‘Pretty much a hospital pass’: Peter Dutton hits out over Kristina Keneally’s new role

It hasn’t taken long for Peter Dutton to lash out at Labor’s new frontbench team, but one appointment in particular has clearly struck a nerve.

Peter Dutton has let fly in a brutal swipe at one of the big winners in Labor’s freshly announced frontbench team.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he went into attack mode when he was asked about Kristina Keneally — who will serve as the deputy leader of the Senate as well as shadow minister for home affairs, and also for immigration and citizenship.

The Home Affairs Minister bluntly said she was unfit for the role based on comments she’d previously made on border protection.

It’s not for me to offer KK advice, but it might be a good idea to get a security briefing from the Dept before she makes any more embarrassing statements or policy on the run #worsethanneumann

— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) June 2, 2019

Senator Keneally has been outspoken in criticising Australia’s offshore detention system, saying the consequences have been “disastrous”.

“It’s pretty much a hospital pass,” Mr Dutton said. “Kristina Keneally is against Operation Sovereign Borders. She’s opposed to turnbacks … she’s opposed to offshore regional processing.

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton said Mr Albanese had made some ‘strange picks’. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“Kristina Keneally really needs to come out and have a mea culpa at some point.”

He didn’t stop there, adding he thought Labor leader Anthony Albanese “must have a great sense of humour” for appointing Ms Keneally in the role.

“I think he’s made a few strange picks here, and he’s going to get caught out,” he said.

“There couldn’t be anybody less qualified on border protection in the Labor Party than Kristina Keneally.”

WHO’S IN THE NEW LABOR TEAM

Conversely, Mr Albanese 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”.

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, and Madeleine King will take on the trade ministry in what Mr Albanese described as a “major promotion” that was “most deserved”.

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.

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

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 Fitzgibbon 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.

Julie Collins will look after ageing and seniors and women portfolios. Picture: Richard Jupe

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, and Amanda Rishworth will be the shadow minister for early childhood education and youth.

ALBO’S ‘LISTENING TOUR’

Labor’s new leader is kicking off his “listening tour” in Tasmania to find out where the party went wrong after its disappointing election result. Mr Albanese arrived in Launceston on Sunday afternoon and will meet with the local mayor on Monday.

He will then jet to Brisbane for the first shadow ministry meeting on Tuesday before flying to Mackay where he will stay until Wednesday.

Mr Albanese has embarked on a ‘listening tour’ in Tasmania. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

The new leader was coy when asked what he hoped to hear from the public.

“I do not want to tell them what I want to hear, that is not listening, that is telling,” he told reporters in Sydney yesterday.

“I have not shied from the (election) outcome … we got the votes of one in three Australians. We need to do much better.”