Labor puts knives away with Shorten’s job safe

ANTHONY Albanese is not expected to run for the Labor leadership barring a drastic turnaround in results, gifting Bill Shorten the job for another term.

ANTHONY Albanese is not expected to run for the Labor leadership barring a drastic turnaround in results, gifting Bill Shorten the job for another term.

Mr Albanese was understood to not even be working the phones yesterday. Sources said that he would only consider putting his name up for the ballot if there was a big turnaround in votes that saw Labor suddenly reduced to as few as 65 seats. This is unlikely on current counting.

Both Right wing and Left wing MPs have speculated on an Albanese challenge but Saturday’s result has largely taken the sting out of this.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with his daughter Clementine on monkey bars at Maribyrnong Park in Melbourne. Picture: Kym Smith

A day after Mr Shorten’s shocking sweep of seats in NSW and Tasmania that has left the Prime Minister on the brink of minority government, the Opposition Leader said he had never been more confident of remaining Labor’s leader.

Under ALP rules, the party spills the leadership after an election is lost and despite Mr Shorten winning an extra 12 seats compared with the 2013 count (with 13 seats still undecided), powerbrokers appeared ready to start the bloodletting.

Labor has recorded a primary vote of 35.4 per cent, which Treasurer Scott Morrison pointed out is its second lowest.

Mr Shorten delivered a strong rebuke to anyone considering challenging him.

“Anthony [Albanese], Tanya Plibersek, Tony Burke, Jenny Macklin, Penny Wong: I have a great Shadow Cabinet,” he said.

“As I said last night, I would not swap a single one of my colleagues over the last three years and that contribution they have made. For myself, I have never been more certain of my leadership as I am this morning.

“I have never been more confident of my support.”

Anthony Albanese, who won his seat of Grayndler, with his family Carmel and Nathan and dog Toto but he will not be challenging Shorten for Labor leadership. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Mr Albanese told the Daily Telegraph he had high hopes of Labor forming government.

“Every Labor member is hoping Bill Shorten can form a Labor Government. The only party that is not united is the Liberal Party,” Mr Albanese said.

The Grayndler MP celebrated his election victory by taking his pup Toto out for a stroll with wife Carmel and son Nathan, while Mr Shorten spent the day with his family in Melbourne, posting a photograph of a private post-poll moment.

Mr Shorten did not say if he had spoken to colleagues about the leadership rumblings, but said he led a united team.

“The Labor Party is united. You can look everywhere you want, you can try and hope that the Labor Party sort of veers off course, but you’re going to be disappointed. My crew understand the importance of unity, I have never been more certain of my own position, and if you want to talk leadership, how are we going with my friends in the Liberal Party?”

Bill Shorten can finally spend some time with his family including his children Georgette, Clementine and Rupert with Chloe's niece Alexandra.

NSW Labor General Secretary Kaila Murnain said Mr Shorten would continue as Federal leader.

“I unequivocally support the amazing work that Bill Shorten did during this campaign. He will continue to lead Labor and we are all extremely proud to be a part of his team,” Ms Murnain said.

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek refused to outright back Mr Shorten continuing as leader on election night, saying it was a “terrific result” and changing the subject to Liberal leadership speculation.

NSW Senator and powerbroker Sam Dastyari moved to quash rumours of any challenge, despite previously telling colleagues he would back Mr Albanese, and said “they will be erecting statues of Bill Shorten right now in Labour Party offices.”

Sam Dastyari has quashed any rumours of a challenge to Bill Shorten. Picture: Kym Smith

“He’ll continue to lead the Labor Party.”

Mr Shorten said he had begun speaking to crossbenchers and said they said they intended to be “constructive” and work with the government.

“They want to be constructive, they don’t want Australia rushing back to the polls, I certainly don’t. I think we owe it to the Australian people to make the decision of the Australian people work,” he said.

Originally published as Labor puts knives away with Shorten’s job safe