Federal Election 2019: Anthony Albanese ‘confident, not complacent’ of securing Labor leadership
Anthony Albanese has vowed to revamp Labor’s economic policies if he becomes leader of the party.
- Albanese ‘confident, not complacent’
- Bowen out of leadership race
- Chalmers mulls tilt
- Bowen tipped to clear way for Albo
- Shorten’s right risks split
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live commentary on the aftermath of the federal election.
Top story: Anthony Albanese says he has support of the majority of the Labor caucus and rules out doing deals to secure the leadership, after Chris Bowen bowed out of the running.
Elias Visontay 8.03pm: Albanese appears on The Project
Anthony Albanese has vowed to revamp Labor’s economic policies if he becomes leader of the party, claiming the opposition needs to “explain more clearly how it will not only share wealth but how it will create wealth”.
Appearing on Channel 10’s The Project hours after Chris Bowen pulled out of the Labor leadership race and left him as the sole candidate, Mr Albanese also said his party needed to “show that we respect people of faith and respect their faith”.
Explaining how a Labor Party he leads would differ from the opposition that Bill Shorten led, Mr Albanese said it would have a “different emphasis” on how it would “create wealth” for Australians.
“I think that one of the things we need to explain more clearly is how we will not only share wealth but how we’ll create wealth.
“I have a long history of involvement particularly in the infrastructure side. I see investment in infrastructure as being critical.
“We do need to stand up for the environment when it comes to climate change and I don’t think there’s a contradiction… Good policy in terms of sustainability creates jobs.
“People do feel insecure. We need to have a plan and explain the role of government working with the private sector to improve people’s security and living standards. That is part of the Labor project,” he said.
Asked about how representative a leader he would be given the strong left wing sentiment in his seat of Grayndler, Mr Albanese said he was a “common sense guy”.
“I’m from a very working class background. I bring my practical engagement in politics to the fore.
“Labor does have to stand for jobs, economic growth and good distribution when it comes to social policy,” he added.
Mr Albanese was coy on party colleague Jim Chalmers’ possible tilt at leadership, saying: “He’s considering running as leader of the Labor Party. If he does he would be good if he was successful”.
Geoff Chambers 6.37pm: ALP leader election dates
The ALP National Executive this evening initiated the process of electing the next Labor Party leader, following Bill Shorten’s election loss.
ALP National Secretary Noah Carroll said nominations for the leader’s job would open tomorrow from 10am and close on Monday at 10am.
“In accordance with the Caucus Rules, a candidate for the position of Leader must be nominated in writing by at least 20 per cent of members of the Federal Labor caucus,” Mr Carroll said.
“In the event that there is more than one nomination, the Leader will be elected through a combined ballot of the Labor Party membership and the Federal Labor caucus.
“A postal ballot of all ALP members will open on Friday 31 May, and conclude on Thursday 27 June.”
Mr Carroll said following the conclusion of the postal ballot, the Labor caucus would meet and vote on July 1.
He said the ALP National Executive “also thanked Bill Shorten for his service as Leader over the past six years”.
“Bill led a united Labor team which dominated the policy debate, denied unfair budget measures and defeated two Liberal Prime Ministers. Our party and our values remain strong because of his dedication and hard work,” he said.
Greg Brown 6.28pm: Neumann backs Chalmers
Queensland Labor frontbencher Shayne Neumann said he would back Jim Chalmers in a leadership contest.
“I think we need a Queenslander in one of the leadership position and I support Jim,” Mr Neumann told The Australian.
“It is up to him but if he runs for the leadership he has got my support.”
Greg Brown 5.25pm: Albanese ‘confident, not complacent’
Anthony Albanese says he is “confident but not complacent” about winning a contested ballot for the Labor leadership, claiming a majority of caucus MPs had already given him their support.
The NSW Left MP said his advantage was people “know who I am”, in a thinly-veiled swipe at the lesser known Queensland MP Jim Chalmers, who is considering running.
“I have been ringing around caucus members and I have also had discussions with caucus members. I’m very honoured by the amount of support that I have received,” Mr Albanese said.
“I am confident but not complacent about being able to succeed if another candidate comes forward. If they do, as is their right, we will have a respectful debate as I would have with Chris Bowen.
“Quite clearly, Labor members are still grieving from Saturday’s result. It was very traumatic for the members of the party who worked so hard and had an expectation that we would get a much improved outcome.”
Mr Albanese ruled out doing factional deals to secure his leadership.
