Anthony Albanese will enter the cabinet room as one of 11 ministers who have been there before. Almost half the cabinet will have cabinet experience | ANALYSIS from CroweDM
One of the standard claims about an incoming government is that it is unready for the challenge of holding power. Liberal senator Hollie Hughes gave voice to this complaint on Monday at the doors of Parliament House. “We have a government with very little experience,” she said.
A wider group held ministerial positions over the six years. Chris Bowen, Brendan O’Connor and Tanya Plibersek were ministers in 2007, while Bill Shorten began as a parliamentary secretary for disabilities and moved up quickly. All became cabinet ministers over time. While the caucus will confirm the 30 people who will be in the executive, it is up to Albanese to name the portfolios and select those who enter cabinet.
One of the assistant ministers, Meryl Swanson, is also from the right, but the faction chose on Monday to elevate Kristy McBain, who was not on the frontbench prior to the election and goes straight into the ministry. O’Connor performed strongly in the defence portfolio and could be moved to either employment or home affairs. He has held both ministries in government. The only political risk for Labor in appointing him to home affairs would be the history of asylum seeker boat arrivals when he was immigration minister. It is an obvious Coalition line of attack.