Fed: Stott Despoja refuses to anoint next Democrats leader
CANBERRA, Aug 29 AAP - Former Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja todaydeclined to say whether she spoke to Brian Greig about pulling out of the leadership race.
Andrew Bartlett yesterday joined Senator Greig in the contest for the leadership.
So far, nobody has put their name forward for the deputy leadership.
Senator Stott Despoja told journalists she was not in a position to state who was thebest candidate or who the membership should choose as leader.
"You've got two fine candidates, two good men, two committed Democrats," she said.
"I wish them well ... my job is not to endorse today."
The Australian newspaper reported Senator Greig had rejected overtures to stand asidefor Senator Bartlett, who his parliamentary colleagues believe has a better chance ofuniting the divided party room.
Senator Stott Despoja said she had spoken to both men about the difficulties involvedin being Democrats leader.
"I expressed to them the challenges, as well as the exciting opportunities," she said.
"We went through options and various discussions, any more specifics than that, that'snot really a matter for the media.
"Any further discussion as to who or what should happen, that should happen amongstthe membership and in the party room."
AAP so/daw/ph/bwl
KEYWORD: DEMOCRATS DESPOJA
No comments:
Post a Comment