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Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic at risk as Labor factions brawl over cabinet positions Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic dumped from Albanese’s cabinet after ‘ruthless’ factional fight over frontbench
(about 2 hours later)
The attorney general has personally appealed to the prime minister to keep his place, Guardian Australia understands Sam Rae, Daniel Mulino and Tim Ayres will be winners from Labor’s looming reshuffle
A factional war risks overshadowing the start of Labor’s second term in power, with senior ministers Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic at risk of being pushed out of cabinet in a fight party sources describe as increasingly ruthless. Senior ministers Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic have been sensationally dumped from Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, after the prime minister opted not to protect the pair in a factional fight over frontbench positions.
Ahead of the first caucus meeting after Labor’s stunning election victory, due to take place at Parliament House on Friday, MPs aligned with the Victorian right faction are moving to dump Dreyfus, the attorney general, from cabinet on Thursday. Victorian MPs Sam Rae and Daniel Mulino, along with NSW senator Tim Ayres, will be winners from the looming reshuffle, in deals Labor insiders described as increasingly ruthless after the party’s landmark election victory.
Guardian Australia has been told Dreyfus has personally appealed to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to keep his place. But he faces being replaced by Victorian backbencher and factional convenor, Sam Rae. Victorian MP Daniel Mulino is also set for promotion. Ahead of the first meeting of Labor’s caucus meeting on Friday, MPs aligned with the Victorian right faction dumped Dreyfus, the attorney general. Guardian Australia has been told Dreyfus had personally appealed to the prime minister to keep his place but received no protection.
Dreyfus, who has been attorney general since 2022 and held the same role at the end of the Rudd-Gillard government in 2013, rejected rumours he was preparing to resign before the federal election.
Husic, the industry and science minister, faced a meeting of the national right faction on Thursday night, after Albanese declined to save him from being dumped from cabinet. He previously stood aside to allow then-colleague Kristina Keneally to be promoted instead.
Husic conceded last year that many Muslim and Arab Australians did not feel listened to by the Albanese government over Israel’s war in Gaza, describing his public interventions as necessary so that people believed “that their concerns have somewhere to go to be vented and aired”.
He also called for a cut to the corporate tax rate last year, in a bid to encourage artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, frustrating some colleagues.
Don Farrell, the trade minister and a factional heavyweight from the South Australian right faction, is understood to have thrown his weight behind the decisions.
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Rae, the MP for Hawke, is closely aligned with the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles. Rae, the MP for Hawke, is closely aligned with the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, and is a member of the party’s powerful national executive.
Dreyfus, who has been attorney general since 2022 and held the same role at the end of the Rudd-Gillard government in 2013, rejected rumours he was preparing to resign before the federal election. Party sources warned the deals would be seen as Labor forcing senior Muslim and Jewish MPs out of their positions soon after the election.
Separately, supporters of Husic, the industry and science minister, are concerned he will be pushed out of cabinet due to an overrepresentation of the New South Wales right faction at the top of the government.
One supporter said Labor could not be seen to be forcing senior Muslim and Jewish MPs out of their positions so soon after the election.
“The Liberals show what happens if you don’t make tough decisions and renew,” one Labor source said. “It is ruthless.”“The Liberals show what happens if you don’t make tough decisions and renew,” one Labor source said. “It is ruthless.”
Frontbenchers including Chris Bowen, Tony Burke and Jason Clare all come from the NSW right. Frontbenchers including Chris Bowen, Tony Burke and Jason Clare all come from the NSW right, which is viewed as holding too many positions in the ministry.
Party members said this week there was no appetite internally to cut senior women from cabinet, though the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, could be shifted to another portfolio. Party members said this week there was no appetite internally to cut senior women from cabinet, though the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, could be among those shifted to new portfolios.
The NSW senator and assistant minister Tim Ayres is expected to be elevated, in the position vacated by former assistant treasurer Stephen Jones. Ayres is personally close to Albanese, well regarded among colleagues and is a member of the ALP’s powerful national executive. Ayres is expected to be elevated, in the position vacated by former assistant treasurer Stephen Jones. He is personally close to Albanese, well regarded among colleagues and sits on national executive.
Former disability minister Bill Shorten, who stepped down before the federal election, also has to be replaced. His portfolios cover the national disability insurance scheme and government services could go to a newly appointed minister.
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Along with the incoming Tasmanian MP Rebecca White, a former state opposition leader, likely appointments to the ministry from the left include Victorians Jess Walsh and Ged Kearney. Former disability minister Bill Shorten, who stepped down before the federal election, also has to be replaced. His portfolios covering the national disability insurance scheme and government services could go to a newly appointed minister.
Labor MPs and party figures all stressed that Albanese’s decisive election victory meant his authority within the party meant he could intervene if necessary. Along with the incoming Tasmanian MP Rebecca White, a former state opposition leader, likely appointments to the ministry from the left include Victorian Jess Walsh, a former United Workers Union official.
If no deal can be reached by factions meeting on Thursday afternoon, a vote of MPs is possible in the caucus meeting on Friday. That had been expected to be a mostly ceremonial meeting, with photo opportunities and speeches by the leadership group celebrating the party’s thumping win over the Coalition. Labor MPs and party figures had stressed that Albanese’s decisive victory meant his authority within the party was stronger than ever, but he opted not to overrule faction deals.
Labor’s faction fight could take the spotlight off bloodletting in the Liberal party and in the Greens, both of which lost their leaders and face their own messy internal negotiations. Labor’s faction fight could take the spotlight off bloodletting in the Liberal party and in the Greens, who both lost their leaders and face their own messy internal negotiations in coming days.
Albanese said he expects the new ministry to be sworn in in Canberra on Tuesday next week.Albanese said he expects the new ministry to be sworn in in Canberra on Tuesday next week.
There are 20 cabinet positions and 10 outer ministries to be filled. Once the factions choose their candidates, Albanese assigns portfolios to individual MPs. Albanese talked up party unity on Thursday, saying Labor would work through its processes.
“Government brings with it responsibility, and no individual is greater than the collective, and that includes myself,” he told Sky News.
“I can’t have hoped for more support from my ministers, from my caucus over the six years that I’ve been Labor leader, and that has enabled me to really focus outward, and that’s when you’re successful, when you’re focused inwards, the electorate will mark you down.”