Federal election 2022: Who will replace Anthony Albanese if he loses the election?

If Anthony Albanese loses the election on Saturday, there will be a field of contenders who will push to take the opposition leader’s job. SEE WHO THEY ARE.

A Melbourne Cup field of contenders would jostle for the Labor leadership in the event Anthony Albanese loses the election, with Jim Chalmers, Jason Clare and Tanya Plibersek the leading contenders.

While polls are pointing to a tight finish and a result is difficult to predict, Mr Albanese would be expected to stand down if the Coalition won a majority. He may be able to cling on if the Coalition goes into minority.

Tanya Plibersek, a leading frontbencher and the party’s most prominent woman, would be expected to nominate for the leadership.

She has been running a campaign parallel to Mr Albanese’s, meaning she had some clean air between her and the leader in the event the party loses. The 52-year-old has been in Parliament since 1998, and is Labor’s shadow education minister.

Tanya Plibersek would be expected to nominate for the leadership. Picture: Liam Kidston

Like Mr Albanese, she is a member of the Labor Left faction from Sydney, and may struggle for numbers in the Caucus.

The ballot of around 30,000 Labor rank and file members might help her chances.

Two MPs who have leapt to the front of the leadership queue, Jason Clare and Jim Chalmers, would also be strong chances.

Dr Chalmers, the shadow treasurer, is just 44, joining Parliament in 2013. A member of the Right faction in Queensland, his star has risen due to his strong campaign performance and he would be a lock for Treasurer if Labor won the election.

Federal Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Picture: Dan Peled

Mr Clare, 50, joined Parliament in 2007, but has won a legion of new fans with his flawless media appearances during the campaign, particularly when filling in for Mr Albanese when the leader contracted Covid.

The shadow housing minister, he is a member of the Right from Sydney, and may find strong competition from fellow Right veterans Chris Bowen and Tony Burke, who would also likely make a run for the leadership.

Mr Albanese’s deputy, Victorian Right MP Richard Marles, would also likely throw his hat in the ring.

Kristina Keneally, a Right faction MP and shadow home affairs minister from Sydney, would also be a potential wildcard applicant for the opposition leader’s job, provided she wins the seat of Fowler she is contesting.

Under Labor rules, rank and file votes and Caucus votes each count for 50 per cent.

Kristina Keneally would be a possible applicant for the leaders job. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles would also likely throw his hat in the ring. Picture: Liam Kidston

In 2013, Mr Albanese won the rank and file vote from Bill Shorten, but was defeated when Mr Shorten resoundingly won the Caucus vote.

In 2019, Mr Albanese was the only leadership applicant after Mr Shorten stood aside after the unsuccessful election campaign.

The situation is complicated by the fact the Victorian branch of the Labor Party is currently suspended due to the branch-stacking scandal which erupted around state MP Adem Somyurek in 2020, and is not due to be reactivated for another several months.

However, News Corp has been told a rank and file vote could go ahead regardless, under existing federal rules.

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Originally published as Federal election 2022: Who will replace Anthony Albanese if he loses the election?