Senior Albanese government minister may resign within days

The expected retirements of senior Labor ministers Linda Burney and Brendan O’Connor will pave the way for Anthony Albanese to finally announce a frontbench reshuffle within days, allowing the prime minister to lead a more energized team into the next election.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Steve Burney is widely expected to retire at the next election, while some Labor MPs believe Skills and Training Minister Anthony O’Connor may follow her, despite recent rumours that Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will not resign.

Their retirement will leave two vacancies in the Prime Minister’s cabinet for Labor’s left wing to fill (if they choose to move to the backbench immediately), while also opening the door for Albanese to reshuffle his front bench and inject fresh blood into his ministerial lineup before the next election (May 2025 at the latest).

This newspaper spoke to Labor MPs from across factions and states on Tuesday and Wednesday about the proposed frontbench shake-up and possible retirements, and while none of the MPs have spoken publicly, all of the suggested frontbench changes are imminent.

Mr Bernie, 67, entered NSW parliament in 2003 and held a series of senior roles before turning to federal politics in 2016. Mr O’Connor, 62, entered federal parliament in 2001 and has been a Labor frontbencher since 2007.

Many members of the Labor Party expected Burney to resign from his ministerial portfolio after the defeat of the Voice Parliament referendum last year. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Marandiri McCarthy, is widely expected to take over if the current minister resigns, but it is not yet clear who will replace O’Connor.

However, according to Labour MPs interviewed, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles are likely to be moved to new portfolios as they struggle to control the political fallout from the controversial High Court NZYQ ruling, which released asylum seekers from indefinite detention.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt is widely tipped to move up the ladder, with some in Labor tipping him to take over Home Affairs. In that scenario, O’Neill would take over Housing and Homelessness from Tasmanian Julie Collins, who would move to Agriculture, a portfolio she held in opposition, and try to capitalise on Labor’s extensive commitments there.