Anthony Albanese set to be elected Labor leader unopposed

Anthony Albanese has hit back at criticism he’s “too left wing”, arguing he’s from a working class background and is a “common sense guy”.

Labor’s aspiring new leader Anthony Albanese has hit back at comments he’s “too left wing” to win over Australians after his party’s shocking election loss.

Former Liberal MP Christopher Pyne told The Project on Sunday Mr Albanese was “just too left wing to be the Prime Minister of Australia”.

Appearing on the program this evening, Mr Albanese was replayed the stinging comment.

“You are very popular but does Mr Pyne have a point here, does Labor need another inner-city MP from a very left-wing seat?” host Peter Heliar asked the leadership hopeful.

“I’m from a very working class background,” he responded.

“I bring my practical engagement in politics to the fore.

“I’m a common sense guy. I often take stances that sometimes upset the people in my own electorate, but I hope they respect me, they know that I’m prepared and want to stand up for what I think is common sense propositions.”

Mr Albanese said those “common sense” issues including protecting jobs and the environment, explaining he did not think there was a contradiction between the two.

Host Waleed Aly then challenged him on how that was possible if those jobs were in the coal industry.

“Well let me tell you, good policy in terms of sustainability creates jobs,” Mr Albanese said.

Aly pointed out how Australians working in Queensland coal jobs deserted the Labor Party in “huge numbers”, not even turning to the Coalition, but to One Nation “overwhelmingly”.

“We have a challenge to explain our position,” Mr Albanese said.

“Quite clearly, we didn’t do good enough and we need to engage with people who are our base, as well as people who didn’t vote for us.”

The Project host Waleed Aly grilled Anthony Albanese on supporting jobs through climate policy.

Earlier this afternoon, Mr Albanese held a press conference reiterating he is the best person to lead his party to victory in the next election.

That came shortly after Chris Bowen’s announcement he was pulling out of the race, after a dramatic few days for the Labor Party and rumours swirling over infighting and who will run.

Mr Albanese, so far the only contender for the party’s top job, said he was honoured by the amount of support he had received from the Caucus.

“I’ve been ringing round Caucus members and I’ve also had discussions with party members.

“I’m very honoured with the amount of support I’ve received,” he said.

“I believe that a majority of the Caucus have already committed to support my leadership if it goes forward in a contested position.”

Mr Albanese addressed his 2013 loss to Bill Shorten who was elected party leader and Tanya Plibersek his deputy.

“I’ve been through an experience in the past, in 2013, where I put myself forward before the rank and file members of the Australian Labor Party and received majority support,” he said.

“I’m confident but not complacent about being able to succeed, if another candidate comes forward. If they do, it is their right. We will have a respectful debate, as I would have with Chris Bowen.”

He said Labor members were “still grieving from Saturday’s result”.

“It was very traumatic for the members of the party,” he said.

“I’ve already said on Saturday night we needed to go out and discuss with members... what we can do to better listen and respond to their concerns so we have a better election night in 2022.”

Mr Albanese said he was happy for anyone else in the party to put their hand up, addressing the fact Queensland MP Jim Chalmers was considering running.

Some have suggested Mr Chalmers will be gunning for the deputy leader job but Mr Albanese said “no arrangements, no deals” had been made.

Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen addressed the media separately this afternoon. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

Mr Bowen announced this afternoon he believed he couldn’t win the rank-and-file vote only a day after he said he would oppose Mr Albanese.

Mr Bowen said he had been on the phone to colleagues over the past 48 hours discussing how his potential move was going to play out.

“I’ve been very pleased with the response. It’s clear to me that I would have majority support in the actual caucus ballot,” he said.

“Not a big majority, but majority support with some support from the left faction as well as support from the right faction, and people that aren’t in any faction. But it’s also clear to me, I’m a realist, that Albo would win the rank and file for good reason.

“He’s a popular character. By a good margin. Hence I have reached the view that it would be unlikely for me to win the ballot.”

Mr Bowen said when he entered the Labor leadership race he was doing it to put certain issues on the agenda to be debated for our party.

“I thought that was really important. And I still think that’s really important. I’m glad that Anthony and I have been able to do that,” he said.

“From my point of view the Labor Party needs to look carefully at the lessons from Saturday. The lessons in the regions, the lessons in the suburbs, and ensure that we’re reconnecting with people who used to vote Labor, but for some reason no longer feel comfortable doing so.”

Mr Bowen indicated he would have won the leadership under the old system, but changes brought in by former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd give Mr Albanese an advantage.

“I was pleased with the way I was doing in the caucus ballot, but, you know, I look at how it would play out from there,” he said.

“I think Anthony would have, as he had last time, a strong advantage in the rank and file.

“It used to be the case if you had the numbers in the caucus you’d get it. But it’s no longer the system, so therefore that’s what’s changed.”

Mr Albanese is currently the only declared candidate for the party’s leadership, Mr Chalmers, from the party’s right faction, this afternoon said he still might put his hand up.

After Mr Bowen’s press conference, Mr Chalmers revealed he was still considering his options.

On Monday night Mr Chalmers told the Q&A panel on the ABC that he was considering vying for the leadership.

I feel for Chris & I know it would’ve been hard for him to pull out. I’m being encouraged to nominate for leader & I’ll now consider my options overnight. @AustralianLabor needs to rebuild, refresh & renew & I want to play a prominent role in that. What role is to be determined.

— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) May 22, 2019

After his election defeat, Mr Shorten had reportedly been campaigning to quell support for his more left-wing former rival, who is understood to have support from Labor’s NSW right faction.

Federal Labor frontbencher Penny Wong — another key figure in Mr Shorten’s inner circle — has backed Mr Albanese as the “best person” to become the party’s next national leader.

She would remain as Senate leader in the reshuffle.

Mr Bowen’s backdown follows Labor’s current deputy leader Tanya Plibersek’s surprise announcement she would also not be running for the party’s top job.

Ms Plibersek gave family reasons for the decision.

“I am very grateful for the support I have received from my colleagues, from party members and others, urging me to run for the Labor leadership,” Ms Plibersek said in a statement.

“But now is not my time.

“At this point, I cannot reconcile the important responsibilities I have to my family with the additional responsibilities of the Labor leadership.

“I know some people will be disappointed with this decision.

“I intend to continue as deputy leader until the leadership is determined.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese set to be elected Labor leader unopposed