By Darren Coyne
Former Page MP Janelle Saffin claims she is not thinking about putting her hand up for pre-selection for the next Federal election but admits ‘I never say never because I love it’.
Echonetdaily understands that Ms Saffin has been approached by numerous people to have another tilt at winning the seat she lost to National Party MP Kevin Hogan at the last election.
Ms Saffin, a member of the Australian Labor Party, represented the electorate from 2007 until 2013.
She previously served as a Labor member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1995 to 2003.
‘Some people have asked me (to run). It’s going around, but I’m not even thinking about it at this stage,’ she said.
‘I’ve just re-registered as a migration agent and I am quite happy to be doing that.’
ALP insiders however have told Echonetdaily that Ms Saffin is indeed considering another tilt, however it’s understood she would only run if ALP headquarters stumped up enough money to match coalition election spending in the electorate.
At the last election, the Coalition easily outspent Labor, with sources indicating that Mr Hogan’s team had access to an extra $50,000 donated by mining magnate Gina Rhinehart, although the donations are not expected to be revealed until next year.
Ms Saffin confirmed she would be attending tonight’s local branch meeting of the Labor party but said that health policy was on the agenda, not pre-selection.
That may be so, but sources indicate that pre-selection will indeed be discussed, with recently elected Lismore City councillor Eddie Lloyd set to announce her ambitions to run for the seat of Page at the next Federal election.
Ms Lloyd, who is a relative newcomer to the region after running as a Labor candidate for the state seat of Sydney in the 2015 election, was elected to the council as the third person on Mayor Isaac Smith’s ticket.
She told the Echonetdaily that she could neither ‘confirm or deny’ her intention to put her hand up as a Federal candidate.
‘It’s really up to the community and the party,’ she said.
‘At the moment though my focus is being a councillor which is something I love doing.’
Janelle has done good work in the past but ran a very lack-lustre campaign last time with members of the party faithful complaining that she was rude and appeared to be disengaged. Time for a generation shift.
Janelle,
You are your own campaign. That Labor campaign needs to be louder, brasher, pushier and more attention seeking with a flag and a bugle blow as one of the most prevalent newspapers in the Northern Rivers is the “Seniors” newspaper. The Seniors is still back and white and it was meant to be read by seniors as they need help from the government in this area. If you can stand then stand again Janelle and turn the page. with more labour.