The outgoing Labor MP for Parramatta, Julie Owens, has expressed disappointment at her party’s plans to parachute a celebrity candidate into her western Sydney seat, saying local branch preselections are “the way it should be”.
Labor is moving to install former Kevin Rudd adviser and economist Andrew Charlton as the party’s candidate in the marginal seat ahead of the upcoming federal election, prompting an outpouring of anger from branch members who want a preselection ballot to replace Owens.