`Alboing’ way into top job
ANTHONY Albanese and Tanya Plibersek have kicked off a leadership race to take over from Bill Shorten and rebuild a Labor Party shattered by its election defeat.
The pair of inner-Sydney Left wingers are likely to face off against a host of other candidates from the party’s Right as the Opposition grapples with how to change an agenda that was rejected by voters.
Frontbenchers Chris Bowen, Tony Burke and Richard Marles were also each weighing up a tilt for the top job.
And Queenslander Jim Chalmers, from Logan, was being urged to throw his hat in the ring to bring a fresh face to the party, despite the risk this could be too early for the twoterm MP.
Dr Chalmers, Labor’s 41-year-old finance spokesman and former chief of staff to Wayne Swan, is being touted for a leadership role to help the Opposition regain ground in the Sunshine State.
Mr Bowen’s possible run for the job could be marred by his role devising some of the unpopular economic plans that cost Labor the election, including the crackdown on franking credits, negative gearing and capital gains tax.
Mr Albanese, who ran against Mr Shorten for the Labor leadership after Kevin Rudd’s 2013 loss, said he was best placed to take on the role.
“What you see is what you get with me, for better or worse,” Mr Albanese said. “I’m a bit rough at the edges but I think that Australians don’t want someone who just utters talking points.”