2021 New South Wales Labor Party leadership election

An election for the leadership of the New South Wales Labor Party was held in June 2021, following the resignation of leader Jodi McKay on 28 May 2021.^[1]

2021 New South Wales Labor Party leadership election

← 2019 4 June 2021

Candidate Chris Minns Result Unopposed Seat Kogarah

Leader before election Jodi McKay Elected Leader Chris Minns

Nominations for the leadership opened at 11:00 AEST on 4 June 2021.^[2] Each candidate would have had 48 hours to produce at least 15 signatures from caucus members to nominate. With Chris Minns as the only candidate to nominate for the leadership, he was elected unopposed as the new party leader.^[3] Prue Car was elected unopposed as deputy party leader four days later.^[4]

Background

Following Labor's loss in the 2021 Upper Hunter by-election, then-leader Jodi McKay resigned under pressure from the party caucus.^[1] Initially the leadership election saw former opposition leader Michael Daley, who led Labor to a defeat in the 2019 New South Wales state election declare his candidacy for a second time on 30 May 2021. Chris Minns would subsequently announce his candidacy for a third time the next day, having lost to Daley and McKay in previous ballots. On 4 June 2021, on the date nominations opened, Daley announced his withdrawal from the election citing the lack of support and "for the good of the party".^[3] The leadership election represents the fifth time that Labor has changed its leadership since the defeat in the 2011 election with only two leaders having led the party to an election as of 2021.

Candidates

Under party rules, if there were more than one candidate, the election would be a combined vote by the party membership and the Labor members of the Parliament of New South Wales, with each component weighted equally.^[2] As there was only one candidate (Chris Minns) nominated for leadership, Minns was elected unopposed.

Declared

• Chris Minns, Shadow Minister for Transport^[5]

List of Chris Minns endorsements

Members of the New South Wales Parliament

• Prue Car, Shadow Minister for Education (2019–present); MP for Londonderry (2015–present)^[6][7]
• Tim Crakanthorp, MP for Newcastle (2014–present)^[8]
• Jihad Dib, Shadow Minister for Skills and Tafe, Shadow Minister for Youth, Shadow Minister for Juvenile Justice and Shadow Minister Assisting on Multiculturalism (2019–present); MP for Lakemba (2015–present)^[9]
• John Graham, Shadow Minister for Roads and Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy (2019–present); State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2016–present)^[10][11]
• Jo Haylen, Shadow Minister for Active Transport, Shadow Minister for Senior and Volunteers and Shadow Minister for the Cost of Living (2019–present); MP for Summer Hill (2015–present)^[12]
• Courtney Houssos, State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2015–present)^[13]
• Rose Jackson, State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2019–present)^[14]
• Hugh McDermott, MP for Prospect (2015–present)^[15]
• Tania Mihailuk, MP for Bankstown (2011–present)^[16]
• Daniel Mookhey, Shadow Minister for Finance and Small Business and Shadow Minister for the Gig Economy (2019–present); State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2015–present)^[11]
• Tara Moriarty, Shadow Minister for Crown Lands and Shadow Minister for Mental Health (2019–present); State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2019–present)^[10][11]
• Ryan Park, Manager of Opposition Business, Shadow Minister for Health, Shadow Minister for housing and Homelessness and Shadow Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast (2019–present); MP for Keira (2011–present)^[17]
• Paul Scully, Shadow Minister for Natural Resources (2019–present); MP for Wollongong (2016–present)^[17]
• Walt Secord, Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for the Arts and Shadow Special Minister of State (2019–2021); State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2011–present)^[18]
• Penny Sharpe, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services and Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion (2019–2021); State Labor Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2005–2015, 2015–present)^[2]
• Greg Warren, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Shadow Minister for Veterans and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney (2019–present); MP for Campbelltown (2015–present)^[2]
• Guy Zangari, MP for Fairfield (2011–present)^[19]

State Officials and members of parliament

• Tom Koutsantonis, Treasurer of South Australia (2014–2018)^[20]

Local Government Officials

• Tony Bowen, City of Randwick Councillor^[21]
• Steve Christou, Mayor of Cumberland City Council (2019–present) (Independent)^[22]

