Lawyer quits Labor for independent tilt
Lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi has quit the Labor Party, saying it has shown “little interest” in retaining the Legislative Council seat of Elwick where he will now run as an independent.
He says his efforts to get the party to take the elections for Elwick and Hobart “seriously” have been ignored.
“We are now just 37 days away from those two elections, with no Labor candidate,” Mr Cangelosi said.
“Many members of the party are disbelieving that after a collective effort to form government, it has chosen to give up.
“For my part, as a result of that decision, it is now likely that a Liberal Party under increasing right-wing influence is likely to be able to form a minority government.
“The frontline of progressive politics now shifts to the Legislative Council.
“Absent interest from the party to defend its seat in Elwick, and use it as a bastion to protect communities vulnerable to right-wing policy, I have had no choice but to stand as an independent.”
Mr Cangelosi had nominated for preselection for Labor but said he would never vote in line with the State Parliamentary Labor Party if it was “contrary to the constituency of Elwick and the platform”.
In his letter of resignation on Wednesday night, Mr Cangelosi said: “I damn the party’s short-sightedness.
“Given the background, I am only able to conclude that the party has as little interest in retaining the division of Elwick as it does in forming majority in the House of Assembly,” he wrote.
Elections for the seats of Hobart, Prosser and Elwick will be held on May 4.
Josh Willie, the former Labor member for Elwick, has been successful in his bid to win a seat in Clark in the House of Assembly and whoever is elected to replace him will serve until 2028.
Former Hobart lord mayor Rob Valentine is retiring from the seat of Hobart, and the member for Prosser, Jane Howlett, successfully stood for Lyons where she will pick up a seat after polling strongly.
The new members for Hobart and Prosser will serve a sixyear term until 2030.
The Labor Party has been contacted for comment.