Victorian MP Clare O’Neil drops out of race for Labor deputy leader, leaving Richard Marles

The Opposition is likely to have an all-male leadership team for the first time in 18 years after Clare O’Neil decided not to run for deputy.

Labor’s new leadership team is set to be Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles after Victorian MP Clare O’Neil chose not to run for the deputy role.

No other challengers have put their names forward, with nominations to close on Monday.

Ms O’Neil said she had spoken to her colleagues about running for the deputy role but they said she needed more experience bringing the party together behind a leader.

“Richard Marles has got the skills and the qualities and the experience at this stage to be able to do that job really well,” Ms O’Neil told the ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.

“Let’s wait for a few days. I am sure that when we step back from this, we will see a Labor Party where women have got their rightful place around the shadow cabinet table.”

Anthony Albanese pictured with his dog Toto in Marrickville. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Bill Shorten decided not to stay on as leader of the Labor Party after its shocking defeat. Picture: AAP

Mr Albanese is from the Left faction, while Mr Marles is from the Right.

Labor has had a man and a woman in the leadership team since 2001, but Ms O’Neil said the stars didn’t align this time for that to happen.

Labor’s entire front bench also faces a shake-up following last weekend’s unexpected federal election loss.

Immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann is already on the defensive amid reports he may have to make way on the front bench for Kristina Keneally.

The caucus and the eventual leader will allocate the portfolios but Mr Neumann was quick to remind people he had been in parliament since Kevin Rudd was swept to power in 2007.

“I have survived the carnage we have had in Queensland,” the member for Blair told ABC television on Saturday.

“We can’t keep giving over 20 seats to the LNP in Queensland out of 30 and think that we will form government nationally.”

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Clare O’Neil has dropped out of the race for deputy leader.

He agrees with another Labor stalwart Joel Fitzgibbon, who has been urging Labor to reconnect with regional and rural Australia, while he also supports shadow treasurer Chris Bowen on the need to respect people’s faiths and beliefs better.

But former Labor treasurer and now the party’s national president Wayne Swan believes “failure to win isn’t fatal”.

“What’s required is the courage to fight on against the Trumpification of the Libs & their alliance with the far right,” he tweeted.

Richard Marles is likely to be Anthony Albanese’s deputy. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Swan retired from his Queensland seat of Lilley at the election, one of two seats the Australian Electoral Commission has deemed too close to call.

Mr Albanese is confident but not complacent about becoming leader, and is promising to be tough on the government when parliament returns.

The Labor caucus is expected to meet as early as Wednesday to confirm its leadership team, including deputy leader and senior Senate personnel.

AAP