The Illawarra seat of Cunningham is at the centre of a Labor Party preselection battle.
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Misha Zelinsky, a self-confessed fighter for the people, has put his hand up to challenge incumbent MP Sharon Bird for the right to represent the party at the next federal election.
Mr Zelinsky grew up in Wollongong and attended Smiths Hill High, before studying law and economics at the University of Wollongong.
Last year, as the UOW Council's alumni representative, he voiced his anger at university fee deregulation.
More recently, Mr Zelinsky’s role as national vice president of the Australian Workers’ Union saw him involved in the fight to save the Port Kembla steelworks.
“I think the town’s at a crossroads,” he told the Mercury. “I saw how close that place went to shutting.
“We just need an action plan going forward … about what we’re going to do about preserving the jobs that we have, supporting them, evolving them, but also how we’re going to create new jobs around an innovation agenda.”
Mr Zelinksy described himself as a “local who cares”. “I’ve always wanted to be someone who stands up for our area,” he said.
“Wollongong is a fantastic place with so much potential but if we don’t act now there’s a risk that we’re going to get left behind.”
Ms Bird said she was “a bit puzzled” by the challenge, given Mr Zelinsky hadn’t flagged any issues with her.
“In fact, he signed my nomination form last week, so it was a bit surprising,” she said.
Ms Bird said issues raised by her challenger were important and she had been working directly on them.
Mr Zelinsky said the challenge was “nothing personal”.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Sharon,” he said.
Preselection applications closed on Friday.
The Mercury can reveal Mr Zelinsky and Ms Bird were the only nominations.
The preselection ballot will be held on December 12.