Marles a ‘factional assassin’, Husic says in attack after ministerial coup

Dumped Labor minister Ed Husic has labelled Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles a “factional assassin” over his axing from cabinet and criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to avert the backroom coup and lacking ambition in his first-term policy record.

The outspoken remarks cast a cloud over Albanese’s ministry reshuffle, in which ministers including Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt and Education Minister Jason Clare may all change roles.

Dumped Labor minister Ed Husic has criticised the deputy prime minister.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Negotiations about the new cabinet and ministry were still under way on Sunday ahead of an announcement on Monday and a swearing-in at Government House in Canberra on Tuesday. There was speculation that Communications Minister Michelle Rowland could take on the attorney-general portfolio.

Husic said the factional coup had hurt the image of the newly elected Labor government.

“We’ve had bare-faced ambition and a deputy prime minister wield a factional club to reshape the ministry,” Husic said on ABC TV’s Insiders, in an interview that had been scheduled before Husic learned he would lose his position in the ministry.

“I think people when they look at a deputy prime minister, they expect to see a statesman, not a factional assassin.

“I just feel for the supporters of our party, who went from the high of a Saturday and a terrific and tremendous win … I just feel like it’s been a distraction at the start of what’ll be a successful second term.” Husic urged Albanese to “burn through the timidity that shackled us” in Labor’s first term.

Husic’s comment on policy echoed the views of Labor luminaries including Paul Keating, Gareth Evans and Bill Kelty.

Husic, who represents the western Sydney seat of Chifley, also claimed his removal was partly driven by retaliation for his outspoken pro-Palestinian advocacy, though his colleagues privately rubbished this claim.

Both he and Mark Dreyfus, who also lost his portfolio, were among the most outspoken ministers around the cabinet table.

Mark Dreyfus (left) enters Labor’s caucus meeting on Friday with assistant minister Julian Hill.Credit: James Brickwood

The Victorian Right faction, led by Marles, was underrepresented in the new ministry and was entitled to two new spots, which went to MPs Sam Rae and Daniel Mulino. This meant Husic, from the NSW Right, and Dreyfus were forced to make way. The NSW Right was entitled to six ministers, and it was its decision to pick Husic to go once it learnt it needed to hand a spot to a Victorian.

A spokeswoman for Marles declined to comment on Husic’s comments.

Husic, who is Muslim, was a consistent voice against the Israeli military operation in Gaza. Some Muslim leaders have expressed concern about his removal from cabinet, but another Muslim, Anne Aly, is likely to be elevated. Muslim groups have expressed alarm about Husic’s axing.

The other minister axed last week, Dreyfus, was the government’s most senior Jewish MP and had helped retain relations with the Jewish community amid rancorous debate after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

Cabinet sources, unable to speak to the media about confidential meetings, said Husic was one of the few ministers who frequently spoke up in cabinet meetings even if his view challenged the prime minister or other senior colleagues, such as Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

Dreyfus was another minister willing to take a contrary view to the leadership. This masthead reported in February that Albanese had overruled Dreyfus after he said he did not agree with legislation to create mandatory minimum jail terms for hate crimes.

Several MPs, including one from the NSW Right, said Marles’ actions had infuriated colleagues from across the party, particularly in relation to his handling of Dreyfus’ dumping. MPs understood the mathematical reality of the Victorian Right deserving extra spots, but they were upset that Marles had failed to inform Dreyfus until the last minute.

“They could have handled this with respect and given Mark another year, or just told him before the election so he wouldn’t have run. Marles has damaged himself badly, and it would be totally unsurprising if the NSW Right sought retribution,” one MP said.

Husic claimed his pro-Palestinian advocacy had played a part in his removal.

“I think it’s been a factor in there,” he said. “I don’t think I could ever stay silent in the face of innocent civilians slaughtered in tens of thousands, starved out of Gaza. It should be held to account; starvation is a war crime.

“You can’t celebrate diversity and then expect it to sit in a corner.”

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