Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic lose portfolios as factions clash following landslide win

Two high-profile Labor figures have been dumped following the party’s landslide win, which opened the door to factional wheeling-and-dealing.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Industry Minister Ed Husic will be axed from Anthony Albanese’s next ministry, with the pair the highest profile casualties of internal wheeling-and-dealing triggered by Labor’s landslide win.

The two members of Labor Right will lose their portfolios after various factions met in Canberra on Thursday to carve up which MPs would be put forward for a ministry position.

It is understood Mr Dreyfus was told he had been dumped during a phone call with Deputy Prime Minister and Victorian right faction chief Richard Marles on Wednesday night.

Factional colleague Sam Rae is expected to take Mr Dreyfus’ spot on the frontbench, with fellow Victorian Daniel Mulino also mentioned for promotion.

One Labor MP said it was devastating that Mr Dreyfus was booted for the younger Mr Rae, who they described as “someone with more hair than brains”.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is set to lose his portfolio. Picture: Martin Ollman

Likewise, it’s understood Mr Husic had to make way, with the NSW right faction losing a minister.

Mr Husic was squeezed out because other portfolios are held by NSW right ministers such as Tony Burke and Chris Bowen.

The party’s factions are responsible for nominating which of their members will be in the running to get one of 30 ministry positions – 20 of which are in cabinet, and 10 in the outer ministry.

The call on who gets what portfolio is then made by the Prime Minister, who can also lean in to pressure the factions.

The carve-up ensures that each faction gets a number of ministers that reflects how many of their MPs are in parliament.

It’s understood left faction MPs in line for promotion include NSW Senator Tim Ayres and Victorian Jess Walsh.

NSW minister Ed Husic. Picture: Supplied

Mr Dreyfus is well-regarded by Mr Albanese, who leant on the most senior Jewish politician to repair Labor’s relationship with Israel late last year.

Labor sources said that with the scale of the party’s victory under the PM, Mr Albanese could ultimately save Mr Dreyfus if he wanted to.

Multiple Labor sources said the high proportion of women elected would ensure female ministers would remain in place, although Mr Albanese’s left faction jousting partner Tanya Plibersek is expected to be moved from her environment portfolio, potentially to the NDIS role previously held by retired Minister Bill Shorten.

“If you think about our caucus now, it is majority women – so it should be reflective of that in the cabinet and ministry,” a Labor source said.

Another Labor source said younger MPs from the right were jostling for portfolio spots, putting pressure on established ministers.

“There is all sorts of manoeuvring happening because the Left will have the numbers in the caucus,” a Labor source said.

“It’s all in a state of flux. There are young people pushing their case forward”.

Labor Party elder Paul Keating is scathing of the decision to drop Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic from the ministry. Picture: Getty Images

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating slammed the decision to drop the two ministers.

Mr Keating said losing a Muslim (Mr Husic) and a Jewish (Mr Dreyfus) member of cabinet was part of “a showing of poor judgment”.

The former Labor leader said Mr Husic losing his role “represents an appalling denial of Husic’s diligence and application”.

“More than that, as the cabinet’s sole Muslim member, Husic’s expulsion from the ministry proffers contempt for the measured and centrist support provided by the broader Muslim community to the Labor Party at the general election,” Mr Keating said.

“And to round out the day, the factional lightweights also dumped the cabinet’s most effective and significant Jewish member, the attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus.”

The Prime Minister on Thursday issued a thinly-veiled warning for his MPs to remain disciplined amid the jostling for portfolios.

A veteran of the difficult years where his party tore itself apart during the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd leadership wars, Mr Albanese said he expected his colleagues to “operate in a way which shows solidarity”.

“We have an incredible team and a caucus that’s … that’s brimming with talent,” he told Sky News.

“And over a period of time … people have opportunities to contribute to the team in a range of ways, whether that is on a frontbench position or through committees or through caucus office bearers.”