Fed: Labor sisterhood regrets loss of front bench position

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2006
Fed: Labor sisterhood regrets loss of front bench position

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - As new Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd prepares to unveil his frontbench,
female Labor MPs say they are concerned one of their number has been dumped to make way
for a man.

South Australian senator Annette Hurley has been dumped by the party's right faction
to make way for rising stars Chris Bowen and Craig Emerson.

Labor backbencher Jennie George said it was regrettable a woman on the frontbench had
been tapped on the shoulder to make way for more men.

"There's a lot of frustration in the caucus because we have developed a culture of
a mutual protection society. You will see it today in the faction that I belong to, it
is really same as, same as," she told reporters.

"There are a lot of people that desperately want to have change in the process of selecting
the front bench."

Ms George said changes needed to make sure the front bench was representative of people
of different political positions, representative of the broader community with more women
and that people had a genuine say, not just those behind the scenes.

"There is a lot of frustration about the process and at the next election there will
certainly be a different process than the one this time."

Labor backbencher Kelly Hoare said it was not a good look for Labor but agreed Mr Rudd
had the right to choose his own team for the frontbench.

"No, it's not a good look for Labor but I think the balance will restore itself eventually,"

she said.

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KEYWORD: LABOR MPS

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