SA Labor MP Mark Butler in line for finance portfolio in Anthony Albanese’s team

Hindmarsh MP Mark Butler is in the running to take on the finance portfolio in a re­vam­ped Labor shadow ministry.

• How our SA pollies played leading role in Coalition victory

South Australian MP Mark Butler is in the mix to take on the finance portfolio in a re­vam­ped Labor shadow ministry.

With Parliament resuming in a month, new Labor leader Anthony Albanese will on Sunday unveil his Cabinet before embarking on a tour of Australia to boost his profile after Labor’s shock election loss.

Mr Butler, who was one of former leader Bill Shorten’s most prominent campaigners during the election campaign as Labor’s climate change and energy spokesman, is on the shortlist for the finance portfolio along with Senator Katy Gallagher, from the ACT.

Mr Butler, the Member for Hindmarsh, served as Minister for Climate Change and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Water in the second Rudd ministry.

As a powerful key figure in South Australia’s Left faction, he has had a long-term close working relationship with Mr Albanese, a member of the NSW Left.

Queenslander Jim Chalmers, who was an early contender for the Labor lead­ership, is expected to become the new treasury spokesman, replacing NSW MP Chris Bowen who is expected to take infrastructure.

Hindmarsh MP Mark Butler is in the running to take on the finance portfolio in a re­vam­ped Labor shadow ministry. Picture SARAH REED

Labor will have a home affairs spokesman for the first time to line up against Peter Dutton as the Opposition tries to toughen its national security message.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Mr Albanese will appoint a home affairs spokesperson to challenge Mr Dutton, with new deputy leader Richard Marles tipped to take on the high-profile role.

Labor sources were speculating yesterday that Mr Shorten would re-enter the shadow Cabinet as spokesman for either defence or trade.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will fly to WA before heading to Adelaide. Picture Kym Smith

“He needs the status but not a frontline role,” one Labor minister said.

Either role will link Mr Shorten to SA — either as a sparring partner to SA-based Trade Minister Simon Birmingham or as a regular visitor to keep an eye on the state’s defence projects.

Labor sources said NSW senator Kristina Keneally was being considered for the role of environment spokeswoman, with one frontbencher suggesting she needed a portfolio “with a bit of retail”. Long-serving MP Shayne Neumann is expected to be dumped from the shadow Cabinet to make way for Ms Keneally, but will remain on the frontbench.

Labor’s new team will meet for the first time in Brisbane on Tuesday led by Mr Albanese who will visit the swing state as party of his national blitz to thank voters and try to boost his profile before Parliament resumes next month.

Called the “Telling it Straight” tour — the title of his book — Mr Albanese will fly to Launceston today and spend time in northern Tasmania where Labor lost the seats of Bass and Braddon. He will then travel to Brisbane and northern Queensland where Labor suffered heavy swings over the Adani coalmine issue.

Mr Albanese said the tour would give him a chance to re-engage with voters.

“I want to show support for those who did support us,” he said. “But it will also be about listening because we need to do better.”

Later in the week, Mr Albanese to fly to Western Australia before heading to Adelaide early next week.

[e-mail]

@annikasmethurst