Election results 2019: Tanya Plibersek won't run for Labor leadership

Just a day after she was endorsed by Bill Shorten, Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says she will not contest the Labor leadership. 

Tanya Plibersek has opted not to run for the Labor leadership.

The Deputy Labor leader announced her decision today, saying she had support from across the party to be elected leader but "now is not my time".

"At this point, I cannot reconcile the important responsibilities I have to my family with the additional responsibilities of the Labor leadership," Ms Plibersek said.

"I know some people will be disappointed with this decision. I intend to continue as deputy leader until the leadership is determined."

Ms Plibersek said Saturday's election was "a blow for Labor supporters" and that the party needed to "take a serious look" at its policies.

But she backed Bill Shorten's efforts, saying: "Bill unified Labor and could not have worked harder to get us across the line."

The shock move came just a day after Mr Shorten endorsed her for the top job. 

Scott Morrison is on track for majority government and has taken the former blue ribbon Liberal seat of Wentworth back after Independent Dr Kerryn Phelps conceded defeat to Dave Sharma.

The Coalition currently has 75 seats in the lower house and could potentially pick up two or three more. 

Several seats are still too close to call but the Melbourne seat of Chisholm has started to swing in the Liberals' favour, along with the South Australian seat of Boothby. 

The Coalition needs 76 seats to win an outright majority or 77 seats to have a majority and one of their own MPs as the Speaker. 

It comes as the PM puts tax cuts and ministry changes on top of his agenda.

Originally published as Election results 2019: Tanya Plibersek won't run for Labor leadership

Updates

3:04 am February 2, 2025

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the path to his election victory "was like walking on the edge of a razor blade".

Mr Morrison told Sky News host Paul Murray his victory was a win for the "quiet Australians".

"I want to keep Australians together," he said. "We are strongest when we are together."

He said his style of leadership was to hold the middle ground and not to "run off to the left, or run off to the right, just in order to placate people".

"The public just wants the politicians to do our jobs. So, we will be looking to convene parliament as soon as we can."

10:00 pm May 20, 2019

Morrison says win a victory for 'quiet Australians'

Zoe Smith

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the path to his election victory "was like walking on the edge of a razor blade".

Mr Morrison told Sky News host Paul Murray his victory was a win for the "quiet Australians".

"I want to keep Australians together," he said. "We are strongest when we are together."

He said his style of leadership was to hold the middle ground and not to "run off to the left, or run off to the right, just in order to placate people".

"The public just wants the politicians to do our jobs. So, we will be looking to convene parliament as soon as we can."

3:04 am February 2, 2025

Peter Dutton has brushed off talk off his role in the Liberal leadership crisis that led to the dumping of Malcolm Turnbull.

Asked by Leigh Sales if Saturday's election victory vindicated his decision "to light the fuse that blew up the Turnbull prime ministership", Mr Dutton said voters are now "looking forward".

"If you went around door-knocking and speaking to people, they were worried about the choice between Mr Shorten and Mr Morrison, and ultimately we've been successful, we've been able to distill our policies and I think that's been the underpinning of the success that we've had."

The 7.30 host then asked: "Would you have won your seat, do you think, if Malcolm Turnbull had still been the prime minister?"

"No, no, I made that very clear last year," Mr Dutton replied.

Mr Dutton said voters had made the right choice in Scott Morrison and it was now time for the party to get back to work.

8:15 pm May 20, 2019

Dutton on Liberal leadership saga

Zoe Smith

Peter Dutton has brushed off talk off his role in the Liberal leadership crisis that led to the dumping of Malcolm Turnbull.

Asked by Leigh Sales if Saturday's election victory vindicated his decision "to light the fuse that blew up the Turnbull prime ministership", Mr Dutton said voters are now "looking forward".

"If you went around door-knocking and speaking to people, they were worried about the choice between Mr Shorten and Mr Morrison, and ultimately we've been successful, we've been able to distill our policies and I think that's been the underpinning of the success that we've had."

The 7.30 host then asked: "Would you have won your seat, do you think, if Malcolm Turnbull had still been the prime minister?"

"No, no, I made that very clear last year," Mr Dutton replied.

Mr Dutton said voters had made the right choice in Scott Morrison and it was now time for the party to get back to work.

