By Royce Millar and Richard Willingham
VICTORIAN Labor is preparing for a cleanout of its old guard of MPs, with factional bosses nominating former ministers Rob Hulls, John Lenders, Justin Madden and Marsha Thomson among those to make way for new blood by the 2014 election.
Labor insiders also claim the renewal process has been slowed by some ''class of '99'' MPs - those first elected in 1999 - wanting to hold on to qualify for full parliamentary pensions.
ALP sources believe Mr Hulls (first elected in 1996), Mr Lenders (1999), Mr Madden (1999) and Footscray MP Marsha Thomson (1999) will not contest the 2014 poll. ''They will all go,'' a senior Labor Right figure told The Age.
While former attorney-general Mr Hulls has vowed to see out his full term - as former premier John Brumby promised to do before the November election - most expect Mr Hulls to follow Mr Brumby's example and resign well before the 2014 poll.
Under Parliament's salaries and superannuation rules, which were amended in 2007, MPs are entitled to a full annual pension if they quit after 12 years in office - but only if their retirement does not trigger a byelection.
Members who have served 15 years are free to resign at any time without affecting their pensions. Mr Hulls will clock up 15 years' service next month.
His pension would be lucrative, possibly as much as $160,000 a year, given his time served and for positions of responsibility such as deputy premier, attorney-general and deputy opposition leader. Yesterday he would not comment on his political future.
The full roll call of MPs departing before the 2014 poll could be a long one. Of the ALP's 58 state caucus members, 22 were first elected in 1999 as part of Steve Bracks's first government, or before.
Backbenchers who have served eight years - but no time on the frontbench - are entitled to a pension of about $70,000 a year.
Despite his relative youth and leadership potential, even shadow treasurer Tim Holding is included in one shadow minister's list of possible retirees from the 1999 intake.
''The '99ers have waited around for the super. I am not even sure if someone like Holding will stick around. All these '99ers are suspect,'' the shadow cabinet source said. Others disagreed.
Pressure is mounting for change after Labor's defeat in the November election worsened an existing logjam of aspiring MPs.
Labor now has fewer seats, especially safe ones, available to a growing number of aspirants. As a result, some older MPs are likely to be told to make way for fresh faces in 2014.
Mr Madden, the former planning minister, looks unlikely to remain in his now marginal seat of Essendon beyond the current term, even if he wants to.
While he declared himself a leadership aspirant 18 months ago, his political career was tarnished by his troubled time as planning minister and, in particular, the controversy over the Windsor Hotel redevelopment.
''I don't think anyone else thinks he's leadership material,'' said one of his shadow cabinet colleagues yesterday. ''The planning stuff really killed him.'' Mr Madden was unavailable for comment.
Faction bosses have also identified former treasurer John Lenders as someone unlikely seek pre-selection for 2014.
In opposition Mr Lenders now holds the important water and agriculture portfolios. ''But he just doesn't look like somebody who wants to be there [in opposition] said one of his senior colleagues. Mr Lenders did not return calls.
Ms Thomson, the former consumer affairs minister who holds the coveted seat of Footscray, has appeared on lists drawn up by faction chiefs as they look for safe seats in which to install favoured up-and-comers.
Other former ministers in the class of '99 are Gavin Jennings, Joe Helper, Bronwyn Pike and Richard Wynne. Ms Pike said she had not considered her future beyond 2014 because it was still four years away.
''The party is very important to me and I would not want to do anything that is detrimental to my party or my constituents,'' said Ms Pike who, after 11 years as a minister, has moved to the backbench. That move sparked speculation that she may be preparing to retire from politics.
Left faction sources also doubt that Mr Jennings, the party's health spokesman, will seek pre-selection for the 2014 election.