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| Push to dump Kim Carr from Labor frontbench in favour of Linda Burney | Push to dump Kim Carr from Labor frontbench in favour of Linda Burney |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A push inside the left faction against a significant ally of Bill Shorten’s appears to be gathering steam, with key figures determined to dump the Victorian senator Kim Carr from the frontbench in favour of the newcomer Linda Burney. | A push inside the left faction against a significant ally of Bill Shorten’s appears to be gathering steam, with key figures determined to dump the Victorian senator Kim Carr from the frontbench in favour of the newcomer Linda Burney. |
| Carr, alongside the rightwing senator Stephen Conroy, is key institutionally to Shorten’s stability as Labor leader but a number of Carr’s left faction colleagues believe it is time for the long-serving parliamentarian to make way for new talent. | Carr, alongside the rightwing senator Stephen Conroy, is key institutionally to Shorten’s stability as Labor leader but a number of Carr’s left faction colleagues believe it is time for the long-serving parliamentarian to make way for new talent. |
| The senator has been a powerbroker in Labor for years, is a veteran of many internecine fights, and commands support in the trade union movement and in elements of the caucus. | |
| Related: Labor caucus smiles mask Shorten-Albanese tensions | Related: Labor caucus smiles mask Shorten-Albanese tensions |
| He is understood to have told colleagues he will dig in against any effort to move him on from the frontbench. | He is understood to have told colleagues he will dig in against any effort to move him on from the frontbench. |
| The left is likely to emerge with 14 frontbench spots in the reshuffled shadow ministry. The left caucus numbers more than 30, with the final number not resolved until the Senate count is complete. | The left is likely to emerge with 14 frontbench spots in the reshuffled shadow ministry. The left caucus numbers more than 30, with the final number not resolved until the Senate count is complete. |
| Shorten is under internal pressure to use the coming reshuffle to achieve some generational renewal, an imperative he acknowledged this week. | Shorten is under internal pressure to use the coming reshuffle to achieve some generational renewal, an imperative he acknowledged this week. |
| Left faction leaders want to use the opportunity of the post-election refresh to bring on Burney, who made history on election night by becoming the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives. | Left faction leaders want to use the opportunity of the post-election refresh to bring on Burney, who made history on election night by becoming the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives. |
| Burney, who has served in the New South Wales parliament, took the southern Sydney electorate of Barton with a 4% swing. | Burney, who has served in the New South Wales parliament, took the southern Sydney electorate of Barton with a 4% swing. |
| Shorten has made a virtue of Labor’s unity over the past three years of opposition, but the prospect of the reshuffle has disturbed internal power balances and triggered a bout of jockeying both between the factions and within the power blocs, and between newcomers and established players. | Shorten has made a virtue of Labor’s unity over the past three years of opposition, but the prospect of the reshuffle has disturbed internal power balances and triggered a bout of jockeying both between the factions and within the power blocs, and between newcomers and established players. |
| As well as the move against Carr, there has been another internal push on against the health spokeswoman Catherine King, who some colleagues accused of underperforming in the election. King, despite the criticism, enjoys broad support in the left faction. | As well as the move against Carr, there has been another internal push on against the health spokeswoman Catherine King, who some colleagues accused of underperforming in the election. King, despite the criticism, enjoys broad support in the left faction. |
| Related: Linda Burney becomes first Indigenous woman elected to Australia's lower house | Related: Linda Burney becomes first Indigenous woman elected to Australia's lower house |
| Tanya Plibersek has also had to make it known that she wants to remain in her current portfolio of foreign affairs. Some colleagues believe she needs to take on a significant domestic portfolio, such as health or education, to boost Labor’s public performance in a key policy area and to lay the ground for any future leadership aspirations. | Tanya Plibersek has also had to make it known that she wants to remain in her current portfolio of foreign affairs. Some colleagues believe she needs to take on a significant domestic portfolio, such as health or education, to boost Labor’s public performance in a key policy area and to lay the ground for any future leadership aspirations. |
| Another Shorten ally, David Feeney, is also under pressure after a poor performance in the election. | Another Shorten ally, David Feeney, is also under pressure after a poor performance in the election. |
| The Victorian right now has five frontbench spots. The default level of representation has dropped from five to four after the election, and the national right doesn’t have enough women on its frontbench ticket – developments that have rendered Feeney’s position in the shadow ministry vulnerable. | The Victorian right now has five frontbench spots. The default level of representation has dropped from five to four after the election, and the national right doesn’t have enough women on its frontbench ticket – developments that have rendered Feeney’s position in the shadow ministry vulnerable. |