NRL great Terry Campese is hoping to represent Labor in the 2023 New South Wales state election, announcing he will stand for preselection in the regional seat of Monaro.
Campese captained the Canberra Raiders from 2010 to 2014 and has represented NSW in State of Origin and Australia internationally.
The Queanbeyan local said politics was the natural next step from his work in the community through the Terry Campese foundation.
“I am driven by working in and for the community and I want to take that commitment to the next level,” Campese said in a statement on Sunday.
The seat of Monaro was formerly held by John Barilaro, former Nationals leader and deputy premier, prior to his resignation late last year.
If successful in gaining preselection, Campese is expected to run against the current member for Monaro, Nichole Overall from the Nationals.
The state Labor leader, Chris Minns, said he was delighted with the news and believed Campese could make a real difference for the community.
“While we all will miss Terry running around as captain-coach for the Queanbeyan Blues, his most important and valued work has always been his community and charitable works,” Minns said.
“Terry knows what the people of Monaro and Queanbeyan need in terms of service delivery and support, because he listens and delivers for them as a community worker each and every day.”
Campese founded his namesake foundation in 2012 with the aim of building brighter futures for young people.
Since leaving the NRL he has remained active in the sport by serving as captain-coach of Queanbeyan Blues since 2017 as well as commentating on Raiders games on local radio.
Campese has acted as an ambassador for several charities including Canteen Cancer, and Ronald McDonald House, and as a patron of Raising Hope Education foundation, and he continues to work with the NRL on their roads to regions projects.
“I’m prepared to work with anyone and everyone to make Monaro a better region,” he said. “It’s time for a fresh start in Monaro and I’m determined to ensure a Minns Labor government delivers better schools and hospitals for our community.”
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