Labor leader Anthony Albanese announces new frontbench team

Labor leader Anthony Albanese unveiled his brand new frontbench — but it didn’t take long for things to turn fiery.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has revealed his brand new shadow cabinet — and there are some surprise picks in the line up.

He said his new team would be a mix of “people with vast experience who have served in cabinet before” as well as fresh “new talent”.

He revealed four new faces would be joining the cabinet ranks.

Labor's Deputy Leader Kristina Keneally has been given some plum new roles. Picture: Kym Smith

They include Kristina Keneally, who will serve as the deputy leader of the Senate as well as shadow minster for home affairs, and also for immigration and citizenship.

Ms Keneally’s massive promotion was cemented after Western Sydney MP Ed Husic stepped aside to let her move up the ranks.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was quick to criticise the appointment, accusing her of being opposed to the government’s Operation Sovereign Borders. “There couldn’t be anybody less qualified in the Labor Party to be the home affairs shadow minister,” he told reporters in Brisbane.

Meanwhile, Katy Gallagher will serve as shadow minister of finance and of public service, while Terri Butler will be the new shadow minister for the environment and water, while Madeleine King will take on the trade ministry in what Mr Albanese described as a “major promotion” which was “most deserved”.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has anounced his new frontbech. Picture: Kym Smith

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles — who is replacing Labor stalwart Tanya Plibersek in the position — will also take on the defence role, while Ms Plibersek will remain as shadow education and training minister.

Penny Wong will be the shadow foreign minister, and former leader Bill Shorten will take up the NDIS and government services portfolios.

Jim Chalmers will be the Opposition treasurer, Chris Bowen will take on the health portfolio and Tony Burke will take on industrial relations and the arts.

Mark Butler will serve as shadow minister for climate change and energy, Catherine King will take on infrastructure, transport and regional development and Joel Fitzgibbons will head up agriculture and resources.

Don Farrell will be the Opposition’s special minister of state, sport and tourism, Michelle Rowland will tackle communications and Linda Burney will be the shadow minster for families and social services and also for indigenous Australians.

Terri Butler will be the new shadow minister for the environment and water. Picture: Glenn Hunt/AAP Image

Julie Collins will take on the ageing and seniors and women portfolios, and Mark Dreyfus will be the Opposition Attorney-General as well as the shadow minister for constitutional reform, with the issue of an Australian republic still firmly on Labor’s agenda.

Brendan O’Connor will collect the employment and industry, science and small and family business portfolios while Jason Clare gets regional services, territories and local government, and housing and homeless while Amanda Rishworth will be the shadow minister for early childhood education and youth.

But things took a fiery turn when reporters repeatedly grilled the new leader for details on conversations that went on behind closed doors as Mr Albanese pulled together his A-team.

A visibly angry Mr Albanese insisted “I don’t talk about private conversations” on several occasions.

“If you ask the same question you’ll get the same answer,” a frustrated Mr Albanese said after being asked for more details.

Former Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will serve on the frontbench. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Albanese highlighted the role of women on his new-look frontbench, insisting the 12 men and 12 women selected were “all there on merit” and “reflected the balance in Australian society”.

He said he was “very pleased” to have struck that balance, as well as having two men and two women in the leadership.

He was referring to Ms Wong and Ms Keneally, who will serve as Senate leader and deputy leader respectively.

He also insisted former ALP leader Bill Shorten was “the right man for the job” as NDIS minister, insisting he will “do the job well” and that he looked forward to it “with enthusiasm”.

The new-look Opposition has received a mixed reaction on social media, with some Aussies praising the high levels of women on the team, while others questioned Mr Albanese’s choices.

Foolish Labor leader Anthony Albanese announces new frontbench team.
When he Welcomed Shorten & Keneally back into the Ministry,
he Stymied any chance of winning any Elections in the Future! https://t.co/JFrRvL7SD0
Albonese Learned nothing from Labor's Humiliating Defeat.

— Tony Baloney (@KirklandTony) June 2, 2019

All Labor women in the Shadow Ministry are there on 'merit', Albanese repeats.

🤔🤔🤔

Really? #factions#LaborChaos #auspol

— Jez (@jez_1985) June 2, 2019

Keneally

Interesting that a woman in the federal ALP cannot get a shadow ministry in 2019 without a man having to step aside for her.

So much for the advancement of women under Labor!

— Arthur Tane (@ArthurTane) May 29, 2019

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