Other Figures

• Evan Hughes, Labor candidate for Wentworth at the 2016 Australian federal election^[23]

Media Organisations and Newspapers

• The Australian^[24]

Withdrew

• Michael Daley, Leader of the Opposition (2018–2019)^[3][25]

Declined

• Ryan Park, Shadow Minister for Health^[26]
• Paul Scully, MP for Wollongong^[27]

Controversies

Daley

On 31 May 2021, a number of Asian Australian members and elected officials of NSW Labor released a joint statement criticising Michael Daley's candidacy citing comments made in 2018 about how residents in New South Wales were "being replaced by young people from typically Asia with PhDs."^[28][29] While Daley apologised about the comments prior to the 2019 state election, many have attributed the swing against the ALP in electorates in the Georges River local government area in the 2019 election owing to Daley's comments. The Georges River local government area sees over 22.8% of residents having Chinese ancestry according to the 2016 census and includes the electorates of Kogarah and Oatley. Both electorates saw a heavy swing against the ALP in 2019 with Oatley seeing a swing towards the Liberal Party of Australia from 6.6% in 2015 to 10.3% in 2019 while Kogarah, held by prospective leadership candidate Chris Minns went from 6.9% to less than 2% in the same election.^{[30][31][32][33]} On 1 June 2021, Daley apologised again on ABC Radio for his "offensive" comments.^[34]

Minns

A report by The Daily Telegraph on 31 May reported that the head office of NSW Labor was "encouraging" members of the caucus to support Minns' candidacy for the leadership to avoid a contested ballot.^[35] In addition, another report by The Daily Telegraph also stated that Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park decided not to contest the leadership to ensure a quick succession of leadership.^[36] The 2019 leadership election which saw outgoing leader Jodi McKay defeating Minns went for 22 days to finalise a result.

See also

• Australia portal
• Politics portal

• 2019 New South Wales state election
• 2023 New South Wales state election
• 2019 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election

