The new federal government is taking shape, as the last lower house seat in doubt is called for Labor and Anthony Albanese announces his new ministry.
Catch up on all of Tuesday's updates on our blog.
Key events
- ABC projects Liberals will retain Deakin
- Jim Chalmers say Peter Dutton is 'just a different kind of bulldozer'
- Government will not consider budget repair levy, Chalmers says
- Albanese says Labor will never 'single out vulnerable people'
- Barnaby Joyce describes losing the Nationals leadership as a 'weight off my shoulders'
- Josh Burns doesn't consider Macnamara a done deal just yet, but says there's a lot of work to be done
- 'I've made some poor taste jokes,' Petter Dutton says of his comments about rising sea levels
- David Littleproud says he'll bring a different leadership style to his new role
- What do we know about the new ministry?
Live updates
By Michael Doyle
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That is all for the blog today
We are closing the blog for today.
We now know who will be in Labor's ministry.
Thank-you to everyone who joined us throughout the day.
Until next time, stay safe and be well.
By Michael Doyle
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2021/11/29/467b38f2-6416-472f-9471-a519bf188588.jpg)
Here is Labor's outer ministry
Matt Keogh — Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel
Pat Conroy — Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Stephen Jones — Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services
Andrew Giles — Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Anne Aly — Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth
Anika Wells — Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport
Kristy McBain — Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
By Michael Doyle
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2021/11/29/467b38f2-6416-472f-9471-a519bf188588.jpg)
Here is Labor's new frontbench
- Richard Marles — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
- Penny Wong — Senate Leader and Foreign Minister
- Don Farrell — Deputy Senate Leader, Minister for Tourism and Travel and Special Minister of State
- Jim Chalmers — Treasurer
- Katy Gallagher — Minister for Finance, Minister for Public Service and Minister for Women
- Tony Burke — Leader of the House, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Arts
- Mark Butler — Deputy Leader of the House and Minister of Health and Aged Care
- Chris Bowen — Minister for Climate Change and Minister for Energy
- Tanya Plibersek — Minister for Environment and Water
- Catherine King — Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
- Linda Burney — Minister for Indigenous Australians
- Amanda Rishworth — Minister for Social Services
- Bill Shorten — Minister for the NDIS and Minister for Government Services
- Mark Dreyfus — Attorney General and Cabinet Secretary
- Brendan O'Connor — Minister for Skills and Training
- Jason Clare — Minister for Education
- Julie Collins — Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Small Business
- Michelle Rowland — Minister for Communications
- Madeleine King — Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia
- Murray Watt — Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management
- Ed Husic — Minister for Industry and Science
- Clare O'Neil — Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security
By Michael Doyle
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ABC election analyst Antony Green calls seat of Gilmore for Labor
The final seat to be called by the ABC has gone to Labor.
ABC projects the seat of Gilmore will go to Labor's MP Fiona Phillips.
Labor had called the seat for themselves earlier today.
By Michael Doyle
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2021/11/29/467b38f2-6416-472f-9471-a519bf188588.jpg)
Watch Anthony Albanese announce his ministry here
By Michael Doyle
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2021/11/29/467b38f2-6416-472f-9471-a519bf188588.jpg)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to speak at 5.40pm AEST
By Jessica Riga
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With Labor forming majority, does that diminish the influence of the independents?
South Australian independent federal MP Rebekha Sharkie says it won't, and that while Labor has a majority, it's a "tight majority."
"No, for the last two parliaments, for the majority of the time the previous government had the majority but they still needed to talk to the crossbench because they are very tight numbers," she told Afternoon Briefing.
"Whether it is 76 or 77, this Parliament would still be tight and certainly if it is 76 as a majority for the Labor government, you've got to take one out for the speaker so that still makes it 75, and we have had many cases where, in the past, senior ministers not make it in when the bells are ringing, so it is tight work.
"But I think also more broadly that Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister, has said that he is looking forward to working with the crossbench. He recognises he has had a long-standing relationship with a number of us, Andrew Wilkie, myself, so I am just always optimistic, looking forward to seeing good governance in the next parliament."
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
Labor claims win in Gilmore, but the AEC and ABC are not calling it yet
Labor says it has won Gilmore as the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) continues the count for the marginal New South Wales South Coast seat.
But ABC elections analyst Antony Green and the AEC are not calling the seat yet.
The ABC's projections have Labor ahead by 222 votes, as at 4pm.
