Anthony Albanese reveals new ministry after bruising factional battles

Anthony Albanese has revealed his new ministry after days of bruising factional battles resulted in two senior Labor MPs losing their cabinet roles.

Anthony Albanese has revealed his new frontbench, elevating new talent into key senior roles as the party continues to reel after brutal factional wheeling and dealing resulted in two ministers dumped from cabinet.

The Prime Minister announced his picks in Canberra on Monday a day after ousted minister Ed Husic launched a tirade against the factional “grubbiness” that resulted in him and former Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus losing their cabinet positions.

Among the winners are senior NSW MP Michelle Rowland, who was picked to replace Mr Dreyfus as Australia’s top law officer, while West Australian Anne Aly was elevated into cabinet as Small Business, International Development and Multicultural Affairs Minister after spending last term in the outer ministry.

Anthony Albanese has revealed his new frontbench. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Asked if he had fought to keep Mr Husic or Mr Dreyfus in his cabinet, Mr Albanese said he had respected Labor Party’s caucus process.

Mr Albanese met with Mr Husic earlier on Monday, describing the discussion as “constructive”.

“What I have done is allocate portfolios, that is the system that is there,” he said.

“It is one that Ed and others have supported for a long period of time.”

Mr Albanese said “obviously not” when asked if he agreed with Mr Husic’s assessment that Labor Right faction leader and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was a “factional assassin”.

Ousted minister Ed Husic has lashed out at the faction system that dumped him from cabinet. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

As part of the shake-up, Mr Albanese has moved his political rival Tanya Plibersek from the environment portfolio to Social Services Minister.

Asked how Ms Plibersek reacted to her shift to the portfolio, which covers things like domestic violence, the pension and welfare payments, Mr Albanese said: “she was very positive about the portfolio”.

Senator Murray Watt will be the new Environment Minister tasked with the difficult job of landing an agreement to create an Environment Protection Agency as promised by Labor last term, but ultimately shelved by Mr Albanese when stalled talks threatened to impact the party’s electoral chances in Western Australia.

Tanya Plibersek has been moved from the environment portfolio to Social Services Minister. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Anika Wells has been promoted as Communications Minister and retains her previous role as Sport Minister.

Labor will move sport into the infrastructure department, which is also where communications is housed.

Mr Albanese said he wanted “continuity” in the sport portfolio given preparations for Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympics.

Health Minister Mark Butler keeps his portfolio and adds NDIS Minister to his responsibilities, while Jason Clare will remain Education Minister and Chris Bowen stays as Climate Change and Energy Minister.

Amanda Rishworth has been appointed Employment and Workplace Relations Minister.

Jim Chalmers will continue as the Federal Treasurer. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Before the election Mr Albanese only guaranteed his economics team — Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher — would keep their jobs, as well as Labor MPs in leadership positions who have a say in what portfolio they hold.

This includes Mr Marles, who is Defence Minister, Senate leader Penny Wong, who is Foreign Affairs Minister and Senate deputy leader Don Farrell who is Trade Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will continue in his role as Defence Minister. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Those brought into the outer ministry from Labor Right are Victorians Sam Rae, who will be Aged Care and Seniors Minister, and Dan Mulino, who will be Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister.

Mr Albanese said Mr Mulino was “terrific and will do a very good job”.

“He has a PhD in economics from Yale, that is handy,” he said.

From Labor Left, NSW Senator Tim Ayres has been promoted into cabinet as Science, Industry and Innovation Minister and Victorian Jess Walsh has been given Early Childhood Education and Youth Minister.

Labor’s Left and Right factions each handed Mr Albanese a list of 15 people from a balance of states and territories to be considered for cabinet and outer ministry positions, while the PM has discretion to hand pick-up to 12 assistant ministers.

Newly elected Lyons MP Rebecca White was given the assistant health and aged care, Indigenous health and women portfolios. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Among the backbenchers rewarded by Mr Albanese are newly elected Lyons MP Rebecca White, who was previously the Tasmanian Labor leader, given the assistant health and aged care, Indigenous health and women portfolios.

Parramatta MP Andrew Charlton was also given a promotion to assistant science, technology and digital economy as well as cabinet secretary.

Tasmanian Julie Collins will retain her position as Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, West Australian Madeleine King remains Resources Minister and northern Australia Minister, Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy stays as Indigenous Australians Minister.

West Australian Anne Aly was elevated into cabinet as Small Business, International Development and Multicultural Affairs Minister after spending last term in the outer ministry. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will remain in that senior role, and will also keep the Immigration and Citizenship, Cyber Security and Arts ministries.

From NSW, Pat Conroy is in the cabinet as Defence Industry, as well as Pacific Island Affairs Minister.

In the outer ministry, Matt Keogh is Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister, and NSW Senator Jenny McAllister moves to NDIS Minister, working alongside Mr Butler.

Labor will also be moving NDIS under the Health Department, which Mr Albanese said would ensure the scheme “fulfils what its intention was: that everyone has the best opportunity to contribute to Australian society and that people with a disability don’t get left behind”.

Mr Albanese said work tackling waste and inefficiencies in the NDIS would also continue.

Victorian Andrew Giles will remain Skills and Training Minister, while NSW’s Kristy McBain keeps Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister and adds Emergency Management Minister to her roles.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese reveals new ministry after bruising factional battles