Labor’s Anthony Albanese has played down leadership talk comparing the election to a footy game in extra time
Grayndler MP Anthony Albanese pictured relaxing at Kelby's Cafe in Marrickville. Picture: Toby Zerna
Labor MP Anthony Albanese raises his arms in victory at his post election party. Pic Jenny Evans
EXCLUSIVE: Labor’s Anthony Albanese has tackled the question of a leadership challenge by comparing the Federal Election result to a footy game.
Mr Albanese takes a walk with his wife Carmel, son Nathan and dog Toto the day after the election. Picture: Chris Pavlich
A buoyant Albo said the result, which still hangs in the balance, was like extra time in a grand final and “you don’t change captains in extra time. Period.”
“My whole career, I have been a team player and have never put myself before the Labor Party and I’m not about to start now,” Mr Albanese said.Off the back of his dominance of the Green vote in his inner Sydney seat of Grayndler, the senior Labor frontbencher has been the subject of intense speculation over whether he would challenge Bill Shorten as leader if Labor lost the election.
Mr Albanese said he hoped that Labor could form government and that he could take his place on the frontbench of that government.
“There are still votes being counted and I am focused on Labor forming government and that is my only focus.”Labor’s leadership is automatically declared vacant in the event of a federal election loss under rules introduced by Kevin Rudd in 2013.
Leadership candidates must nominate with the backing of 20 per cent of the parliamentary party and, in the event that there is more than one candidate, a 30-day contest ensues to select the leader.
DJ Albo cranked some tunes with kids at Annandale Public School on election day. Picture: Adam Yip
Rank and file members get a 50 per cent say in the choosing the leader of the party, while elected federal MPs also get a 50 per cent say.
In the last spill Mr Shorten secured more than 52 per cent of the overall votes and Mr Albanese claimed fewer than 48 per cent, although Mr Albanese received six out of 10 votes from ALP members.
Voters in the newly-drawn electorate in Grayndler rewarded their favourite son, universally known as Albo, delivering a resounding win with a massive swing of 12 per cent to push out his already huge margin of 18 per cent
The Greens failed to capitalise on State trends which saw them win Newtown and Balmain at last year’s poll, and Grayndler candidate and fireman Jim Casey admitted not achieving a second to Labor was disappointing.
The expected protest vote over State issues such as the unpopular WestConnex motorway and forced council mergers did not eventuate.