Fed: Rock legend's son vying for Labor preselection

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Fed: Rock legend's son vying for Labor preselection

By Stephen Johnson

CANBERRA, April 14 AAP - The son of Australian rock legend Johnny O'Keefe is vying
to be a federal Labor MP at the next election.

Lawyer John O'Keefe is one of five people who have nominated for ALP preselection for
the seat of Canberra, which Labor holds with an 11.8 per cent margin.

He is also the cousin of Deal or No Deal host Andrew O'Keefe.

Mr O'Keefe is likely to face a strong challenge from communications consultant Gai
Brodtmann, the wife of ABC political reporter Chris Uhlmann.

Mary Wood, an adviser to federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek, is also in the running.

High-profile University of New South Wales constitutional academic George Williams
has nominated for preselection in the neighbouring seat of Fraser, which Labor holds with
a 15.1 per cent buffer.

Prof Williams, from Labor's right-wing Unity faction, unsuccessfully stood for preselection
in the safe western Sydney seat of Blaxland ahead of the 2007 election.

He is competing against fellow academic Andrew Leigh, from the Australian National
University's School of Economics.

The left's Nick Martin, the assistant national secretary of the Labor Party, is understood
to be the best organised among eight preselection candidates for Fraser.

Nominations have closed for the two federal ACT seats.

Labor preselection is scheduled to be held on April 24.

Preselections opened in both seats following the retirements of sitting MPs Annette
Ellis and former Keating government minister Bob McMullan.

Labor senator Kate Lundy's nomination was unopposed.

AAP saj/kms/jnb

KEYWORD: ELECTION ACT

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