She was responding to comments on Radio National by Senator Doug Cameron, who said there was no point party members nominating for the Senate vacancy created by the resignation of former foreign minister Bob Carr because a cross-factional deal had already been struck that will see defeated member for Robertson Deb O’Neill take the seat. 

“Sussex Street [Labor’s NSW head office] is like the politburo with its shady backroom deals,” she said.

Ms Miran announced last week she would nominate for the position, joining Gerroa barrister and unsuccessful Senate candidate at the recent federal election Glenn Kolomeitz. 

“Again it’s the anointed who are chosen, someone who’s lost her seat, said she wants to recontest it, and they’ve decided to give her a job for the next three years.

“Why bother calling for nominations if you have no intention of honouring them,” Ms Miran said.

She said the $750 fee to nominate would not be refundable. Her fee had been raised by local ALP

members.

Ms Miran described the cross-factional deal outlined by Senator Cameron as tit-for-tat arrangement.

“The left gives the right faction a position; then the right gives the left a position.

“My loyalty is to the ALP, not to a faction; this should not be about factional deals. These people just don’t get it. The electorate wants an open and transparent political party they can have some trust in.”

She said the Senate vacancy offered the party a golden opportunity to contest two ballots at the same time – the party leadership and the Senate spot.

Ms Miran conceded her campaign would damage an already battered Labor image but was unrepentant.

“I guess in a way I am bringing out the dirty linen. But often the best way of healing is to bring it all out and clean it all out. It becomes a demonstrable exercise in renewal and reform.

“My guiding principle comes from Ben Chifley, John Curtin and Gough Whitlam, not from this bunch of apparatchiks,” she said, referring to NSW Labor’s factional bosses. 

Meanwhile, unsuccessful Gilmore candidate Neil Reilly, who flagged his intention to nominate for the Senate vacancy shortly after the election, has announced he would not go ahead.