Speculation Anthony Albanese may challenge Bill Shorten for Labor leader if party fails to form government

WELL, that didn’t take long. Rumours of a leadership challenge have already started with sources saying the game is afoot.

Anthony Albanese DJs after voting at Annandale Public School in Sydney on Saturday.

LABOR did better than just about anyone could have predicted, but nonetheless there is now serious talk that Bill Shorten is about to face a leadership challenge.

Labor believes a hung parliament is still possible after Saturday’s election count. And Mr Shorten says the swing towards his party is a clear sign the Coalition has lost its mandate.

But, seemingly, even this isn’t enough to secure the party’s top job with noises shadow minister Anthony Albanese will challenge Mr Shorten for the Labor leadership.

According to party sources, Mr Albanese, who held onto his Sydney inner west seat of Grayndler despite redistribution and a concerted challenge from the Greens, is readying to run.

Sky News’ political commentator David Speers is reporting Mr Albanese, or Albo to just about everyone, could make a tilt at overthrowing Mr Shorten.

Speers said senior figures from both sides of the party want Mr Albanese to run.

However, Shorten told reporters today that he had “never been more certain of my leadership”.

The ever-popular Mr Albanese spent Saturday celebrating with his electorate. How did he celebrate? Spinning the decks with a lot of dad dancing.

Problem for turncoat left MPs from 2013 is Albo would have won. If he wants to run go for it. https://t.co/VC4MZAv7qa

— Harvey Purse (@harveypurse) July 3, 2016

@SkyNewsAust Albanese would of had an easy win against a divided Lib camp.

— Peter Snappy (@psnappy_peter) July 3, 2016

@RitaPanahi @Psychokanga I'm gonna call it -an Albanese vs Bishop election within a year

— Benjamin C (@areyouforreal99) July 3, 2016

Journalist Laura Tingle told the ABC’s Insiders program Mr Shorten had taken the Labor Party further than many thought but it might not be enough.

“The question will be, will Anthony Albanese stand?” she said.

“(It) will be a fascinating one, because you don’t want to look like you are doing over somebody who has got you as far as you have, but the question will be for the party room, as opposed to the rank and file — will Bill Shorten be able to get us further? Would we have got further with somebody else?”

But while it might seem far-fetched that Labor members would punish Shorten, he nonetheless may have to defend his position.

Party rules stipulate that in the event of Labor not forming government, which pundits say is still the likely outcome, a spill has to happen.

Some within the party are wondering if Mr Albanese, whose appeal stretches from trendy inner city voters to blue collar suburbanites, could have just pushed them into Government.

Certainly, on social media Mr Albanese has his supporters with one saying “Albo would have won”.

However, former NSW Labor Premier and Sky commentator Kristina Keneally said talk of Albo challenging was “ridiculous, unhelpful and distracting”.

The ALP would be totally insane to change leaders. Party members expect Anthony Albanese to put the party first. On Sky News

— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) July 2, 2016

I wonder if Albanese got a little too drunk last night. The idea that anyone could take Labor leadership from Shorten right now is loopy.

— Brad Sherry (@Simplyoncall) July 2, 2016

The former Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie, tweeted on Sunday that Mr Albanese should hose down leadership talk.

“The ALP would be totally insane to change leaders. Party members expect Anthony Albanese to put the party first,” Mr Beattie wrote.

Speaking this afternoon in Melbourne, Shorten said he only had “good things to say about all my colleagues, including Anthony”.

The Labor Party was united, he continued. “For myself, I’ve never been more confident of my leadership.”

“For myself, I’ve never been more certain of my leadership than I am this morning.”

Asked by Peter Costello on Saturday night if he would like to acknowledge the role Mr Shorten played in the campaign, Mr Albanese said: “Bill and the entire team.”

— with AAP