The decision to reshuffle the Labor Shadow Cabinet has been welcomed by Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon who said the changes would send the “right message” to the party’s traditional base.
A new look frontbench will be unveiled by Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
Mark Butler will be moved from the climate and energy portfolio to the health and aged care portfolio in a direct swap with Chris Bowen.
Mr Butler has experience in this area and served as the minister for mental health and aging in the Gillard government.
It has been reported Mr Albanese is reshuffling his front bench in a bid to stem party infighting over emissions reduction.
In a press conference this morning, Mr Albanese said he takes climate change seriously and noted United States President Joe Biden had made it a top priority of his administration.
Labor defends shadow cabinet reshuffle28/01/2021|4min
Labor MP Patrick Gorman has defended a shadow cabinet reshuffle as a routine changing of the guard that Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese had ensured would follow the Morrison government s reshuffle , denying it suggested anything beyond that. We re doing exactly what we said we would do more than a month ago. Of course, as we head to what will likely be an election year, you re going to want to make sure you ve got people in the best position to take it up to the government in those portfolios, Mr Gorman said. Some people have been in those portfolios for a long time. I trust Anthony s judgment he s got everyone in the best position to put forward Labor s plans, Labor s policies and to hold the government to account.
Major Labor Cabinet reshuffle announced by Anthony Albanese
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has announced a reshuffle of his frontbench, with Chris Bowen taking over the key climate change portfolio.
Mr Bowen has been announced as Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, taking over from long-serving climate spokesman Mark Butler, who had held the position since 2013.
LIVE UPDATES: This reshuffle is about Australians getting the most out of Labor, Mr Albanese said today. The easy choice to make is to not make many changes and just keep things as they are. I m absolutely determined and events this year have reinforced my view that I will do the right thing, not necessarily the easy thing.
Anthony Albanese hasn t got the stocks to continue being Labor leader28/01/2021|10min
Sky News host Peter Gleeson says he does not think Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has “got long at all” before he is replaced as Labor leader.
Mr Gleeson said the seats most likely to determine the outcome of an election are in coal mining areas which do not align with climate change policy which is being introduced by Labor.
“The Labor party in this country is tying itself in knots on climate change policy related to the ability of coal miners to retain their jobs,” he told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
Anthony Albanese is ‘drawing inspiration’ from Joe Biden28/01/2021|3min
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is talking up his prospects and “drawing inspiration” from Joe Biden while his leadership remains the subject of speculation, according to Sky News host Chris Kenny.
It comes after Mr Albanese unveiled his new front bench following the decision to reshuffle the shadow cabinet.
Mr Kenny pointed out one “notable change”, with former NSW Premier Kristina Kenneally being appointed as shadow minister for government accountability.
“This is what Sir Humphrey would call a very courageous appointment,” Mr Kenny said.
“As for Albo, his leadership is the subject of speculation as you know, but he is talking up his prospects and he is drawing inspiration from Joe Biden.”