Labor factions draw battle lines for Maribyrnong seat after Bill Shorten’s retirement from politics

Jo Briskey is emerging as a candidate for the seat of Maribyrnong after Bill Shorten’s retirement from politics next year. Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP

The battle to replace Bill Shorten is likely to pit the United Workers Union’s Jo Briskey against a right-faction candidate, with the Australian Workers’ Union insisting Maribyrnong is an AWU seat.

Guardian Australia understands that Briskey, the UWU’s national political coordinator, is likely to be the left faction candidate for the north-west Melbourne seat to be vacated when Shorten retires in February.