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July 11th, 2013 
THE political career of an aspiring Labor candidate for Julia Gillard’s seat of Lalor may be over before it begins, after a interview in which she admitted to having no connection to the party or the electorate.
Both Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and ALP National President Jenny McAllister were lukewarm in their comments about Lisa Clutterham, who is vying for the plum western Melbourne seat at the urging of Trade Minister Richard Marles.
In a bizarre interview that has drawn comparisons with other short-lived political careers, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade diplomat told ABC radio she only joined the ALP a few weeks ago and didn’t have “much of a pedigree” when it came to politics.
“I don’t have a connection with Melbourne and that’s not something I’m shying away from,” said Ms Clutterham, who is currently based in Papua New Guinea.
“I’m in the camp of a majority of Australians, 99 per cent of whom are not members of political parties.”
The 29-year-old did say she had visited the Victorian capital, but added her only connection to Lalor was her partner, who had family there “and as a child he visited Werribee on many Christmas holidays”.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd elicited laughs at the National Press Club in Canberra when he admitted finding Ms Clutterham’s remarks “pretty interesting”.
“I don’t rule out people sort of coming to a seat where they’ve not had a previous connection, but I thought it was a pretty curious interview, and I was a little surprised by it,” Mr Rudd said, adding he’d never met Ms Clutterham.
ALP National President Jenny McAllister said she did not know Ms Clutterham, but told Sky News preselections were run to get the candidate with the right skills, life experience and connection to their area.
“It may not matter technically – it probably does matter politically,” she said of the need to live locally.
The Clutterham interview revived memories of the short political career of rugby league star and now Queensland coach Mal Meninga, who quit politics moments into a radio interview to announce his candidacy for the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Ms Gillard has endorsed former local primary school principal Joanne Ryan for the seat. Other preselection candidates include Sandra Willis, daughter of former Keating-era treasurer Ralph Willis, and unionist Kimberley Kitching.
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