Albo won’t challenge

ANTHONY Albanese has ruled out challenging Bill Shorten for the Labor leadership before the next election.

The former leadership contender, defeated by Mr Shorten in a ballot of ALP grassroots and caucus members, raised eyebrows when he criticised a party advertisement featuring Mr Shorten as a “shocker”.

Mr Albanese told Sky News yesterday it was “absolute nonsense” to say he wanted to challenge Mr Shorten. Asked if he could rule out a challenge ahead of the next election, Mr Albanese said: “Absolutely.”