Albanese unveils new Shadow Cabinet 28/01/2021|10min
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has unveiled his new front bench after the decision to reshuffle the Shadow Cabinet.
He announced Shadow Deputy Leader Richard Marles will expand his portfolio and take on the role of Shadow Minister for Science as well as for national reconstruction, employment skills and small business.
Mark Butler will vacate the climate portfolio for health with Chris Bowen to take on role.
Shadow Employment Minister Brendan O’Connor will also be shifting his position and taking on the Shadow Defence portfolio from Mr Marles. This reshuffle is about Australians getting the most out of Labor, Mr Albanese said.
PM has ‘abdicated’ his responsibility on borders: Marles28/01/2021|7min
Deputy Labor Leader Richard Marles says the pandemic has seen an “abdication” of Prime Minster Scott Morrison and his government from their federal role in relation to border issues.
This comes after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese unveiled his new front bench following the decision to reshuffle the Shadow Cabinet.
“When we look at the way in which COVID has played out over the last year, despite the establishment of the National Cabinet, our federation has been put under enormous stress,” Mr Marles said.
“There has been an abdication by this prime minister and this government from playing the federal government role within our federation and everything we have seen, in respect of our borders.
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says there is an expectation Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other national leaders will be among the first Australians to be vaccinated in an effort to boost confidence in the nation’s first vaccine.
He told Sky News Health Minister Greg Hunt and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese are also expected to join the prime minister is receiving the jab – which is set to be rolled out at the end of February.
Mr Clennell also flagged there were reports emerging from Europe the AstraZeneca vaccine might not be administered to people over the age of 65.
“No such signal at this point from the federal government,” he said.
“This will be a matter for the regulator but federal sources telling me that there are ‘no known causes for concern at this stage’.”
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says the country needs to find a way to avoid the “divisive” debate which occurs each year around Australia Day so Australians can move forward in unity.
“We need to work out ways in which we avoid the divisive debate that’s occurred every year around this time about the choice of date to have our national day,” Mr Albanese said.
“One of the things that I proposed, now three years ago, on Australia Day in 2018, was the idea that what we could do … is consider having the date for the constitutional recognition of First Australians … on January 26.
“So that truly, that was a date in which we could remember our history and our past, but also acknowledge of course that it’s a very significant day.
“I think that it’s time to have a debate about how we move forward in a way that truly unites the nation.
"One that recognises dispossession, one that also recognises that modern Australia has continued to evolve and will conti