NSW: Party not divided over by-election candidate: Crean
SYDNEY, Aug 14 AAP - The Labor Party today denied it was divided over who would bethe new candidate for the seat vacated by frontbencher Stephen Martin.
Dr Martin, who won the Wollongong-based seat of Cunningham by more than 10 per centat the 2001 election, announced his resignation from politics on Monday.
Opposition Leader Simon Crean said there were different views on who the best candidate would be.
"I think that it would be a strange set of circumstances if there weren't differingviews as to who the best candidate is, but that's what you have a preselection processfor," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Healthy debate within any political party is what's got to be encouraged."
Mr Crean said the NSW branch of the Labor Party would decide on a candidate for theCunningham by-election.
"They will make a decision no doubt when we know when the by-election is, but the dateof the by-election is in the hands of the speaker in consultation with the prime minister,"
he said.
"I'm sure that we'll be putting forward the best candidate and we'll be running a verypositive campaign."
AAP rcg/arb/tnf/sb
KEYWORD: CUNNINGHAM CREAN
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