Australian PM Albanese reveals ministry following re-election

IANS May 12, 2025 281 views

Anthony Albanese has unveiled his ministry following a remarkable electoral victory for the Labor Party. The government secured an unprecedented 93 seats in the lower house, marking a significant milestone in Australian political history. Most senior ministers from the previous term have been retained, including Deputy PM Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Albanese emphasized the government's commitment to serving all Australians and expressed deep humility about the electoral trust placed in his leadership.

"I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government" - Anthony Albanese
Australian PM Albanese reveals ministry following re-election
Canberra, May 12: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the first ministry of his second term following the May 3 federal election.

Key Points

1

Labor wins historic 93 out of 150 lower house seats

2

Key ministers Richard Marles and Penny Wong retain roles

3

Largest Labor caucus since party's 1901 founding

Albanese on Monday named his government's 30-member ministry after his Labor Party won re-election in a landslide result, Xinhua news agency reported.

Of the 30 ministers, the vast majority have been retained from the previous term of parliament. Senior figures, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, will continue in their roles.

Michelle Rowland, previously minister for communications, will become Australia's Attorney-General, and former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has been moved to the social services portfolio, with her previous role filled by Murray Watt.

Rowland will replace former Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus who was dumped from the ministry along with Ed Husic, former minister for science and industry, due to factional negotiations within the Labor Party.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell will continue in their roles from the previous term. Health Minister Mark Butler will also pick up the National Disability Insurance Scheme portfolio.

As of Monday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) had declared Labor candidates as the winners in 93 out of the 150 seats that will comprise the lower house of the 48th parliament where the government will be formed.

The ABC said that Labor was leading the vote count in one of five seats still in doubt.

It marks the third time in history that a party has won more than 90 lower house seats at an election and the first time that Labor has done so. No party has ever won more than 94 lower house seats.

The governing party is also forecast to hold as many as 30 of the 76 seats in the upper house, the Senate.

Albanese said on Monday that the Labor caucus, which consists of all the party's elected federal representatives, would be the biggest since the party was founded in 1901.

"I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government with the election, and we certainly won't take it for granted," he told reporters in Canberra.

All members of the ministry will be sworn in by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the official representative of the British monarch in Australia, at Government House on Tuesday morning.

"I intend to recommend to the Governor-General, Her Excellency, Sam Mostyn, the following make-up of the ministry to be sworn in tomorrow at 9 a.m. It will be followed by a full ministry meeting here in Parliament House," Albanese said.

Albanese said the re-elected Labor government will be "a caucus brimming with capacity, talent and energy in both the House of Representatives and the Senate."

He urged the elected members of his Labor Party to maintain a focus on working for all Australians after winning re-election, during the Labor caucus convened last Friday.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments about the Australian PM's ministry announcement:
R
Rahul K.
Interesting to see continuity in key portfolios like Defence and Foreign Affairs. With Australia being part of the Quad, their stability matters for Indo-Pacific security. Hope they continue strengthening ties with India 🤝
P
Priya M.
As someone with family in Australia, I'm glad to see stability in the government. But why is the British monarch still part of their governance system in 2024? Australia should become a full republic already!
A
Arjun S.
Good to see Penny Wong continuing as Foreign Minister. She has been reasonable in her approach to India-Australia relations. The education and trade ties between our countries should keep growing under this government.
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Sunita P.
The reshuffle shows Labor's internal politics at play. But as long as they maintain good policies for Indian students and skilled migrants, that's what matters most for us. Australia remains a top destination for Indian professionals.
V
Vikram D.
Historic win for Labor indeed! But I hope they don't get complacent. Australia needs to balance its relations between China and democratic partners like India carefully. The Quad partnership is crucial for regional stability.
N
Neha R.
The new Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has big shoes to fill. Hope she addresses the concerns of Indian diaspora regarding visa policies and racial discrimination cases. Australia is wonderful but has some issues to work on.

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