Kristina Keneally, 48, has bought a $1.8 million mansion 30 kilometres from the electorate she is contesting, adding weight to the theory her return to politics was a spontaneous decision.
The former NSW Labor premier, turned TV personality, announced her return to politics on Tuesday.
With Labor party leader Bill Shorten by her side, Ms Keneally announced she would run for the federal seat of Bennelong in the upcoming December 16 by-election.
Ms Keneally’s purchase of a home on Scotland Island, 30 kilometres outside the Bennelong electorate, suggests she did not have prior plans to contest the seat.
Former NSW Labor premier Kristina Keneally (pictured with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten) will run for the federal seat of Bennelong in the upcoming by-election
Ms Keneally’s purchase of a waterfront home (pictured) on Scotland Island, 30 kilometres outside the Bennelong electorate, suggests she did not have prior plans to contest the seat
The political commentator will challenge federal MP John Alexander who was forced to step down after he was exposed as a UK citizen, in the dual citizen saga that has engulfed the parliament.
While federal members are expected to live in their electorates, there is no requirement candidates live in the electorate that they wish to contest.
Ms Keneally bought the waterfront home on Scotland Island together with her husband Ben in mid-October, according to Domain.
The pair, who currently live at Hunters Hill on Sydney’s north shore, are expected to have keys to their new million-dollar property on Friday.
Ms Keneally’s purchase of a home (pictured) on Scotland Island, 30 kilometres outside the Bennelong electorate, suggests she did not have prior plans to contest the seat
Ms Keneally bought the waterfront home on Scotland Island together with her husband Ben in mid-October
The pair, who currently live at Hunters Hill on Sydney’s north shore, are expected to have keys to their new property (pictured) on Friday
The 860 square metre house is positioned on the south-facing waterfront with views over Bayview, has five bedrooms, a study and an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area.
News of the $1.8 purchase comes just one day after Ms Keneally announced her return to politics.
‘I am running because this is an opportunity for the community to stand up and say to Mr Turnbull – your government is awful,’ she said on Tuesday.
‘Enough is enough.’
Ms Kenneally (pictured), who was born in Las Vegas, was quizzed on her citizenship status and restated she had renounced her United States citizenship in 2002 before she ran for NSW State Parliament
News of the $1.8 purchase (pictured) comes just one day after she announced her return to politics
Political commentators have come out in favour of Ms Keneally to win the December 16 by-election.
Keneally’s Sky News colleague and former chief of staff to Tony Abbott, Peta Credlin, said she was a ‘real chance’ of pulling off an upset.
Even before Tuesday’s announcement, experts were warning Bennelong was not a safe Liberal seat.
‘It’s not something the Liberals can be confident about,’ University of Sydney government expert Michael Hogan told AAP on Monday.
The 860 square metre house positioned on the south-facing waterfront with views over Bayview, has five bedrooms, a study and an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area