References

1. Raper, Ashleigh; Bavas, Josh (28 May 2021). "Jodi McKay steps down as NSW Opposition Leader after Labor crisis meeting". Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
2. "Senior Labor MPs publicly endorse Chris Minns to end bruising ballot battle". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
3. Raper, Ashleigh (4 June 2021). "Kogarah MP Chris Minns to be NSW Opposition Leader after Michael Daley pulls out". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Sydney. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
4. "Londonderry MP Prue Car elected Deputy Leader of NSW Labor". Western Weekender. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
5. "Chris Minns officially enters NSW Labor leadership battle". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Sydney. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
6. @pruecar (2 June 2021). "After ten years of this Government, hardworking families are spending more time in traffic, paying more tolls and spending less time with their families. @MinnsChris shares my commitment to working families. He's the best candidate for the future of Sydney and our state" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
7. Noble, Freya (3 June 2021). "Senior NSW Labor MP says she supports Chris Minns to lead the party". 9News. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
8. Chris Minns [@MinnsChris] (31 May 2021). "I have a positive vision for NSW Labor. #nswpol" (Tweet). Retweeted by @Crakanthorp – via Twitter.
9. Dib, Jihad (2 June 2021). "I have known Chris Minns MP from before the time I entered the NSW Parliament. He is talented and I really like his idea of a positive approach to the future. We are in an unpleasant situation and need to look forward. I support his decision to nominate as leader of our Party. If it goes to a vote, he can rely on mine". Facebook. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
10. Caldwell, Anna; Van Homrigh, Mitchell (2 June 2021). "NSW Labor leadership: Push to make Chris Minns leader in days". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, New South Wales. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
11. Cormack, Lucy (2 June 2021). "'People want an experienced hand': Labor leadership candidates confident of support". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
12. @johaylen (2 June 2021). "I'm supporting @MinnsChris because he has the bold ideas and positive vision to win Government in 2023. We need a new generation of leadership that is courageous and has a plan for the future. #nswpol" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. @CourtneyHoussos (2 June 2021). "I'm supporting @MinnsChris to be the next Labor Leader because I believe he is the best person to lead our great Party. With the right policies, hard work and determination we can win the next election, and NSW needs that more than ever. #nswpol" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
14. @RoseBJackson (2 June 2021). "Hey #nswpol, Here's why I'm supporting @MinnsChris to be NSW Labor Leader. You all know I like talking (😜) but did you also know I like doing?! I want Labor in Govt in 2023 and I think Chris has the attitude, ideas and energy to get us there. ❤️ Rose" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
15. Chris Minns [@MinnsChris] (31 May 2021). "Today I announced I will be a candidate for the leadership of the NSW Labor Party. #nswpol" (Tweet). Retweeted by @hugh_mcdermott – via Twitter.
16. Chris Minns [@MinnsChris] (3 June 2021). "I believe the Leader of the Opposition's job is to explain to the people of NSW what we'd do differently not just what the Government's done wrong. Take a listen 👇 #nswpol" (Tweet). Retweeted by @TaniaMihailukMP – via Twitter.
17. Cartwright, Zoe (2 June 2021). "'Ryan Park, Paull Scully back Chris Minns for Labor leader". Illawara Mercury. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
18. @WaltSecordMLC (1 June 2021). "It will come as no surprise to those who follow NSW politics … I am publicly endorsing Kogarah MP Chris Minns for the Labor leadership. He has new ideas and is the best person to lead Labor to victory in 2023. #nswpol" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
19. @GuyZangariMP (2 June 2021). "In 2019 @MinnsChris had my support, 2021 is no different! Looking towards the positives" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
20. Chris Minns [@MinnsChris] (31 May 2021). "I have a positive vision for NSW Labor. #nswpol" (Tweet). Retweeted by @TKoutsantonisMP – via Twitter.
21. Chris Minns [@MinnsChris] (31 May 2021). "Today I announced I will be a candidate for the leadership of the NSW Labor Party. #nswpol" (Tweet). Retweeted by @Tony__Bowen – via Twitter.
22. @ChristouSteve (2 June 2021). "I support Chris Minns to be leader of the NSW Labor Party. As Mayor of Cumberland City Council I look forward to working with elected representatives and party leaders who have the communities best interest at heart regardless of what political party they belong too" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
23. Chris Minns [@MinnsChris] (31 May 2021). "It's time for Labor to start coming up with ideas to drive NSW forward. I have a positive vision for NSW Labor, and I need your support. #nswpol" (Tweet). Retweeted by @evanevanhughes – via Twitter.
24. Bramston, Troy (1 June 2021). "Chris Minns the only credible leader for NSW Labor". The Australian. Sydney, New South Wales. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
25. Swanston, Tim (30 May 2021). "Michael Daley to make another tilt at NSW Labor leadership". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Sydney. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
26. Humphries, Glen (28 May 2021). "Ryan Park won't contest Labor leadership, sources say". Illawara Mercury. Wollongong, New South Wales. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
27. Humphries, Glen (24 May 2021). "Illawarra MPs Ryan Park, Paul Scully named as potential leaders". Illawara Mercury. Wollongong, New South Wales. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
28. Smith, Alexandra (31 May 2021). "Back to the future: Daley's tilt at Labor leadership opposed by Asian-Australian party members". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
29. @kunhuang1990 (30 May 2021). ""I watched Michael Daley's press conference on Sunday. It is apparent to me that Michael has not learned or understands how hurtful the comments he made back in 2019 were to Asian Australian communities."" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
30. "Oatley: First Preference Votes". 2019 NSW election results. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
31. "Oatley: Distribution of Preferences". 2019 NSW election results. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
32. "Kogarah: First Preference Votes". 2019 NSW election results. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
33. "Kogarah: Distribution of Preferences". 2019 NSW election results. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
34. "Sydney news: Prospective NSW Labor leader Michael Daley apologises for 'offensive' Asian comments". ABC News. Sydney, New South Wales. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
35. O'Doherty, James (31 May 2021). "Jodi McKay supporters back Michael Daley as leader, not Chris Minns". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Sydney, New South Wales. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
36. Caldwell, Anna; O'Doherty, James (29 May 2021). "NSW Labor leadership: MPs report pressure to allow clear path for Chris Minns". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Sydney, New South Wales. Retrieved 1 June 2021.