FORMER Perth MHR and current WA Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan has ruled out re-nominating for the inner-city seat left open by the shock resignation of its current Federal Labor MP Tim Hammond this morning.
“A definite no, as I have a fantastic opportunity at the moment travelling around the state shaping the agenda around WA,” Ms MacTiernan told the Guardian Express.
She said her current State ministry, which includes agriculture, State development and trade, was “a dream job”, and there would be “plenty” of others nominating for any by-election later this year.
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READ NOWMr Hammond, who has held the seat for only two years, cited the pressures of having three pre-school aged children and wanting to be a proper dad when he announced his departure.
Ms MacTeirnan said Mr Hammond had called her shortly before the announcement, but she had been aware of the challenge managing the job of a Federal MP with raising small children.
She had message for any new candidate and her Labor Party before a Federal Election within 12 months.
“”I now think we need to find someone who’s in it for the big haul,” she said.
High profile lawyer and failed 2003 City of Perth mayoral candidate John Hammond has indicated he could interested in the soon to be vacated seat.
“Yes, I would certainly consider it,” he told Guardian Express.
Mr Hammond did not elaborate, however, as to why or whether he would meet with Labor leaders to discuss any candidacy this week.
Perth MLA John Carey took to Facebook to thank Tim Hammond for his public service.
“I think people often forget being an MP – whether State or Federal – is now a 24 hour job,” he wrote.
“Where ever you go, people stop you, ask for assistance, contact you on social media (from early morning to midnight), call you, text you and you have little to no personal time.
“That’s not a whinge, just a reality and I’m honoured to be in that position that people come to me for help. But Tim had an even tougher role – young family, three children and travelling back and forth from Canberra. It’s gotta take a toil (sic).”
In 2016, Mr Hammond had a 1.2 per cent swing to his part and held the seat on a 2.1 per cent two-party preferred margin after he was elected using Greens preferences.
The Liberal Party’s candidate Jeremy Quinn won the largest portion of the primary vote, with 42.3 per cent.
Contacted this afternoon, Mr Quinn said it was too premature to ask if he would have another crack at the seat because Mr Hammond’s resignation was only announced this morning.
“The Liberals have their own pre-selection process to go through,” Mr Quinn said.
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