Updated
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen will nominate for Labor’s leadership, setting up a battle with fellow frontbencher Anthony Albanese.
Key points:
- Mr Bowen will officially join the race for Labor leader when he announces his plan to run today
- Bill Shorten announced he would step down from the job during his concession speech after Saturday’s election
- Mr Shorten’s long-time deputy, Tanya Plibersek, said it “is not my time” to step up to become leader
The ABC has confirmed Mr Bowen will announce his plans today.
Finance spokesman Jim Chalmers is also considering running for the top job.
Mr Chalmers and Mr Bowen are both in Labor’s right faction and oversaw the contentious tax changes the party took to the election.
Mr Albanese is in Labor’s left faction and made an unsuccessful bid for the leadership in 2013, losing to Bill Shorten.
Mr Shorten announced he would step down from the leadership during his concession speech after Saturday’s federal election, but will remain as the party’s leader until Labor elects a replacement.
His deputy, Tanya Plibersek, had been considering a tilt for the leadership but yesterday opted against it.
“Now is not my time,” she said.
Mr Albanese and Mr Bowen are both from Sydney, while Mr Chalmers is from Brisbane.
Mr Albanese announced on Sunday that he would seek the leadership after Labor’s shock election loss on Saturday.
He argued he was best placed to lead the party because he could rebuild the party in regional areas and win back blue-collar workers.
Mr Bowen, 46, served as treasurer when Kevin Rudd briefly returned to the prime ministership in 2013.
He remained in the treasury portfolio when Mr Shorten took over the party in Opposition.
Ms Plibersek’s withdrawal from the leadership race means a man is all but certain to lead the party.
She said she was willing to serve in any role the party wants, but it would be unlikely for her to remain in the deputy leader role if Mr Albanese is elected because they are in the same faction and from neighbouring inner-Sydney seats.
Mr Bowen faces a possible battle gaining the support of his right faction.
Yesterday, Labor right powerbroker Don Farrell, a senator from South Australia, questioned Mr Bowen’s path to the leadership.
“I’m not sure Chris will end up being a candidate for the leadership,” he told the ABC.
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