Flag move, crossbench support before taking flight

ANTHONY Albanese has made a historic change to the backdrop of the Australian Prime Minister.

Before his press conference, staff replaced two of the three Australian flags behind the podium with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Mr Albanese did not make note of the big change while speaking to reporters for the first time as Prime Minister, but he did make reference to his plans to move forward with the Uluru statement.

While Mr Albanese expects to form a majority government, the Prime Minister said he had also spoken to the returning members of the crossbench who have confirmed confidence and supply.

“I have received and have had discussions with the existing members of the crossbench and received confirmation from Rebekha Sharkie, Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie, Helen Haines and Zali Steggall that they would not support any noconfidence motions against the government and that they would also secure supply,” he said.

It means that even should

Labor fall short of a majority, it has enough support to prosecute its agenda without having to enter a formal coalition agreement.

“I have stuck to what I said before the election, as have they,” the Prime Minister said.

“They will consider legislation on its merits. I will treat them with respect.”

Labor’s full ministerial lineup will be released next Wednesday following a meeting of the caucus. But work on a anticorruption commission is set to begin immediately, Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese was sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia on Monday morning in a quick turnaround thanks to a clash with a leaders’ summit in Japan.