ALP tension ahead of preselection

In a handwritten letter sent to Ms Watson, Mr Jones called for a meeting of ALP members who "can be trusted" to endorse a "plan for change" in the Illawarra's Labor Party establishment.

In the letter, dated March 12, Mr Jones invited Ms Watson to a meeting of key people from Labor Party branches in the southern Wollongong seat of Throsby.

"So far I've invited about 15 ppl [sic] who I know can be trusted," Mr Jones wrote in the letter.

"I'd be happy to increase the number if you can think of others but you may wish to have an 'arm's length' involvement if you prefer … I'd like to get a personal email address from you as well."

There has been simmering tension in the Illawarra's Labor Party ranks ahead of a federal preselection vote due to take place around August.

Mr Jones, who is in Federal Labor's left wing, has failed to muster support among sections of the party in the area due to a perceived lack of consultation on policy issues, chiefly his outspoken stance on same-sex marriage.

Teaming up with Anna Watson may give Mr Jones enough support to see off a challenge from the party's right wing, led by Wollongong MP Noreen Hay who is the convener of the party's parliamentary right faction.

Mr Jones declined to comment on the letter, but said he was meeting Labor figures to push for structural change to the party.

"I don't intend to comment on personal mail which may or may not pass between me and another member of the Labor Party or another MP," he said.

"Yes it is true that I am talking to some people who are active in the party and who have expressed their desire for us to get behind party renewal."

Ms Watson said she "didn't want to talk" about the letter and had not attended any meeting which may have been set up.

"As far as I am concerned the federal election is the federal election and I'm concentrating on state issues and trying to educate the community about what is going on at the state level," she said.