2019 New South Wales Labor Party leadership election explained

Election Name:	2019 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
Type:	presidential
Vote Type:	Caucus
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
Previous Year:	2018
1Blank:	Caucus
2Blank:	Members
3Blank:	Seat
Candidate1:	Jodi McKay
Colour1:	DC241F
Percentage1:	60.5%
1Data1:	29 (58.0%)
2Data1:	6,821 (63.0%)
3Data1:	Strathfield
Candidate2:	Chris Minns
Colour2:	DC241F
Percentage2:	39.5%
1Data2:	21 (42.0%)
2Data2:	4,001 (37.0%)
3Data2:	Kogarah
Next Election:	2021 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
Next Year:	2021
Election Date:	7−29 June 2019
Leader
Before Election:	Michael Daley (permanent leader) Penny Sharpe (interim leader)
After Election:	Jodi McKay

An election for the leadership of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labor Party was held between 7 and 29 June 2019. The election was triggered by the resignation of Leader Michael Daley on 25 March 2019.^[1] The election was a combined vote by the party membership and the Labor members of the Parliament of New South Wales, with each component weighted equally. The party members were sent their ballots on 7 June and had until 21 June to return them, while the parliamentary caucus met on 29 June to cast their votes.^[2]

On 29 June, Jodi McKay was announced as the victor of the contest, winning 60.5% of the combined vote.^{[3] [4]}

Background

Following Labor's loss in the 2019 state election, then-leader Michael Daley resigned under pressure from the party caucus after initially declaring he would remain as head of the party and leader of the opposition.^{[5] [6]} This triggered a leadership election to be held at an undetermined future date. Daley initially declared his intention to nominate for the leadership in the election, but on 26 March walked back on this statement.^[7] The contest was scheduled for after the 2019 federal election to avoid conflicting with Labor's federal campaign. Deputy leader Penny Sharpe served as interim leader after Daley's resignation.

Campaign

On 23 May, Chris Minns announced he would contest the leadership.^[8] The following day, Jodi McKay announced she would also contest the leadership.^[9]

A leadership debate was held on 3 June between the two candidates.

• Minns emphasised the need for party renewal and rejuvenating Labor's image. Referring to Labor's losses in both the recent state and federal elections, he stated: "I am firmly of the belief that now is not the time for us to crawl up in a ball and for the Labor party not to believe in things. We are at our best when we believe in things. We are at our best when we stand for principles and fight for that." He said that his focus would be on liveable cities, privatisation, and climate change. He promised to better explain to voters that action on climate change was a necessary measure to protect both the state's environmental assets and its economy. He also emphasised a need to embrace immigrant communities, and make it clear that blame for the difficulties of overpopulation did not fall on immigration.
• McKay agreed that Labor's losses prompted a need for self-reflection within the party, and that new leadership presented opportunities for change. She stated that she had "[thought] about my values and the values that I bring to the Labor Party." She promised to prioritise homelessness, mental health, and education, seeking to increase teacher salaries and reduce class sizes. She said: "I want us to talk about the difficult issues; they're not popular but they're issues that demand a Labor Party response."

Candidates

Nominated

• Chris Minns, Shadow Minister for Water - announced 23 May 2019

• Jodi McKay, Shadow Minister for Transport and Shadow Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight - announced 24 May 2019

Withdrew

• Michael Daley,^[10] Leader of the Opposition (2018–2019) (endorsed Jodi McKay)

Declined

• Penny Sharpe,^[11] Interim Leader (2019−present) and Deputy Leader (2018−2019)
• Ryan Park, Shadow Treasurer^[12]
• Kate Washington, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Shadow Minister for the Hunter^[13] (endorsed Jodi McKay)

Results

Caucus Votes

Votes in favour of Jodi McKay:^[14]

• Jodi McKay
• Jenny Aitchison
• Stephen Ball
• Clayton Barr
• Mark Buttigieg
• Prue Carr
• Yasmin Catley
• Sophie Cotsis
• Tim Crakanthorp
• Anthony D'Adam
• Michael Daley
• Trish Doyle
• Julia Finn
• John Graham
• David Harris
• Jodi Harrison
• Paul Lynch
• Hugh McDermott
• Tara Moriarty
• Marjorie O'Neill
• Ryan Park
• Peter Primrose
• Adam Searle
• Leisl Tesch
• Mick Veitch
• Lynda Voltz
• Greg Warren
• Kate Washington
• Anna Watson

Votes in favour of Chris Minns

• Chris Minns
• Edmund Atalla
• Anoulack Chanthivong
• Jihad Dib
• Jo Haylen
• Greg Donnelly
• Ron Hoenig
• Courtney Houssos
• Sonia Hornery
• Rose Jackson
• Steve Kamper
• Nick Lalich
• David Mehan
• Tania Milhailuk
• Daniel Mookhey
• Shaoquett Moselmane
• Janelle Safin
• Paul Scully
• Penny Sharpe
• Walt Secord
• Guy Zangari

See also

• 2015 New South Wales state election
• 2019 New South Wales state election
• Australian Labor Party leadership spill, September 2013
• 2015 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
• 2018 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
• 2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills

Notes and References

1. Web site: NSW Labor leader Michael Daley steps down, says he still wants top job . 25 March 2019 . 25 March 2019.
2. Web site: NSW Labor leadership debate: Jodi McKay and Chris Minns soul search after election failures. 3 June 2019. 29 June 2019.
3. Web site: Jodi McKay wins NSW Labor leadership from Chris Minns after three-month process. ABC News. 29 June 2019.
4. Web site: Penny Sharpe on Twitter. 29 June 2019. 29 June 2019.
5. Web site: NSW election flop means Michael Daley will be challenged for Labor leadership . ABC News . 24 March 2019 . 25 March 2019.
6. Web site: NSW coalition leads Labor 51-49: Newspoll . Nine News . 22 March 2019 . 25 March 2019.
7. Web site: Michael Daley abandons bid to remain NSW Labor leader. 26 March 2019. 29 June 2019.
8. Web site: Chris Minns launches tilt at NSW Labor leadership, but lacks party, union backing . 23 May 2019 . 24 May 2019.
9. Web site: Today I am announcing that I will be a candidate for the leadership of NSW Labor! . 24 May 2019 . 24 May 2019.
10. Web site: Michael Daley stands aside as NSW Labor leader until after federal election . . 2019-03-25 . 2019-03-25.
11. Web site: NSW Labor MPs move to block leadership aspirations of Chris Minns . 20 May 2019 . 21 May 2019.
12. Web site: NSW Labor leader Michael Daley steps down, says he still wants top job . 25 March 2019 . 25 March 2019.
13. Web site: Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says she will not seek leadership of the NSW Labor Party . 23 May 2019 . 24 May 2019.
14. Web site: NSW Labor party is at war after the Upper Hunter byelection result 7NEWS . 25 May 2021 . 25 May 2021. YouTube.