Chris Brown is considering his options after being dumped as the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Fremantle amid revelations he had a criminal history that was spent five years ago.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) organiser was formally disendorsed on Thursday in favour of Fremantle Deputy Mayor Josh Wilson after it was revealed he had assault and drink-driving convictions stemming back to the 1980s when he was a teenager, which were spent in 2011.
A spokesman for the former wharfie said on Friday Mr Brown had asked the ALP to review its decision.
"Chris is considering his options politically, personally, and professionally," the spokesman said.
Mr Brown told reporters on Thursday he had received legal advice after the party's national executive voted unanimously to replace him.
"I would ask Bill Shorten to genuinely re-assess the information used to disendorse my candidacy so that I can continue in our campaign," he said.
MUA WA branch secretary Chris Cain told AAP on Friday the union would meet to discuss the legal options but said it was unlikely Labor would change its decision.
"We think it's appalling in the way the chain of events has happened," he said.
Mr Cain said Mr Brown had been granted a spent conviction because it was not a serious offence and it should not be held against him now.
"It's absolutely disgusting and a miscarriage of justice," he said.
"I'm not sure Labor will change their mind now ... but maybe the rules of the Labor Party need to be changed so this can't happen again."
Mr Wilson, who is also chief of staff to outgoing Fremantle MP Melissa Parke, said he sympathised with Mr Brown, whom he described as a good guy.
Share
