Australian Labor picks army colonel for key seat

[lider_r]

Labor picks army colonel for key seat

April 30, 2007
FEDERAL Labor puts its new preselection policy in action today when it names a whistleblower army officer to contest a crucial seat.

Colonel Michael Kelly will be Labor's candidate for Eden-Monaro, a southern NSW electorate held by the party in government since 1972.

Labor delegates at the party's national conference yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of head office overruling branch members on preselection choices.

Labor frontbenchers Robert McClelland and Joel Fitzgibbon will announce

Colonel Kelly's preselection in Queanbeyan today.

Colonel Kelly is a distinguished officer who served in Iraq, where he informed authorities of details about wheat exporter AWB's bribing of the

Saddam Hussein regime.

Eden-Monaro is held by Special Minister of State Gary Nairn.

The change over candidates also paves the way for Labor to install former party president Warren Mundine and union chief Greg Combet in safe seats.

ACTU secretary Mr Combet has not yet confirmed if he will be a Labor candidate.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said Labor should have the best candidates possible, no matter whether they had worked their way up through the party or union movement.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21643992-29277,00.html

[lider_r]

Labor also have an ex-SAS officer running for them in Western Australia:

Peter Tinley AM - Candidate for Stirling

Major Peter Tinley was born in Karrinyup in 1962. He joined the Army in 1981 and graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon, earning the Queen's Medal.

Peter served 17 of his 25 years with the Army in the SAS and served overseas on numerous occasions.

He was lead tactical planner for Australia's Special Forces contribution to both Afghanistan and Iraq, and was later Deputy Commander of the 550 strong Australian Joint Special Forces Task Group in Iraq.

Part of his command was ‘1 SAS Squadron’, which was awarded a US Meritorious Unit citation for its "sustained gallantry".

His extensive military experience has provided Peter with a unique perspective on the global security environment and the nature of Australia's changed international position as a result of government policy.

In 2003, Peter was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his exceptional service, dynamic leadership and consistent professional excellence.

Since leaving the Army, Peter has established a start-up manufacturing business with contracts both in Western Australia and New South Wales.

He has also condemned the Howard Government over its handling of the war and has called for an immediate withdrawal of Australian troops.

http://www.alp.org.au/people/wa/tinley%20am_peter.php

[Kilgor]

A welcome change from trade union bosses and abc reporters.

[oldsoak]

- - True - surprised that you've got ex army blokes in the Labour party though.
Most of the forces over here can be counted to vote Conservative ( Liberal ).

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

A welcome change from trade union bosses and abc reporters.

Ex unionists have given Australia it's 3 greatest Prime Ministers ever. The ALP is a branch of the union movement. Always has been always will be. Unionists will always be the backbone of the ALP.

What the ALP is doing now is appointing candidates based on merit by head office to try to break up the factional infighting that has plagued the ALP for ****ing donkey years.

From what I gathered at the last branch meeting I attended. After the preselection process head office looks at the candidate, the seat and so forth. If they think the party will be better served by an army officer, journalist or other higher profile candidate then that's what will happen.

Thats not to say a grass roots bloke has lost an opportunity of being elected from parliament far from it. What it will do is encourage grass root members into getting into local politics first and get them blooded into the process, see how they perform.

Good move for the longer term future of the party but it's pissed the factions off something shocking. Which despite being a paid up member of the socialist faction of the ALP (militant unionist, borderline communist) I see as a positive step.

[oldsoak]

- and there was I thinking you were a monarchist....:-P

[Opening Batsman]

- and there was I thinking you were a monarchist....:-P

He is many things, depends on the flavour of the month.p-)

[velvet-cream]

Are there armies out there which allow members to be part of a trade union?

Imagine soldiers going on strike....

[Opening Batsman]

Imagine soldiers going on strike....

It has happened before.p-)

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

More then once to.