With more than 88 per cent of the vote counted, the incumbent Fiona Phillips said the party was confident it would retain her seat.
"NSW Labor has made the decision to call the seat of Gilmore to me," she said.
"We have seen again a strong trend towards me with the absentee vote, which is very unlikely, and I am just thrilled with the result."
Ms Phillips acknowledged there was still a process to go before for the declaration of the polls, and paid tribute to her Liberal challenger Andrew Constance.
Mr Constance has been contacted for comment as his scrutineers continue to watch the vote.
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
ABC projects Liberals will retain Deakin
The ABC projects Liberal MP Michael Sukkar will retain the seat of Deakin in Victoria, ahead of Labor candidate Matt Gregg.
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
Jim Chalmers say Peter Dutton is 'just a different kind of bulldozer'
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Liberal Leader Peter Dutton is "just a different kind of bulldozer", referencing a line from former prime minister Scott Morrison during the election campaign.
Speaking to Sky News, Chalmers said the Labor government intend to implement their cleaner, cheaper energy policy but says the Opposition leader would be playing from the same handbook as those before him.
“To be blunt about it, I think Peter Dutton is just a different kind of bulldozer. He’s a different bulldozer with a different coat of paint.
“I suspect he will play from the Tony Abbott playbook and the Scott Morrison playbook and that shows that the Liberal Party have learnt absolutely nothing from the election result.”
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
Government will not consider budget repair levy, Chalmers says
The Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says the new government is facing signifcant economic issues, but it will not consider introducing a budget repair levy.
Mr Chalmers says his predecessors left "massive" challenges within the national budget which will take years to fix.
A budget repair levy was imposed on Australia's top earners under Tony Abbott's Prime Ministership in 2014, but the new treasurer says the government will look to make savings rather than introduce more taxes.
"We think the first port of call is to trim spending, we've already proposed $11 billion in budget improvements before the election so that's our priority," he said.
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
What do we know about the new ministry?
Time for a quick refresher.
Labor MPs have gathered in Parliament House today to finalise the new ministry.
Under Labor rules, the factions agree on the make-up of the frontbench, and the Prime Minister allocates which portfolios they hold.
At least two positions have to be filled due to the losses of Kristina Keneally (previously in Home Affairs) and Terri Butler (previously in Environment and Water).
But the factions have settled on promoting three new faces to the ministry.
West Australian MP Anne Aly, from the left faction, will join the ministry in place of Ms Butler, with some suggesting it is recognition of the enormous gains in WA.
Kristy McBain, who holds the southern NSW seat of Eden-Monaro, and Queensland MP Anika Wells will also both join the frontbench.
Both are from the right faction, taking the place of Ms Keneally and Queensland MP Shayne Neumann, who will move to the backbench.
It is expected the new ministries will be announced today, and ministers will be sworn in tomorrow.
The new ministry will likely look quite similar to the shadow ministry taken to the election, but some changes are anticipated.
In his role as Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles gets to pick his portfolio - meaning he may choose to trade in his Employment and Science roles, and take Defence instead.
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
Gilmore is still too close to call
Has the AEC called Gilmore for the ALP?
-Wondering
Hey wondering,
The seat of Gilmore is still too close to call.
Labor's Fiona Phillips leads by 222 votes.
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
Who is David Littleproud, the man handed the helm of a re-enthused National Party?
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
Guide Dogs CEO Karen Hayes resigns following Kooyong controversy
Guide Dogs Victoria CEO Karen Hayes has resigned from her position after her endorsement of former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the seat of Kooyong during the lead-up to the federal election sparked controversy.
The charity launched an official investigation after Ms Hayes voiced her support for Mr Frydenberg's re-election bid in Kooyong in a social media video and flyers dropped in residents' letterboxes.
The material featured Ms Hayes holding a puppy and included her title as the charity's CEO.
The endorsement was made without the knowledge of the Guide Dogs Victoria board and Ms Hayes was stood down pending the results of the investigation.
Mr Frydenberg mentioned Ms Hayes by name both during his campaign launch and when he spoke to concede defeat to 'teal' independent Monique Ryan.
The charity's investigation is still underway and the organisation's chair Iain Edwards will step in as Acting CEO.
Ms Hayes was in the role for over a decade.
Reporting by Sian Johnson
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)
What happens when a gas-led recovery collides with a climate election?
By Jessica Riga
![](https://avatars.scribblelive.com/2020/8/19/3558c3cd-8ef0-40d6-b339-b3809010fb87.jpg)