Is politics in Sydney’s inner west
going to be one happy family? We’ll find out next month when voters in
Marrickville decide whether they want a husband and wife team
representing them in state and federal politics, after Carmel Tebbutt
decided to run for Andrew Refshauge’s vacant state seat.

Tebbutt
is married to Left faction heavy Anthony Albanese, who holds the
adjacent federal seat of Grayndler. There must have been some long
nights in the Albanese household this past week as the two plotted the
Upper House member’s future: first, Tebbutt decided to run for the
deputy leadership against John Watkins, but then pulled out.

Then she was going to run for Marrickville – and four days later she pulled out of that race. Now, Tebbutt tells the Herald
it’s
back on: “What’s changed is that I have spoken to people in the
community on the weekend and they have shown tremendous support for me.”

What’s
changed is that Tebbutt met with Premier Iemma after head office
quietly conducted a weekend poll showing voters would consider voting
Labor if she ran. The other main potential Labor contender, former
mayor Barry Cotter, is on the nose and the Labor Party branches have
melted away. Marrickville is traditionally a safe Labor seat –
Refshauge held a 22% margin at the last election. But changing
demographics and Labor’s ailing fortunes make this an interesting
contest.

Tebbutt will lose Refshauge’s significant personal
vote, and faces a stern challenge from the Greens. The Greens have
outpolled Labor in recent local elections and now hold five council
seats to Labor’s four. What will the Liberals do? Will they show some
courage and run a candidate and a strong campaign – or will they roll
over and let the Greens do their work for them?