“I have made it very clear that I am standing as a candidate as leader of the Labor Party, I am doing so without doing any arrangements, there will be no deals. I did that last time in 2013 and perhaps because of that I suffered but it is the right thing to do,” he said.
But Mr Albanese, who received Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon’s support this afternoon, could not say whether he supported the Adani coalmine.
This is despite Mr Fitzgibbon saying his support for any future leader would depend on outright support for the coal sector and the Adani project.
“I’m not about to announce policy on the run,” he said, when asked if he supported the central Queensland coalmine.
Greg Brown 4.37pm: Fitzgibbon out, backs Albanese
Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon is no longer considering running as Labor leader and has thrown his support behind Anthony Albanese.
Mr Fitzgibbon, from the NSW Right, said he was satisfied Mr Albanese would focus on regional Australia.
“I’ve had a long discussion with Albo about my demands that the party strengthens its focus on regional Australia, provides it with a meaningful seat at the party’s decision making table, and engages more on the issues which matter most to working people living in our great regions,” Mr Chalmers said.
“I am satisfied that a Labor Party led by Anthony Albanese will provide that focus and he’ll listen closely to the needs and aspirations of our country people. As a consequence, I will not be a part of the Leadership contest.
“I wish Albo the very best and look forward to working with him and the team to rebuild Labor’s support in regional Australia and amongst blue collar workers.”
Greg Brown 4.29pm: Right rallies around Chalmers
Queensland Right MPs are coming out in support of Jim Chalmers.
Oxley MP Milton Dick told The Australian he would support Mr Chalmers if he decided to run.
“I think it is vitally important that a Queenslander is in the leadership group. Ultimately it is a decision for Jim” Mr Dick said.
“If he chooses to be a candidate I’ll back him 100 per cent because I have known him for 20 years and he is 100 per cent for Queensland.”
Right-wing senator Anthony Chisholm said having a Queensland leader would be good for Labor’s support in the state.
“I’m certainly someone who has been talking to him. I do know he’s been getting some strong support from the caucus. And I think interestingly, branch members as well,” Senator Chisholm told the ABC.
“You start to get emails through to your office, people you know who get in touch with you. So I certainly know he is getting some encouragement to run.
“Anthony Albanese and Jim have a high regard for each other. If there was to be a contest I’m confident it would be done in the right spirits and one that Labor Party members would embrace at the same time.”
Greg Brown 3.59pm: Chalmers to consider options overnight
Labor frontbencher Jim Chalmers has confirmed he is considering running against Anthony Albanese in the leadership ballot, after Chris Bowen pulled out.
Mr Chalmers, who would likely be deputy to Mr Albanese, said he was being encouraged by Labor MPs to run.
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
Greg Brown 3.52pm: Bowen out of leadership race
Chris Bowen has quit the Labor leadership race after just one day into the contest after realising he could not beat Anthony Albanese.
Mr Bowen, who launched his race just yesterday, pulled out of the contest after elements of the NSW and Victorian Right deserted him.
He claimed he would have had the support of a majority of caucus members but believed Mr Albanese would win the rank and file vote.
“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.
“As I said, I’m very grateful to the caucus colleagues who have been supportive of me and I’m very pleased that I would have been able, in my view, to command the majority of the caucus.
“So earlier today I reached the conclusion that it’s (not) really viable for me to win, it wouldn’t be fair to put the party through the cost of the process and the delay for the start of a new leader.”
Greg Brown 3.44pm: Chalmers mulls leadership tilt
Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers is considering entering the Labor leadership race instead of running as Anthony Albanese’s deputy.
Mr Chalmers, from the Queensland Right, is expected to make a decision this afternoon.
Factional powerbrokers expected him to take the role as deputy leader with Mr Bowen pulling out.
Greg Brown 2.45pm: Bowen to speak
Chris Bowen has called a press conference where he is expected to pull out of the leadership ballot, giving Anthony Albanese the position unopposed.
The opposition Treasury spokesman started calling MPs in Victoria after The Australian reported powerbrokers in the Victorian Right were prepared to back Mr Albanese.
Queensland Right MP Jim Chalmers is expected to become deputy leader.
Mr Bowen will speak outside his electorate office at 3.45pm AEST.
Greg Brown 2.30pm: Bowen tipped to clear way for Albo
Senior Labor factional powerbrokers expect Chris Bowen to pull out of the Labor leadership race before a ballot is held, with Anthony Albanese to be elected uncontested.
