match up to the legacy of a literal war hero.
As one of the most volatile swing seats in the nation, Eden-Monaro extends from the far South Coast of NSW, right through to the cross-border outskirts of Canberra. Making it one of the worst bushfire affected electorates in Australia at this current time.
With the economic devastation of fires drought and now the COVID-19 lockdown, the seat – which covers both urban and rural areas – is anyone’s for the taking.
While Labor admits they will be lucky to find a candidate as competent as Mike Kelly was in his two different election wins from the opposition, ALP leader Anthony Albanese says they are getting straight to work looking for possible replacements that will be able to defeat NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who has hinted at throwing his hat in the ring as an ‘urban nat’.
Albanese has confirmed that local Queanbeyan boy and Wallabies legend David Campese was an early consideration as the ALP candidate before Albanese eventually ruled him out due to his close ties to Australian Rugby – an organisation that represents almost the absolute opposite of Labor Party values.
However, former NRL star and rugby union schoolboys champion Ricky Stuart has since been tipped as a more fitting pick with a foot in both worlds – especially since the appearance of his Mike Kelly moustache.
‘Sticky Ricky’ is yet to publicly comment on his future, but sources close to him say he is considering the role, only if the by-election takes place after the NRL finals in October.
Stuart has reportedly stated that he believes that as the coach of the Canberra Raiders for close to ten years, he’s dealt with enough near losses to be able to handle the inherent disappointment faced by Labor MPs every three years.
MORE TO COME.
