McKew

Labor has rolled out a celebrity candidate, former ABC reporter Maxine McKew, to take on the Prime Minister in his North West Sydney suburban seat of Bennelong.

The ALP has bounced its prospective candidate, plumber and Parramatta Councillor, Pierre Esber, who is less than impressed.

John Howard stoically declared he would have to work even harder for his constituency, while Government hit man and Health Minister Tony Abbott attacked the star Labor recruit as a celebrity.

RESPECTED former ABC presenter Maxine McKew has found her answer to what she recently described as a "late-ish mid-life crisis". She is joining Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's campaign team.

Ms McKew, 53, who left the ABC and her long broadcasting career late last year saying she had not decided what she would do with the next stage of her life, will be special adviser on strategy. Announcing her appointment, Mr Rudd said she would be responsible for "drawing on the expertise of a wide cross-section of business, academic and non-government organisations — to secure their input into Labor's policies and ideas for the year ahead".