The Australian has been told a deal being nutted between the factions could make Queensland Right MP Jim Chalmers deputy leader.
South Australian Left senator Penny Wong would be re-elected Senate leader, while NSW Right senator Kristina Keneally would be deputy Senate leader.
Expectations have risen Mr Bowen will step down after it appeared he may not have crucial support from elements the Victorian Right and the CFMEU, which supported Bill Shorten’s leadership.
Mr Bowen will address the media at 3.45pm AEST, where it is expected he will announce his decision to withdraw from the leadership race.
Mr Bowen’s office has been contacted for comment.
With Rosie Lewis
Greg Brown 1.05pm: Keneally backs Albo
NSW Right Labor senator Kristina Keneally is supporting Anthony Albanese as Labor leader.
Senator Keneally has joined Tony Burke as a high profile NSW Right figure who is rejecting Chris Bowen as leader, despite him being in their faction.
“In light the election outcome, we need to reframe our policies and we need to listen to our members and supporters. We must reconnect with working people who did not vote for us. It’s my view that Anthony Albanese best placed to do that,” she tweeted.
I have great respect for & friendship with Chris Bowen. I believe he has much capacity & a great contribution to make to Labor, but after the election result we must take stock of where we are and what we need to do. (2/3)
— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) May 22, 2019
Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King, from the Victorian Left, has announced she is backing Anthony Albanese for the Labor leadership.
“I will be supporting (Anthony Albanese) in the leadership ballot. He is a good friend, loyal colleague and someone who understands regional Australia. He always steps up no matter how tough the fight,” Ms King tweeted.
I will be supporting â¦@AlboMPâ© in the leadership ballot. He is a good friend, loyal colleague and someone who understands regional Australia. He always steps up no matter how tough the fight. pic.twitter.com/rJKeVwf9OP
— Catherine King MP (@CatherineKingMP) May 22, 2019
Labor Left MPs Andrew Giles and Terri Butler have also thrown their support behind Mr Albanese.
Joyce Moullakis 11.55am: Frydenberg: Economy faces headwinds
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has met with Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe today to discuss the challenges and opportunities locally “in the face of economic headwinds”, he told stockbrokers at a conference in Sydney.
“The Australian economy faces some headwinds,” he said, adding that trade tensions were escalating between the US and China and weighing on growth.
Mr Frydenberg added that the drought and floods in Australia in recent months had also had a “significant impact” and made growth more difficult.
He stressed to Dr Lowe the government’s tax cuts and $100 billion in planned infrastructure spending that would help to buoy economic output.
“It’s the time for a pro-growth strategy.
“These are projects our country has been waiting half a century for,” Mr Frydenberg said of the pipeline of infrastructure projects including Snowy Hydro.
His comments follow a speech by Dr Lowe yesterday urging more stimulus in the economy including infrastructure projects.
Mr Frydenberg also met with the prudential regulator today and praised yesterday’s announcement of relaxed interest rate hurdles and buffers for home loan serviceability assessments.
“It is a positive move. It has been well received.
“That will continue to spur lending across the economy.
Now that the royal commission is over, now that the election is over and there was obviously uncertainty around the Labor Party’s high tax agenda … now that is all over we can get on with business.”
Read the article in full here.
Greg Brown 11.40am: Shorten’s right risks split
Bill Shorten’s Victorian Right faction could split over the upcoming leadership contest, with some powerbrokers prepared to back Anthony Albanese if he runs on a joint ticket with Queensland frontbencher Jim Chalmers.
MPs aligned with powerbroker Adem Somyurek want Mr Chalmers to run for the leadership, even in a three cornered contest that would split the vote of the Right.
Mr Somyurek’s allies are so adamant on Mr Chalmers being in the leadership team they would back Mr Albanese — a member of the NSW Left — if he secured Mr Chalmers as the deputy.
Mr Albanese has said he will not run on a joint ticket with a deputy.
The Somyurek team believe Mr Chalmers could help the party’s prospects in Queensland and argue Mr Bowen is saddled with the tax policies rejected in the election.
Mr Bowen has been told by MPs in the NSW Right not to run.
Mr Shorten has been encouraging MPs to back an opposing candidate to Mr Albanese and has spoken to both Mr Bowen and Mr Chalmers.
Greg Brown 11.15am: Wong warns Shorten over Albo
Penny Wong says Bill Shorten would “undermine the very unity he has been part of developing” if he was lobbying MPs to vote against Anthony Albanese.
