The ACT Labor Party is set to allow candidates to stand for preselection after just one year in the party, a move that would allow high-profile Canberrans including Indian leader Deepak-Raj Gupta and the face of the Fluffy campaign, Brianna Heseltine, to stand next year.
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Mr Gupta, 49, a federal public servant, confirmed his interest in running in the key seat of Gungahlin on Thursday and his candidacy will be welcomed by Labor, given his profile in the Indian community and the significant ethnic vote in Gungahlin, where Labor could win or lose the election.
Ms Heseltine did not confirm her candidacy, but party insiders expect her to seek preselection in the Woden-Weston seat of Murrumbidgee, where Simon Corbell's resignation, amid controversy about his own chances of winning preselection, has left no sitting members on the Labor ticket.
Labor is deep in negotiations as it looks for 25 candidates to contest the 2016 election where the Assembly's numbers are expanding from 17 to 25.
On Saturday, the branch has its annual conference, with 327 delegates of the party's nearly 1700 members, where the membership change is just one of the rule changes igniting debate.
While all of the sitting members, except Mr Corbell, have signalled their intention to stand again, Mr Corbell is not the only one running into preselection trouble.
In Belconnen, long-standing member Mary Porter faces a challenge in the right faction from Tara Cheyne, chairperson of the Belconnen Community Council and author of the blog In the Taratory. Ms Cheyne could not be reached for comment.
At the moment, candidates must belong to the party for two years before they can stand for preselection. Cutting the time to one year will free the way for at least two other candidates, neither of whom would comment on Thursday.
Party secretary Matt Byrne said the change recognised the need to find 25 candidates for the next Assembly and gave the party its best chance to attract good candidates from the community.
While preselection jockeying is active, nominations haven't officially opened, with decisions expected over October and November.
Mr Byrne will also move to boost membership fees at the conference, abolishing the sliding scale based on income and introducing a flat fee of $15 a month, or $180 a year, discounted for union members and part-time workers. For people on $50,000, who currently pay $60 a year, it is a big jump, but high income earners will gain from the change.
Mr Byrne said a monthly fee would ensure an even cash flow and reduce the party's reliance on donations, with membership income set to double under the change.
The party will also scrap its rule that requires party members to belong to a union – a change it has to make after a decision of the national conference.
As preselection firms in Labor, eight people look to be in the running for five spots in Murrumbidgee.
In Belconnen, seven candidates are vying for preselection, including sitting members Ms Porter, Yvette Berry and Chris Bourke.
In Tuggeranong, the ticket looks complete with five candidates, including Joy Burch and Mick Gentleman.
In the central seat of Kurrajong, Andrew Barr is the only sitting candidate, with five others in the running for preselection.
In Gungahlin, Meegan Fitzharris is standing, with five others vying for a spot.
Mr Gupta, president of the Australia India Business Council and the Canberra India Council, said light rail was a important issue for Gungahlin, but the area's concerns went well beyond that, including the need for services for the many young families in the area.
