­Albanese, Plibersek to fight it out for Labor leadership

Tanya Plibersek and Anthony ­Albanese — Labor Left faction ­rivals — will face-off to lead the party.

Anthony Albanese at the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain, Sydney, yesterday. Picture: AAP.

Tanya Plibersek and Anthony ­Albanese — Labor Left faction ­rivals — will face off to lead the party following Bill Shorten’s devastating election defeat, in a contest that could also feature Chris Bowen or Jim Chalmers as the Labor Right candidate.

Ms Plibersek will today declare she will be a candidate for the party’s top job, with Mr Shorten backing his former deputy to take the role and indicating his desire to serve on the Labor frontbench.

The announcement follows that of Mr Albanese, who kicked off the post-election leadership race yesterday — less than 24 hours after Mr Shorten’s concession speech — declaring he wanted to bring Australians together rather than divide them.

Mr Bowen, Labor’s Treasury spokesman and co-designer of its now-rejected “retirees tax” and negative gearing assault, was yesterday considering whether to throw his hat in the ring, amid criticism from some in the party that he was tarnished by his role in the election loss.

Mr Chalmers, Labor’s finance spokesman, was also weighing his options, telling colleagues he would wait to see whether Mr Bowen put his hand up.

The Queenslander has the backing of ALP president Wayne Swan and is being pitched as a good option to help the party reconnect with voters in the Sunshine State, but is seen by some as “not ready” for the role.

Sources said it was more likely Mr Chalmers, 41, would seek to run on a joint ticket with Ms Plibersek as her deputy — an option defence spokesman Richard Marles was also canvassing yesterday.

As Labor MPs and the party faithful reeled from Saturday’s election loss, Ms Plibersek was urged by colleagues and rank-and-file members to put herself forward. Former deputy Labor leader Jenny Macklin was among those who urged her to run, along with senior frontbenchers including Victorian Brendan O’Connor.

However, she could face resistance from the powerful NSW Right, which sources said could get behind Mr Albanese in a two-horse race with Ms Plibersek.

Mr Albanese moved to put his stamp on the leadership contest.

The NSW Left powerbroker and former deputy prime minister, who was narrowly beaten by Mr Shorten for the leadership in 2013 despite winning majority support from party members, signalled he would seek to move the party beyond its class-war attacks on business and aspirational Australians.

“What we need to do is have a government that deals with the big challenges by bringing people together,” Mr Albanese said. “We need unions and businesses, ­people who live in our cities, our outer suburbs, or in our regions, to come together and recognise that what unites us as a nation is far greater than what divides us.”

Under rules introduced following the turbulent Rudd-Gillard years, the leadership will be decided with two ballots — one of caucus members and the other of about 40,000 ALP members. Each is given a 50-50 weighting, with the results sealed until both are complete.

It is understood Mr Shorten has thrown his support behind Ms Plibersek, and may seek a frontbench position under her leadership. Nominations are expected to open this week, with Mr Shorten to act as outgoing leader until his replacement is appointed.

The previous ballot between Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese included a month-long roadshow and three leadership debates.

“I would like this process to be completed as quickly as is reasonably possible,” Mr Shorten said yesterday, adding that he would do everything possible to “ensure our great party is back stronger, wiser and united”.

Mr Swan said the party would need to examine its policy framework and campaign strategies, but urged against recriminations. “Attributing blame or fault to any particular individual or policy is not the way ahead,” he said. “Every political party which suffers a defeat learns one lesson and that is to listen even more carefully.”

While Labor’s agenda was rejected by voters, Mr Swan said the party would continue to stand for fair wages, a fair go and tackling climate change. “This policy framework was demonised by our political opponents, and yet these are all issues Australia will have to confront, and soon,” he said.