Albanese makes big changes, unveils new Plibersek role in major reshuffle

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly to Rome within days to join world leaders at the inauguration Mass for Pope Leo XIV, after overhauling federal cabinet by naming new ministers to workplace relations, environment and social services.

Albanese is expected to meet counterparts, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the Vatican, amid global concerns about American policy on trade and security under President Donald Trump.

Anthony Albanese has made significant changes to his ministry for his second term as PM.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The plans come after the prime minister promoted five colleagues and moved six others to set up a new ministry for Labor’s second term in power, acting on a factional deal last week to remove Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic from the cabinet.

A day after Husic called Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles a “factional assassin” for removing colleagues, Albanese played down the internal strife by saying the reshuffle followed the usual process in the Labor caucus to choose the frontbench.

The prime minister promised an “ambitious agenda to change this country for the better” and noted that Labor would have the largest federal caucus since Federation, with at least 92 seats. The Coalition has only 41 seats in the latest counting.

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

Albanese will leave Australia early on Wednesday to visit Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, and then fly to Rome for talks with other world leaders as well as the formal Mass to mark the inauguration of Pope Leo this Sunday.

The talks will include tighter co-operation with Canada, a key security ally that has felt the brunt of Trump’s ire, and the prospect of a broader trade agreement with the European Union, a deal that was shelved last year because it did not do enough for Australian beef and lamb exporters.

Albanese elevated two members of the Left faction, Anne Aly and Tim Ayres, into federal cabinet, after last week’s factional deals removed Dreyfus and Husic.

Aly will become the first Muslim woman to hold a cabinet position, being named minister for multicultural affairs and international development, as well as being responsible for small business.

Ayres becomes minister for industry and innovation as well as minister for science, replacing Husic.

In a sign of the scale of the changes, Tanya Plibersek has been moved sideways from her old portfolio of environment to become minister for social services, a key task after past departmental scandals over robo-debt and income support.

Albanese has installed Queensland senator Murray Watt as minister for environment and water at a time when the government wants to restart talks with the Greens to pass a stalled bill to set up an environment protection agency to oversee project approvals.

Anika Wells trades her old portfolio of aged care for communications and sport, a key position when the government must consider whether to risk blowback from media companies and professional sporting bodies by regulating online gambling more strictly.

Amanda Rishworth, former minister for social services, becomes minister for employment and workplace relations to replace Watt.

Michelle Rowland, the former communications minister, becomes attorney-general to replace Dreyfus.

The reshuffle comes little more than a week after a huge election win for Labor, which increased its majority as the Coalition suffered huge losses.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles have retained their positions.

Asked about Plibersek’s move, Albanese gave a brief answer: “She was very positive about the portfolio.”

The National Disability Insurance Scheme will be overseen by two members of the executive, with Health Minister Mark Butler gaining responsibility for the NDIS at cabinet level. NSW senator Jenny McAllister, previously in charge of emergency management, becomes minister for the NDIS in the outer ministry.

This follows the retirement of former NDIS minister Bill Shorten before the election.

Andrew Charlton – someone the prime minister was keen to promote – will become the cabinet secretary and assistant minister for science and the digital economy.

The ministry is set to be sworn in by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at 9am on Tuesday.

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