As two senior Labor ministers, Linda Burney and Brendan O’Connor, prepare to retire, speculation mounts over who will fill their positions in the Australian cabinet.
Both ministers will step down at the next federal election in 2025 but are exiting their cabinet roles immediately to allow fresh leadership ahead of the polls.
The resignations have triggered a flurry of activity among Labor heavyweights, who are currently deliberating over potential successors for these key Left faction positions.
Minister for NDIS Bill Shorten, while addressing the matter on the Today show, emphasised the importance of merit in the selection process, stating, “Loyalty is not always rewarded but merit should be.”
Among the frontrunners is Indigenous Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who serves as assistant minister to Linda Burney and is widely viewed as her likely successor. Also in the running are NSW Left faction senators Tim Ayres and Jenny McAllister, both considered strong performers, and Queensland Senator Anthony Chisholm, all of whom currently hold assistant minister roles.
Further changes may also be on the horizon for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles. Following significant criticism over the handling of asylum seekers released from immigration detention, there is speculation that Giles might be reassigned.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been vocal about this potential move, remarking,
“If Andrew Giles doesn’t get the flick, I don’t know who does.”
The forthcoming cabinet reshuffle is expected to address the need for more senators in ministerial roles, a move designed to better manage the workload during busy parliamentary sessions. Names such as lower house MPs Ged Kearney and Julian Hill, as well as Northern Territory MP Marion Scrymgour, are being mentioned by insiders.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decisions, particularly whether to maintain the current size of the cabinet, will determine the final lineup. If Senator McCarthy is promoted, one cabinet spot will remain open, providing opportunities for other potential candidates such as Pat Conroy, another trusted ally of Albanese.
As the NSW and Victorian party branches gear up for pre-selection processes, Linda Burney has expressed her commitment to supporting her successor in the inner-Sydney seat of Barton, which she secured with a significant majority in the 2022 federal election. Meanwhile, Brendan O’Connor’s outer Melbourne seat of Gorton remains a safe Labor seat despite a notable swing towards the Liberals in the last election.
With the full extent of the cabinet shake-up set to be revealed on Sunday, the political landscape is poised for significant changes as Labor positions itself for the upcoming federal election.
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