Anthony Albanese is preparing to announce his senior team for Labor’s second term in office, with fresh faces poised to join the ministry.
The finalised ministerial line-up is anticipated on Monday after Labor locked down more than 90 seats in a convincing election victory.
Competition for leadership spots has been fierce following the influx of new talent and the usual factional carve-up between the states and the left and right factions.
Factional manoeuvring has already claimed two senior ministers, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Industry Minister Ed Husic.
The latter used an appearance on ABC’s Insiders to slam the call endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister and right leader Richard Marles, with Mr Husic labelling him a “factional assassin”.
Sam Rae, Daniel Mulino, Jess Walsh and Tim Ayres will be elevated to the frontbench.
Some cabinet appointees will be handed fresh portfolios but Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Trade Minister Don Farrell will remain in the same jobs.
The refreshed leadership team will sink its teeth into Labor’s second-term policy agenda, with Mr Albanese nominating 20 per cent cuts to student debt as a top priority for the new parliament.
The prime minister has also declared a “clear mandate to build more housing” to help address affordability woes.
Building 100,00 homes for first-time buyers featured in the party’s election pitch, along with five per cent deposits.
Labor has a few outstanding agenda items it hopes to knock over in its second term, including establishing a federal environment protection agency.
The Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens are all locked in leadership battles.
Liberals deputy leader Sussan Ley and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor are vying for the top spot, with Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price joining forces with Mr Taylor in a tilt for deputy leader.
A party room vote is scheduled for Tuesday.
In the Nationals’ party room, incumbent leader David Littleproud also faces a challenge from Queensland senator Matt Canavan.
The Greens are also without a leader after Adam Bandt lost his seat almost 15 years since he was first elected to parliament.
Senators Mehreen Faruqi and Sarah Hanson-Young are shaping up as frontrunners ahead of the party room vote on Thursday.
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