Fight over CFMEU’s ability to preselect candidates threatens to split NSW Labor left

Attempt to stop union from voting has prompted the soft left to threaten to divide the faction

• Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

An ugly preselection brawl within the New South Wales Labor left has threatened to split the faction ahead of the next state election, amid accusations of rorts", legal threats and ongoing criminal charges over allegations of union officials accepting bribes.

At the centre of the intra-factional fight is a bid by the hard left to block the powerful CFMEU and its allies from installing prominent barrister Cameron Murphy into a winnable spot on the party's upper house ticket ahead of the March election.