6:36 pm May 20, 2019 Highlight

PM still on track for majority government

Shoba Rao

Scott Morrison looks likely to win at least 77 seats, possibly 78, allowing him to appoint a Speaker and govern in majority. In fresh results posted on the Australian Electoral Commission website on Monday afternoon, the Liberals’ Sarah Richards edged ahead of Labor MP Susan Templeman by 23 votes.

The Liberals also appeared on track to win the Labor-held seats of Chisholm in Victoria and Bass in Tasmania.

In Bass, the Liberals’ Bridget Archer sits on 50.4 per cent of the two-party vote, ahead of incumbent Labor MP Ross Hart.

Liberal candidate for Chisholm Gladys Liu holds 50.4 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labor’s Jennifer Yang.

If the current count trends continue, this will give the Liberals 78 seats in the 151-seat House of Representatives, with Labor on 67 and six crossbenchers. Independent MP Kerryn Phelps conceded defeat in the NSW seat of Wentworth on Monday, losing to the Liberals’ Dave Sharma after only six months in parliament. “I operated in Canberra with conviction, with integrity and a belief that individuals can impact on the political conversation,” Dr Phelps told reporters on Monday.

The Australian Electoral Commission said counting of postal votes would be under way in all 151 seats on Tuesday, having initially prioritised postal votes in Boothby, Chisholm, Cowan, Macquarie and Wentworth.

The AEC said it had to wait 13 days after election day, by law, until the cut- off for any postal votes.

However, officials said some final results may begin to be formally declared by the end of this week.

In the previous parliament the numbers were: Liberals 58, Nationals 16, Labor 69, Greens 1, Centre Alliance 1, Katter’s Australian Party 1, independents 4.

– AAP

3:04 am February 2, 2025

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen is still considering running for the Labor leadership, Sky News reports.

The frontrunner for the leadership is Anthony Albanese after Tanya Plibersek's shock decision to rule herself out of the race.

Picture: Kym Smith

4:10 pm May 20, 2019 Highlight

Bowen still considering leadership pitch

Zoe Smith

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen is still considering running for the Labor leadership, Sky News reports.

The frontrunner for the leadership is Anthony Albanese after Tanya Plibersek's shock decision to rule herself out of the race.

Picture: Kym Smith

3:55 pm May 20, 2019

ABC staff fear job cuts

Zoe Smith

ABC staff believe job losses and on-air disruption are inevitable after the Morrison government’s return to power, Nine Newspapers reports.

"It's very grim in here this morning," one manager said. "All the fat has already been trimmed [in previous budget reductions]. We can't see how this won't lead to job losses or programming changes."

Another worker told Nine Newspapers: "Every department could feel the squeeze … including drama, comedy, children's, radio, iview, you name it.

"All that's left to cut is content. This could be the first time the audience sees this level of cuts to our programming."

Earlier this month, the ABC's managing director claimed an $84 million funding freeze – raised in the Coalition's 2018 budget – would trigger cuts.

3:29 pm May 20, 2019 Highlight

Anthony Albanese now front runner for Labor leader

Shoba Rao

Labor MP Anthony Albanese is now a front runner after he officially announced he would contest the Labor leadership yesterday.

Picture: Damian Shaw

3:04 am February 2, 2025

Tanya Plibersek has confirmed she will not contest the Labor leadership.

In a statement, the current Deputy Opposition leader says she has received support from across the party to be elected leader, "but now is not my time".

She was Bill Shorten's pick for the role after he stepped down from the leadership after conceding defeat to Scott Morrison on Saturday night.

“I have support, from across the party, to be elected leader… “But now is not my time.”

"At this point, I cannot reconcile the important responsibilities I have to my family with the additional responsibilities of the Labor leadership," Ms Plibersek said. 
"I know some people will be disappointed with this decision.
"I intend to continue as deputy leader until the leadership is determined.
"At that point I will I serve in whatever capacity my colleagues best think can help Labor return to government.

Picture: Damian Shaw

"Whatever my colleagues decide, I will play a role in taking our economic and social policy agenda to the next stage."
Ms Plibersek said Saturday's election was "a blow for Labor supporters" and that the party needed to "take a serious look" at its policies.
But she backed Bill Shorten's efforts, saying: "Bill unified Labor and could not have worked harder to get us across the line."
She added: "We need to listen. We need to connect with people. We need to carefully lay out our agenda. We need to explain clearly and convince – win hearts and minds."
"We need to campaign, not just at election time, but all the time. And we need to be relentless in taking the fight up to the Liberals – including on jobs and the economy."

– Claire Bickers