Fed: Carmen Lawrence a favourite for the frontbench

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2000
Fed: Carmen Lawrence a favourite for the frontbench

By Jordan Baker

CANBERRA, Aug 31 AAP - Former West Australian premier Carmen Lawrence is firming as
favourite to fill a frontbench vacancy for the federal Labor Party.

Dr Lawrence, the health minister in the Keating Labor government, quit the frontbench
when she faced criminal charges arising from a royal commission in Western Australia.

She was acquitted but has remained on the backbench.

However, she is strongly tipped to replace Labor's Aboriginal affairs spokesman Daryl
Melham, who quit the frontbench yesterday in protest at Labor's deal over Queensland native
title laws.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he had a candidate in mind but would put the issue
to the Labor caucus next Tuesday before discussing it with the media.

But Labor backbenchers said there was a tremendous amount of support for Dr Lawrence.

"I think she frightens the pants off many of the Howard government ministers, so I
think she's looking pretty good to make a comeback to the frontbench," Tasmanian MP Dick
Adams told journalists.

Deputy Labor leader Simon Crean said Dr Lawrence was a good candidate.

"Carmen was a terrific performer as state premier, she made the transition here seamlessly,
she made a great impact as health minister," Mr Crean told ABC radio.

He rejected suggestions she was still tainted by the Marks Royal Commission, set up
to determine the then WA premier's knowledge of a damaging petition against Perth lawyer
Penny Easton.

Dr Lawrence was eventually charged with giving false evidence to the royal commission
but was acquitted in the WA District Court.

"I think people will put that behind themselves when they make the judgment about her,"

Mr Crean said.

Mr Beazley signalled the replacement would spark only a small portfolio reshuffle.

"Reshuffling of (the) frontbench is obviously always an option for leaders, but I'll
tell you when you don't do it: you don't do it in the middle of parliamentary sessions,"

Mr Beazley told journalists today.

"I'm pretty happy with the way in which all of our folk are working."

The decision will be made at the next caucus meeting on Tuesday.

AAP jb/mfh/gmw/de

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