People to pick ALP mayoral candidate

NSW Labor will use upcoming City of Sydney council elections to trial a new way of selecting candidates. Local residents alongside ALP branch members will choose the party’s candidate for Sydney Lord Mayor through a US-style primary process.

Labor has put forward five potential candidates — NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Cameron Murphy, Labor for Refugees convenor Linda Scott, UTS academic and Rainbow Labor member Damian Spruce, Social Finance national business development manager Cass Wilkinson, and Emperor’s Garden restaurant general manager Jonathan Yee.

NSW Labor general secretary Sam Dastyari called the primary process a partnership between Labor and residents of the City of Sydney, and said he hoped it would lead to more people becoming active in the party.

“From May 14 all City of Sydney residents are going to be sent a letter which will invite them to participate either online or via postal ballot to actually help pick the Labor Party candidate for the City of Sydney,” Dastyari said.

“It will be a half-half primary, which will mean half members of the community voting, and the other half of the ballot will be all ALP members, and we’re inviting the community to join us together to pick the best Labor candidate.”

NSW Opposition leader John Robertson encouraged residents to get involved.

“As NSW Labor leader, I want the community to have a greater say in selecting candidates,” Robertson said. “You can have your say by voting between now and Saturday, June 2.”