FORMER NSW Premier Morris Iemma has pulled out of running for the Federal Labor seat of Barton in south west Sydney, claiming family commitments made a current return to politics impossible.
Mr Iemma, who was regarded by many in the party as the only hope Labor had of retaining the seat being vacated by former Attorney general Robert McClelland, confirmed last night he would not be a candidate.
While he said that his family took priority, it is also understood Mr Iemma was deeply troubled by Labor’s standing in western Sydney and had been weighing up whether the seat – held by 6.9 per cent – was even winnable.
The NSW Labor head office had offered the seat to Mr Iemma earlier this year, if he wanted it.
“I was very grateful for the offer, very grateful to be asked if I would consider running,” Mr Iemma told The Daily Telegraph.
“As much as I would like to do it, its just not possible considering the ages of the kids…they need both parents around at the moment. They take priority.”
Two of Mr Iemma’s four young children are budding sports stars with two recently selected to play representative cricket.
Mr Iemma is highly regarded and popular among the south west Sydney ethnic community. Barton has several large ethnic booths which Labor strategists had hoped Mr Iemma could hold.
Mr McClelland, a supporter of Mr Rudd, was dumped as AG last year by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a reshuffle. He announced he would retire at the next election.
The Labor preselection race for Barton will now likey come down to a contest between former mayor of Hurstville, Steve McMahon, who has the backing of former deputy NSW premier John Watkins.
But Environment Minister Tony Burke's former staffer Kirsten Andrews is now also a likely candidate.
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