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| Bill Shorten expected to dump David Feeney from Labor frontbench Bill Shorten expected to dump David Feeney from Labor frontbench | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labor’s David Feeney is not expected to survive on the opposition frontbench when Bill Shorten moves to reshuffle his ministry post election. | Labor’s David Feeney is not expected to survive on the opposition frontbench when Bill Shorten moves to reshuffle his ministry post election. |
| The Victorian rightwinger held on to his seat of Batman despite a big push by the Greens and despite kicking a series of own goals during the campaign, including failing to declare ownership of a house, faltering during a live television interview about Labor’s election policy positions and then leaving his briefing notes behind in the studio. | The Victorian rightwinger held on to his seat of Batman despite a big push by the Greens and despite kicking a series of own goals during the campaign, including failing to declare ownership of a house, faltering during a live television interview about Labor’s election policy positions and then leaving his briefing notes behind in the studio. |
| Party sources say the right faction is not currently inclined to fight for Feeney to remain on the Labor frontbench when the ministry is redrawn by Shorten. | Party sources say the right faction is not currently inclined to fight for Feeney to remain on the Labor frontbench when the ministry is redrawn by Shorten. |
| Shorten was asked on Monday whether he intended to make changes in the shadow ministry post election and responded he had a “good problem”. | Shorten was asked on Monday whether he intended to make changes in the shadow ministry post election and responded he had a “good problem”. |
| “We’ve got lots of new talented people,” he said. “I have a good problem, a happy problem. I’ve got a lot of talent and we’re going to put in the best possible line-up. | “We’ve got lots of new talented people,” he said. “I have a good problem, a happy problem. I’ve got a lot of talent and we’re going to put in the best possible line-up. |
| “I’ll consult with my colleagues in coming weeks. I am very pleased with my shadow cabinet and shadow ministry.” | “I’ll consult with my colleagues in coming weeks. I am very pleased with my shadow cabinet and shadow ministry.” |
| Asked specifically about Feeney’s fate, Shorten noted Feeney was not in the shadow cabinet at the present time. Feeney is currently the shadow assistant minister for defence. | Asked specifically about Feeney’s fate, Shorten noted Feeney was not in the shadow cabinet at the present time. Feeney is currently the shadow assistant minister for defence. |
| While things look difficult for Feeney, prospects have brightened for Andrew Leigh, the shadow assistant treasurer. Leigh is not factionally aligned and it looked for a period that he might be a casualty of the post-election jockeying. | While things look difficult for Feeney, prospects have brightened for Andrew Leigh, the shadow assistant treasurer. Leigh is not factionally aligned and it looked for a period that he might be a casualty of the post-election jockeying. |
| But Shorten is understood to have told colleagues he wants Leigh to remain in the ministry when the frontbench is redrawn. | But Shorten is understood to have told colleagues he wants Leigh to remain in the ministry when the frontbench is redrawn. |
| Shorten’s comments on Monday point to the complex management task associated with balancing Labor’s post-election ministry with senior players and new up and comers. | Shorten’s comments on Monday point to the complex management task associated with balancing Labor’s post-election ministry with senior players and new up and comers. |
| There are suggestions that a number of senior shadow ministers are seeking a change of portfolio and there is some grumbling internally about the campaign performance of some shadow frontbenchers, including the shadow health minister, Catherine King – although the left faction will nominate King to remain on the frontbench. | There are suggestions that a number of senior shadow ministers are seeking a change of portfolio and there is some grumbling internally about the campaign performance of some shadow frontbenchers, including the shadow health minister, Catherine King – although the left faction will nominate King to remain on the frontbench. |
| There is also disquiet in the left faction about Victorian leftwing powerbroker Kim Carr, who is a key supporter of Shorten, but it is not clear whether disquiet will escalate or abate as the shadow ministry process progresses. | There is also disquiet in the left faction about Victorian leftwing powerbroker Kim Carr, who is a key supporter of Shorten, but it is not clear whether disquiet will escalate or abate as the shadow ministry process progresses. |