A NSW Labor frontbencher has admitted the opposition could lose the eastern Sydney seat of Heffron in a by-election following the resignation of former premier Kristina Keneally.

PARLIAMENTARY Speaker Shelley Hancock has accepted Ms Keneally's resignation, filed on Friday, but is yet to set a by-election date.

"Details of the by-election for the electoral district of Heffron will be announced shortly, following consultation with the electoral commissioners and party leaders," she said in a statement on Monday.

Opposition treasury spokesman Michael Daley, who holds the neighbouring seat of Maroubra, said Labor could lose the seat it has held since 1973.

"Yes, it could lose the seat," Mr Daley told AAP on Monday.

"I don't want to start speculating on a worst-case scenario.

"It would be safe to say the Labor Party itself is in a difficult time - this will be a test for Labor."

But Mr Daley, who is touted as a future Labor leader, said he would stay loyal to opposition leader John Robertson regardless of the by-election result.

"John Robertson is the leader. There's no challenge to him before or after the election," he said.

Former state government adviser Michael Comninos and Botany Bay mayor Ron Hoenig are expected to vie for Labor preselection.

The Liberal Party, which managed a 15 per cent swing against Ms Keneally at the 2011 state election, is yet to declare if if will run a candidate.

Ms Keneally held the seat with a seven per cent margin.

A new government hasn't picked up a seat from the opposition, following the resignation of a former premier, since Liberal Eric Willis quit parliament in July 1978, handing his once-safe seat of Earlwood to Labor.

Mr Daley and Marrickville Labor MP Carmel Tebbutt are sharing parliamentary duties in Heffron until a by-election result is declared.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/labor-could-lose-nsw-by-election-daley/story-e6frfku9-1226414602756#ixzz1zR5Xlj6f

For me, labor surviving federally has becomes less of an issue.

We have finally got a carbon price, which cant be undone, and the liberals have said they will now back the NBN.

NBN and carbon price is locked in no matter which party governs.  Australia is at peace.

progressiveslol wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 2:46pm:


Anyone who thinks Abbott will get rid of the carbon tax is a muppet.

He cant anyway.

progressiveslol wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 2:53pm:

Gist wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 3:04pm:

That kid is too cute to be me. I am more in the middle of the kid and Gist below

Grey wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 4:06pm:


Do you mean in this country Grey? Because USA has already been there done that with Reagan.

Doctor Jolly wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 4:12pm:


I'm sorry to say I disagree with you. Abbott has the potential to be PM for many years if he repeals the carbon tax at this point, because the electorate is too stupid and ignorant to understand how important it is for our future. He probably will repeal it, as sad as that may be. I had hope that the electorate would wake up to the Coalition, but it just isn't going to happen. The election is approaching nearer and nearer, and Labor just isn't making any ground. 

he won't repeal anything ... big business is already stating that if he does they will want compensation, compensation he can't afford ... and so they should ... how can anyone run a business when every time a new party gets in all they want to do is undo what the previous party did .... time for abbott to accept that he lost this battle and move on .....