FORMER prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was often criticised by conservative critics within the Coalition as being "more Labor than Liberal".
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In the lead-up to her recent election as opposition leader, Strathfield MP and former member for Newcastle Jodi McKay faced similar questions, with claims she was a "closet Liberal".
Speaking in Newcastle on Friday, McKay confirmed the conservatives had talked to her before she sided with Labor before the 2007 poll. But she denied reports she had asked for a Liberal seat or been offered the seat of Port Stephens.
"I had two discussions back then, I never had any further meetings or discussions with anyone," Ms McKay said.
"They approached me, they asked me to stand, I had those discussions, but you know where you sit in your belief system. You know what is important to you as a person."
Ms McKay is often referred to as a "former NBN newsreader" but she left television in July 2003 to move full-time into public affairs, initially with Newcastle ad agency Enigma and then under her own name.
By early 2006, her corporate clients included OneSteel, Tomago Aluminium and the Honeysuckle Development Corporation. She chaired the Hunter Medical Research Institute Foundation and was an honorary director of the Hunter Manufacturers Institute and the University of Newcastle's commercial arm, TUNRA.
In March of that year, McKay was recruited by businessman Hilton Grugeon to host the launch of the Salvation Army's annual Red Shield Appeal. It was a memorable afternoon. John Howard attended to donate $250,000 of Commonwealth funds. Businessman Jeff McCloy - six years before becoming Newcastle lord mayor - donated $1 million.
During the 2003 election campaign, Mr Grugeon angered Labor with a $250,000 advertising campaign titled Hunter First, which called on voters to "sack the safe [Labor] seats". By mid-2005, the non-Labor forces were at it again, encouraging the Newcastle lord mayor of the day, Independent John Tate, to run for Macquarie Street.
But the ALP's dominant Right faction also had its eye on Cr Tate, wanting him to replace 15-year Left faction backbencher Bryce Gaudry as Labor's 2007 candidate. When Cr Tate prevaricated, the ALP called his bluff and in August 2006 premier Morris Iemma stunned the political world by announcing he wanted Ms McKay to run in Newcastle.
He got his way. Ms McKay beat Cr Tate after preferences, 51.2 per cent to 48.8 per cent. Mr Gaudry ran third, and was expelled from the ALP for running against the endorsed candidate. About 30 of his supporters were also expelled, and 20 more resigned.
Ms McKay's first term in parliament coincided with the implosion of a tired Labor government riddled with corruption. She lost the seat in 2011 to Liberal Tim Owen, 52.6 per cent to 47.4 per cent. She emerged from an eviscerating ICAC examination unscathed, but many on both sides did not.
Ms McKay said yesterday she joined the Labor party to help bring "change to the city". History shows it was the Coalition, rather than Labor, that achieved that in Newcastle. The question now is whether Ms McKay - and a team that includes Swansea MP Yasmin Catley as her deputy - can bring about another change, from opposition to government.
Ian Kirkwood
Reporting journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1987. Editorial writer, general reporter, industrial relations, industry and coal.
Reporting journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1987. Editorial writer, general reporter, industrial relations, industry and coal.