The Labor Senator leader — who is backing Mr Albanese — said Mr Shorten should have no role in the outcome of his successor.
“I would be surprised if that were occurring,” Senator Wong said.
“I’d be surprised because it’s not consistent with the role he now has and I’d be surprised because it would potentially undermine the very unity he has been part of developing and building in opposition.
“It wouldn’t be consistent with the role of a former leader or current interim leader and it would undermine the unity that Bill has been such an important part in rebuilding.”
The Australian has been told the Opposition Leader has encouraged Chris Bowen and Jim Chalmers to run against his former leadership rival.
Senator Wong said she would recontest the position of Senate leader and had no ambitions to enter the House of Representatives.
Senator Wong said Mr Albanese was the best person to unite Labor after a devastating loss.
“He’s a man of authenticity and integrity. He’s got a capacity to speak to people across this great country, to speak to people in the regions and in the outer suburbs as well as in our cities,” Senator Wong said.
+ Terri Butler for Albo https://t.co/BWzeE90Ede
— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) May 22, 2019
Alice Workman 11.15am: Labor’s trouble with women
Labor’s spruiking of its record number of women in the parliament has come under question, with none of its senior female MPs willing to contest the party’s leadership ballot.
Despite its high female representation, a lack of senior female MPs in the lower house has hampered moves to push a woman to run for the opposition leader’s job after Tanya Plibersek pulled out citing “family reasons”.
There is also a chance, as leadership discussions take place behind closed doors, that a male MP could fill the role of deputy leader.
Read the article in full here.
Adam Creighton 11.10am: Moment of Labor’s downfall
Earlier this year, I bet on the Coalition to win the election. Colleagues laughed … but I knew it was the beginning of the end for Labor.
Read the article in full here.
Robert Gottliebsen 11.05am: Bullets dodged
Two dramatic events have transformed Australia. First, we have dodged an incredibly dangerous bullet, and second a remarkable set of bullish economic stars are suddenly aligned.
I learned yesterday that one of Australia’s largest home builders was planning a substantial reduction in its work force next week had Bill Shorten won the election.
Others would have quickly followed and, indeed, some home builders had already started their ALP-driven retrenchment program. Those mass sackings would have triggered a steep decline.
Read the article in full here.
Greg Brown 9.50am: Shorten backs Bowen
Bill Shorten’s Victorian Right faction is set to back Chris Bowen against Anthony Albanese, with the Opposition Leader telling his factional allies to support the architect of his rejected tax agenda.
But leading figures in the faction are still urging finance spokesman Jim Chalmers to run, which could splinter the vote of the Right.
Labor figures have told Mr Bowen to stand down because he is too saddled with the franking credits policy and will not be able to beat Mr Albanese.
A Victorian Right MP said the faction could support Mr Chalmers if he ran against Mr Bowen, as most believe he is Labor’s most sellable leader at the next election.
The Australian has been told Mr Shorten has spoken to Mr Bowen and Mr Chalmers and encouraged them to run in the ballot.
Mr Shorten has voiced concern about Mr Albanese’s ability to lead the party to an election victory.
He was initially backing Ms Plibersek to replace him in the role.
The Victorian Right is splintered and Mr Shorten does not wield full control over its numbers, but powerbroker Adem Somyurek is also set to back a Mr Bowen or Mr Chalmers over Mr Albanese.
Greg Brown 9.20am: ALP tax plan ‘lost election’
Liberal National MP Luke Howarth — who received a 6 per cent swing in the Brisbane seat of Petrie — says Labor’s franking credits and negative gearing policies had the biggest impact on the election result.
“It was all about Labor’s higher taxing agenda I believe,” Mr Howarth told Sky News.
Mr Howarth said Labor’s lukewarm position on coalmining hurt it in Queensland.
“Labor needs to come back to the sensible centre. They are too linked to the Greens. People were worried, not just up north but even in my seat and above were worried about what Labor would do to jobs.
“They saw them as wanting to shut down mining altogether.”
Greg Brown 8.20am: ‘I should have worded that better’: Bowen
Labor’s Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen has admitted he shouldn’t have told retirees they were “entitled to vote against us” if they did not support Labor’s franking credits crackdown.
Mr Bowen was the architect of Labor’s policy to end cash refunds for franking credits — one that has been blamed for contributing to the election loss.
He met with criticism during the election campaign for telling retirees concerned over plans to end cash refunds for franking credits that they should vote against Labor.
“I say to your listeners: if they feel very strongly about this, if they feel that this is something which should impact on their vote they are of course perfectly entitled to vote against us,” Mr Bowen said.
