Labor’s leadership showdown between current leader Rebecca White and exiled former Labor Leader David O’Byrne is very much alive.
Janie Finlay has backed Ms White in her self-promoting exposé in today’s Examiner saying:
“…there is no pathway back into the Labor caucus for David O’Byrne.
In the two years I’ve been in the Labor Party, I’ve been so impressed with Rebecca. Rebecca has the full support of the parliamentary Labor team, and she’s been clear, and so there is no path in for David O’Byrne.”
Ms Finlay was decidedly less convincing when asked about why she didn’t appear in public with her Bass Labor colleague Michelle O’Byrne.
It’s clear Tasmanian Labor is still divided over Ms White’s leadership, the toxic party room environment which led star Labor recruit Bastian Seidel to quit.
On one side, you have Mr O’Byrne seeking pre-selection for Labor in Franklin, and a pathway back to his beloved Labor Party.
He’s backed by the unions, rank and file members and several Tasmanian MPs – and his sister is now a member of Labor’s powerful ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Executive.
On the other side, you have Ms White who has staked her leadership on keeping Mr O’Byrne out of the Labor Party.
Ms White is pinning her hopes on the Prime Minister protecting her. This is the same Prime Minister who has ignored her push against the stadium, and backed it just like Mr O’Byrne.
No matter the outcome, it is clear that under Ms White’s leadership Labor is in complete and utter disarray.
If Mr O’Byrne is pre-selected, Ms White will quit.
Will the clearly highly ambitious Ms Finlay follow, or will she team up with her social media partner Mr Winter, who continues his daily leadership auditions?
If Mr O’Byrne is not preselected, Labor’s civil war will unfold.
