WA: WA politician eyes federal career

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2009
WA: WA politician eyes federal career

By Aleisha Preedy

PERTH, Aug 9 AAP - West Australian Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan has finally confirmed
she will pursue a career in federal politics.

Ms MacTiernan announced on Sunday she had put her hand up for preselection in the federal
seat of Canning.

Speaking outside her electorate, the member for Armadale, in Perth's southern suburbs,
said it would be a battle to win the seat from incumbent Liberal Don Randall.

She estimated a five per cent swing was needed to take the seat from the Liberal Party.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed the announcement and in a statement on Sunday said
Ms MacTiernan had a reputation for getting the job done.

"Alannah MacTiernan brings experience, a strong record of delivering locally and a
reputation for innovation and for getting the job done, to her candidacy for preselection
as Labor candidate for Canning," Mr Rudd said.

"I look forward to working with her in developing her strong vision for Western Australia."

Ms MacTiernan was minister for planning and infrastructure during Labor's reign with
Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter as premiers from 2001 to 2008.

There had been strong speculation Ms MacTiernan planned to take leadership of the WA
Labor Party from Eric Ripper.

Ms MacTiernan credits her greatest achievement in state politics as completing the
extension of the Perth rail line to Mandurah in the south and Clarkson in the north.

She said her biggest regret was losing the 2008 federal election to the Liberal and
National coalition.

Known as a colourful character in WA politics, Ms MacTiernan said she did not plan
to tone down her attitude for federal politics.

""I don't think I'm going to be quite a Wilson Tuckey," Ms MacTiernan said on Sunday.

"(But) certainly I don't see myself at this point in my life dramatically changing
my personality."

AAP ap/bwl/mn

KEYWORD: MACTIERNAN (PIX AVAILABLE)

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