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Neal tight lipped about political future

Disendorsed Labor MP Belinda Neal is refusing to say whether she will contest the next election as an independent in her NSW central coast seat.

belinda neal (AAP)
Member for Robertson, Belinda Neal (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Ms Neal lost a preselection battle in her Robertson electorate to university lecturer Deborah O'Neill in March.

However, an advertisement appeared in a Fairfax paper on Saturday calling for applicants for a vacant media officer position in the federal MP's office.

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Given an election is expected to be called any day now, the ad has fuelled speculation that Ms Neal is considering standing as an independent, or making a move to state politics.

"I've made no decision about my future," she told Sky News today.

"Obviously I was elected in 2007 to represent the people of Robertson, I continue to represent them, work hard and deliver for the central coast and really, that's all that is on my mind at the moment."

Ms Neal said she didn't know when a poll would be called, so placing the ad for the media adviser was just business as usual in her office.

"I have to go full tilt, working hard for the community right till the bitter end and that is what I am doing," she said.

"I have a number of positions in my office that I maintain and when I have a vacancy I re-advertise.

"No great signal coming from that unfortunately."

Ms Neal said her disendorsement was disappointing and doubted her successor would be able to hold the seat for Labor.

"It's the most marginally-held seat in Australia, in fact I only won it after an 18-month campaign by 185 votes," she said.

"It is disappointing to me that the fact that we've given away incumbency means that we're much less likely to win the seat."


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