Labor candidate withdraws from race to keep teaching job

An Australian Labor candidate has withdrawn from the election race after discovering she would have to quit her position as a teacher if she continued.

Carolyne Boothman Source: ALP

Carolyne Boothman, who had been campaigning for Gippsland, announced she would withdraw from the race before it even started.

Ms Boothman said she was forced to withdraw after learning she would have to resign from her position as a teacher at Morwell Primary School, with no guarantees she would be able to return to her position.

"I'm not in a position to be able to do that, I'm on a 12-month contract and definitely need my teaching position as I'm a single-income earning person so sadly have to resign my position as the candidate," Ms Boothman told ABC Radio.

Under the Constitution, public servants have to resign if nominating for the House of Representatives and Senate, even if they are on leave without pay.

Gippsland Federal Electorate Assembly President, Darren McCubbin, also expressed disappointment at the outcome.

"The absurd nature of our Constitution means that she cannot, as a working teacher, be given the opportunity to represent the people of Gippsland in the Federal Parliament," he said.