This morning on ABC Radio, he admitted that statement was a mistake.
“Let me be clear: I should have worded that better. It was one sentence that was taken out of context deliberately by the Liberal Party, but I take responsibility for the words. I should have worded it better,” Mr Bowen said.
“But the message I was trying to convey was we had enough respect for the Australian people to put our plans out for them to judge.”
Mr Bowen this morning also accused Scott Morrison of breaking his first election promise by failing to legislate promised tax cuts by July 1.
“This is the first broken promise of the Morrison government, they lied about this,” Mr Bowen told ABC radio.
“I called it out at the time as shadow treasurer and said ‘it will be impossible for this to be implemented before July 1’. And Scott Morrison said ‘Chris Bowen doesn’t know what he is talking about. We can just do it administratively, it will be fine’.
“He was wrong and he lied about it.”
The Australian Taxation Office has confirmed it can enact the changes retrospectively if the tax cuts pass after July.
7.05am: Wong to back Albanese
Federal Labor frontbencher Penny Wong looks set to endorse Anthony Albanese as the “best person” to become the party’s next national leader.
The South Australian senator is expected to make an announcement today, a day after shadow treasurer and NSW right faction member Chris Bowen launched his bid for the role.
Senator Wong “genuinely believes he (Albanese) is the best person to take them to government in the next election”, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.
Frontbencher Tony Burke is also believed to be backing Mr Albanese over Chris Bowen.
Mr Albanese and Mr Bowen are the only declared contenders to replace Mr Shorten, but it’s not too late for others to put up their hand.
It is understood Labor’s finance spokesman Jim Chalmers is being encouraged to run, but his thinking has been impacted by factional colleague Mr Bowen’s announcement.
Mr Bowen received a mix of positive and negative comments on his Facebook page yesterday, with many linking him with Labor’s loss and calling for “generational change” in the party.
Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, also from the left faction, ruled herself out on Monday, saying it was not her time.
The leadership will be decided by a vote of grassroots members and the federal parliamentary caucus, with each group given 50 per cent weight. Caucus will not be told the result of the grassroots vote before MPs make their decision.
AAP
Greg Brown 7am: What’s making news today
■ The nation’s housing market is set to be reignited with a stimulus package focused on winding back lending restrictions and lower interest rates fuelling economic growth, in tandem with tax cuts and increased infrastructure spending.
■ Scott Morrison says his promised tax cuts will still be delivered for the 2019-20 financial year even if parliament does not sit before July 1, with the Australian Taxation Office confirming it can enact the changes retrospectively.
■ The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, has argued that concerns about religious freedoms affected the election result as faith leaders yesterday encouraged Scott Morrison to provide an update on his plan to introduce a religious discrimination act.
■ The once-great NSW Labor Right faction is in disarray after major splits emerged yesterday over who should become the party’s next leader — with many of its senior members intending to back left-winger Anthony Albanese in the fight against one of its own, Chris Bowen.
■ Anthony Albanese has ramped up his bid to become Labor’s next leader and is assembling a team of volunteers to run social media and direct-engagement campaigns aimed directly at ordinary rankand-file members of the party. Chris Bowen grew up in a fibro shack on Braemar Street, Smithfield, in Sydney’s western suburbs, opposite soccer player Harry Kewell.
■ The Morrison government is considering changes to rules around campaigning at polling booths in a move that could seriously hamper GetUp.
■ Former senior ACTU official Tim Lyons has criticised the union movement’s “nebulous” Change the Rules campaign, declaring there was nothing to show for the millions of dollars spent on it. He’s also criticised the ALP, unions and GetUp for putting resources into “hubristic vanity projects” such as the seats of Kooyong and Higgins when they could have focused on Chisholm, which has been narrowly lost.
■ Incoming senator Susan McDonald has rejected a quota to boost the number of Coalition women in parliament, saying she would be “offended and humiliated” to be preselected because of her gender. But on the other side of the chamber, Labor’s spruiking of its record number of women in the parliament has come under question, with none of its senior female MPs willing to contest the party’s leadership ballot.
■ Who are the Quiet Australians, the ones who voted for Scott Morrison? The Australian’s Caroline Overington speaks to them today — they include single mum Rachel Bierling from the north Brisbane suburb of Nundah, teacher Amanda Harrison, Sydney-based finance expert Mark Humphrey-Jenner and Mildura grapegrower Ben Vandenberg.
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