Shorten has Faith to topple Entsch

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten has endorsed Cairns’s Elida Faith as candidate for Leichhardt after a tough battle for preselection against regional councillor Richie Bates.

“Her experience in community advocacy and representing her fellow workers means she’ll be a strong voice fighting to protect Medicare and penalty rates as well as fighting for good, secure, local jobs,” Mr Shorten said in a written statement.

The 46-year-old mother and Labor Left factional stalwart said she was eager to take the fight to incumbent Coalition MP Warren Entsch at the next election.

“I’ve seen first-hand the damage done to our region by attacks on jobs and social services,” said Ms Faith.

“People up here are hurting, but instead of focusing on creating jobs, improving health care and boosting our community services Warren Entsch and Malcolm Turnbull want to give tax cuts to millionaires.

“Malcolm Turnbull and the LNP just don’t get Far North Queensland.”

Cr Bates, who had run on a Labor Right platform, wished Ms Faith all the best but believed he would have made a strong voice for the Far North in Canberra.

“I felt confident I could have won Leichhardt for Labor if given the opportunity,” he said.

Ms Faith has lived in Cairns for 18 years after moving from the Sunshine Coast, establishing herself as a local activist and working for the Community and Public Sector Union.

ALP Queensland state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell said Ms Faith was a passionate community activist who would not take a backwards step.

Mr Entsch knows little about his political opponent.

“I have no idea who she is other than she’s the head of a union,” he said.

“I wasn’t surprised she won, given the stranglehold of the socialists on the Labor Party.