A LEADER with a genuine personality is what the Australian Labor Party (ALP) needs if it wants to win the next election.
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Jess Jennings, who contested the seat of Calare for the ALP, made the claim ahead of the party's leadership reshuffle this week.
Mr Jennings wasn't surprised that Bill Shorten stepped down as the leader of the ALP following the shock election loss, saying it was the right thing to do.
"He's had two cracks at [winning] and failed two times in a row as the leader. He did the right thing," he said, adding that Mr Shorten didn't appeal to voters.
"He just never really resonated. I don't think people felt they got to know him and they didn't ultimately feel like he was on their side, even though his policies were very much benefiting the majority of the country, the low to middle income earners."
Moving forward, Mr Jennings wants to see someone with "a personal connection" who comes across as "genuine, real and authentic" assume leadership.
His first pick would be Anthony "Albo" Albanese, who is tipped to be elected unopposed as leader.
READ ALSO: Albo, Marles set to be ALP leadership team
Mr Albanese has stood for leadership of the party before, but lost to Mr Shorten.
Mr Jennings said he was popular among party members, but lost the caucus vote.
He thinks he now has enough support from the party to be leader and would appeal more to voters, as well as be an advocate for regional and rural communities.
Mr Albanese has visited Bathurst before and was the guest speaker at the annual Light on the Hill dinner in 2015, where he was introduced by Mr Jennings, and has a solid background in working for regional areas.
"He's already got very strong credentials from regional infrastructure and regional development portfolios," Mr Jennings said.
"He understands the regions very well and is a very genuine personality. He can listen to the bush and talk to them ... people feel like they are being listened to by him."
Nominations for the Labor leadership will close on Monday.
Mr Jennings said the best pairing for the ALP would be Mr Albanese as leader and Jim Chalmers as the deputy leader.
READ ALSO: Albanese unopposed for Labor leadership
Mr Chalmers has been the member for Rankin, in Queensland, since 2013 and has served as the Shadow Minister for Finance since 2016.
Before being elected to parliament, he was the executive director of the Chifley Research Centre (named after Ben Chifley) and prior to that was the chief of staff to the deputy prime minister and treasurer.
He has a PhD in political science and international relations and a first class honours degree in public policy.