Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to unveil a refreshed cabinet on May 12, but what should be a moment of consolidation for Labor is being overshadowed by deepening factional infighting between the Victorian and New South Wales (NSW) Right.
One of the clearest casualties is Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, who is set to lose his portfolio.
He has openly criticised Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, referring to him as a “factional assassin.”
“I think when people look at a deputy prime minister, they expect to see a statesman, not a factional assassin,” Husic told the ABC on May 11.
Husic, the only Muslim member of the cabinet, also missed Labor’s first caucus meeting on May 9. He linked his expected removal to his outspoken stance on Gaza.
“I don’t think I could ever stay silent in the face of innocent civilians being slaughtered in their 10s of 1,000s,” he said.
Husic added that he chose to step aside before being pushed.
Science, Tech Still a Priority, Says Husic
Despite returning to the backbench, Husic said he will continue to champion Australia’s technology and science sector.“I’ve never taken a backward step in promoting Australian tech. Australia has some of the best people in this sector, they deserve the strongest advocacy around the cabinet table from those with the deep knowledge, connections and courage,” he said.
“I have stuck by the sector even when it was politically unfashionable to do so, taking time to listen and build consensus. I will continue to be the sector’s biggest advocate, wherever I sit in the parliament.”
His departure has prompted concern with the advocacy group Muslim Votes Matter.
“Ed Husic’s removal from the federal cabinet may have been influenced, in part, by his public comments regarding the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the group said.
They also compared his experience to that of Senator Fatima Payman, who was sidelined by Labor in 2024 after speaking out on Palestine.
Key Names Rise In Reshuffle
Husic isn’t the only senior figure affected. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is also set to exit the frontbench following a factional push by the Victorian Right, which is backing second-term MP Sam Rae, a close ally of Marles, to take over.Rae emerged as the preferred candidate during a tense faction meeting on May 8.
Other key changes are expected across the cabinet.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Queensland Senator Murray Watt are speculated to be the frontrunners to replace Dreyfus as attorney-general.
Senator Tim Ayres, a close friend and Left faction ally of the prime minister, is tipped for a senior promotion, potentially as industry minister.
Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly is seen as a likely candidate for elevation, boosting WA’s federal influence.
With former Labor leader Bill Shorten vacating his post, the portfolios covering the National Disability Insurance Scheme and aged-care reform will be reassigned.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek may also be moved, amid growing calls for a reshuffle following stalled “nature positive” legislation and controversy surrounding Tasmania’s salmon farming industry.
