Ed Husic steps down to make way for Kristina Keneally

Ed Husic is stepping down from the shadow ministry team to accommodate Kristina Keneally.

Anthony Albanese insists Kristina Keneally will be on his frontbench.

Labor MP Ed Husic will make way for Kristina Keneally on Anthony Albanese’s frontbench.

The Opposition human services spokesman said he would not be contesting a spot on the shadow ministry team.

The Australian revealed on Tuesday Mr Husic might have to leave the frontbench for Ms Keneally, given the NSW Right failed to pick up an extra quota on the shadow ministry team.

Instead the Queensland Right received two positions, which will likely save immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann.

While I’ve loved being a Shadow Minister, I won’t be running for re-election to that role today. Instead I’ll be...

Posted by Ed Husic MP on Tuesday, 28 May 2019

“While I’ve loved being a shadow minister, I won’t be running for re-election in the role today,” Mr Husic said.

“Instead I’ll be backing my great friend Kristina Keneally for that spot. We need to ensure someone of Kristina’s enormous talents has the opportunity to make a powerful contribution on the frontline, in the Senate.”

I thank my good friend Ed Husic for his gracious and strong support for me to stand for the front bench. Ed is talented, he enjoys wide support in the NSW Right & across the ALP. I am certain he will play a big role in an Albanese Labor Government. pic.twitter.com/JFSRD8ZAxj

— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) May 29, 2019

Senator Keneally thanked her “good friend” Mr Husic for standing aside so she could be promoted to the frontbench.

“I thank my good friend Ed Husic for his gracious and strong support for me to stand for the front bench. Ed is talented, he enjoys wide support in the NSW Right & across the ALP. I am certain he will play a big role in an Albanese Labor government,” Senator Keneally said on Twitter.

Ed Husic - who Paul Keating regards as one of Labor’s great talents - steps down from the shadow ministry to make way for Kristina Keneally. This is a bad outcome for Labor. @australian #auspol

— Troy Bramston (@TroyBramston) May 29, 2019

Ed Husic steps down to make way for Keneally. Pathetic. Husic is the future of the party. Keneally is a reminder of what’s rotten with the ALP, from superficial quotas to kowtowing to people like Obeid.. https://t.co/txgqJEPrUC

— janet albrechtsen (@jkalbrechtsen) May 29, 2019

Earlier Mr Albanese demanded Senator Keneally be on his frontbench and that women are well represented on his team as the factions pick the shadow ministry.

But the new Labor leader would not endorse Senator Keneally as the deputy Senate leader, after The Australian revealed on Monday South Australian senator Don Farrell was expected to retain the position.

“I intend to be consultative, as a leader. I intend to talk issues through, as I have. I’ve made a number of my views very clear to the caucus. For example, Kristina Keneally will be a part of my team as far as I’m concerned. I’ve made that clear and I’ll continue to talk to that,” Mr Albanese said.

.@AlboMP: I’m making it very clear as the leader of the Labor party that I want the best team, and the best team includes @KKeneally.

MORE: https://t.co/cnxAXrLKY3 #newsday pic.twitter.com/FzgIIRmUXr

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 29, 2019

Caucus will meet tomorrow and choose the opposition frontbench, with Mr Albanese to have a meeting with shadow cabinet and designate portfolios next week.

Ms Keneally is expected to be named as a frontbencher representing the powerful NSW Right faction.

Mr Albanese said it would be a “matter for me” whether Bill Shorten is in shadow cabinet or in the outer ministry.

Under Labor’s rules, the caucus votes in the 30 frontbenchers and Mr Albanese chooses their portfolio and who is in shadow cabinet.

The Labor Left will have 14 MPs on the frontbench while the Right will have 16 MPs, including six from NSW, four from Victoria and two from Queensland.

The Labor Right is expected to have less than a third of women as its frontbenchers.

The Australian revealed this week Jim Chalmers is in line for the Treasury portfolio, while Mr Shorten has expressed interest in health, although he is not expected to replace Catherine King.

Mr Albanese said he would remind his caucus ahead of its meeting tomorrow that the Labor Party is “resilient”.

“We’ve been around since 1891. We have, I think, values that augur well and fit with the Australian ethos of a fair go. We don’t want to abandon those values. What we do want to do is have a proper assessment of the policies that we took forward,” Mr Albanese said.

The incoming Opposition Leader would not say whether Labor would attempt to block the government’s “big stick” legislation, which gives the Treasurer the power to force energy companies to sell assets if they are being uncompetitive.

“Of all of the matters on policy, I’ve said very clearly, we’re going to hasten slowly,” he said.