Anthony Albanese unveils winners and losers on new front bench after factional fighting

Anthony Albanese has revealed his new frontbench picks after factional fighting pushed out two senior ministers, with some surprise winners.

Anthony Albanese has revealed the ministry for his government’s second term, elevating backbenchers and vaulting an assistant minister into cabinet.

Unveiling his new ministry picks on Monday, the Prime Minister boasted that Labor had the largest “caucus in history since federation”.

“A caucus brimming with capacity, talent and energy in both the House of Representatives and the Senate,” Mr Albanese told reporters at Parliament House, adding that Labor was claiming up to “92 seats” and expecting more in Western Australia and Victoria.

“As a result of that, it is an extraordinary opportunity for ministers, but for the entire caucus going forward, to put in place the agenda that we put forward positively to the Australian people and an ambitious agenda to change this country for the better.

“I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government with the election and we certainly won’t take it for granted.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed who will get what portfolio in his second government. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Tim Ayres, who served as assistant minister for trade in the Albanese government’s first term, was promoted to industry and science minister, replacing Ed Husic who was dumped by his right faction.

Western Australian MP Anne Aly will also enter cabinet, becoming the first Muslim woman to serve, taking on the small business and international development portfolios.

Backbenchers Daniel Mulino, Jess Walsh and Sam Rae – a factional warrior for the Victorian right – were the big winners.

Mr Mulino was picked for assistant treasurer, succeeding retired MP Stephen Jones.

The Italian-born Melbourne MP holds a PhD in economics from Yale University and was elected in 2019.

Senator Walsh was given minister for early childhood education and youth, while Mr Rae was made aged care and seniors minister, which has been returned to the outer ministry.

Meanwhile, newly elected MP Rebecca White – a former Tasmanian leader who failed three times to win a state election – entered federal politics as assistant minister for health and aged care, assistant minister for Indigenous health and assistant minister for women.

Mr Albanese kept his most senior cabinet ministers in their roles, with Richard Marles continuing as defence minister, Jim Chalmers as treasurer, Penny Wong as foreign minister and Don Farrell as trade minister.

Richard Marles (left), Penny Wong (middle) and Don Farrell (right) have all retained their portfolios. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Tanya Plibersek was shifted from environment minister to social services and replaced by Murray Watt, who previously held workplace relations.

Ms Plibersek’s change of role moves her into a lower profile ministry.

Michelle Rowland was also shifted from her communications portfolio and named Attorney-General, succeeding Mark Dreyfus who was also pushed out of cabinet in factional deals.

Anika Wells has kept her sport portfolio but also picked up communications. Chris Bowen retains Climate Change and Energy, while Jason Clare remains Education Minister.

Health Minister Mark Butler will also be lead minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme portfolio, with Jenny McAllister moving into the junior ministerial role after serving as minister for emergency management since July last year.

Her old portfolio went to Kristy McBain, on top of regional development and local government.

Another big winner was NSW MP Andrew Charlton.

The party up-and-comer was promoted from a special envoy role to cabinet secretary and assistant minister for science.

The new ministry will be sworn in on Tuesday.

The new picks came after fierce factional fighting booted Mr Husic and Mr Dreyfus from their portfolios.

Ed Husic says he volunteered to give up his portfolio after factional negotiations saw Labor’s NSW Right drop a ministry spot. Picture: NewsWire / Philip Gostelow

Mark Dreyfus was ousted by Victoria’s Labor Right faction, costing him his role as Attorney-General. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Husic, the science and industry minister in the first Albanese government, on Sunday blamed his ousting on Mr Marles, the leader of Victoria’s Labor Right faction, calling the Deputy Prime Minister a “factional assassin”.

“The difficult issue here is that we’ve had bare faced ambition and a deputy prime minister wield a factional club to reshape the ministry,” Mr Husic told the ABC.

“I think people, when they look at a deputy prime minister, they expect to see a statesman, not a factional assassin.”

Under factional agreements, the Victorian Right was entitled to two cabinet spots while Labor Left gained one spot following the election.

Mr Dreyfus – a member of the Victorian Right – was ousted from the ministry by his faction and replaced by Mr Rae.

As both deputy prime minister and the most senior Right member at the national level, Labor insiders have said Mr Marles pushed for another Victorian Right MP to jump into the ministerial pool at the cost of a NSW Right MP.

Mr Husic, Mr Burke, Mr Clare and Mr Bowen were the options.

Mr Husic said he voluntarily took the bullet “in the interests of stability”.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese unveils winners and losers on new front bench after factional fighting