PM Albanese to unveil new look cabinet as MPs retire

Dominic Giannini |

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reveal his new team, after the retirement of two ministers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reveal his new team, after the retirement of two ministers.

The prime minister will unveil a new look cabinet for the first time in two years as senior ministers prepare to retire at the next federal election. 

Two Labor parliamentarians are set for a promotion into cabinet after Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor announced they would step back from politics. 

Labor’s Left faction has put forward its picks to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the two retirements hailing from the same grouping. 

Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy with minister Linda Burney
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is expected to succeed Linda Burney as Indigenous Australians minister. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

It’s now up to Mr Albanese to assign the portfolios before the nascent ministers are officially sworn in on Monday. 

Assistant Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy is widely touted to take over Ms Burney’s role. 

Andrew Giles is expected to be dropped from the immigration portfolio after coming under fire for his handling of a High Court case that led to some 150 former detainees being released after indefinite detention was ruled unlawful. 

Anthony Albanese and his frontbench after being sworn-in in June, 2022
Anthony Albanese has emphasised the stability of Labor’s ministerial team over two years. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

There is speculation Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil could also be moved on after being embroiled in the fallout of the court case, clearing the way for Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to be promoted into the more senior portfolio. 

The prime minister will also hand out assistant ministries as a handful of backbenchers jostle for promotion. 

Mr Albanese will end the speculation in Canberra on Sunday, after pointing to his being the first government in decades to hold onto the same cabinet for its first two years in office.

AAP