Labor finalises candidates in crucial seats ahead of election

Jana Stewart to take Kimberly Kitching's Senate spot amid factional in-fighting in Victoria over federal intervention

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

Federal Labor has finalised its candidates in a number of crucial seats ahead of this year's election, including the controversial choice of Andrew Charlton to contest Parramatta and a consensus replacement for Kimberley Kitching in the Senate.

Nominations for vacant positions closed on Monday, with only one candidate to replace each of Kitching, retiring Victorian left senator Kim Carr, MP Julie Owens and right faction MP Andrew Byrne.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning