Anthony Albanese says cutting university debts by 20% will be the first priority of his re-elected Labor government, as he warns the crossbench to “get out of the way” of his party’s housing policies.
Speculation is swirling about how the prime minister could reshape the ministry and cabinet in his second term. But Albanese is already facing calls to use his increased parliamentary majority to chart a more ambitious and progressive course, as a key Labor internal environment group urges the government to legislate a robust nature framework and environment protection agency.
“Delivering for nature and Australia’s struggling environment needs to be a first-order priority for the government. It’s unfinished, core Labor business,” said Felicity Wade, the national co-convener of the Labor Environment Action Network (Lean).
“We need to get moving immediately – the window for reform is the next 12 months.”
Albanese returned to Canberra on Monday, hot on the heels of his Saturday night election victory. Vote counting continued, but Labor was projected, as of Monday afternoon, to win at least 85 seats in the 150-seat parliament, with the potential for at least several more. The Coalition could be reduced to fewer than 50.
Labor was also expected to find a Senate whereit can pass legislation with only the support of the Greens, potentially sidelining key independents such as David Pocock or Jacqui Lambie.
Albanese said passing a bill to reduce student debts was his first priority when parliament resumed. He told a Monday press conference Labor had a strong mandate to pass that reform and sternly urged the parliament’s crossbenchers to not hold up further tranches of Labor’s housing policies.
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“I say this message to the Senate and members of the House of Representatives: we have a clear mandate to build more housing. The key is supply,” he said.
“Get out of the way and let the private sector build it. That is going to be one of my priorities.”
Asked about Labor’s “nature positive” laws and plans for a federal EPA, whichwere shelved in its first term, Albanese said heremained committed to bothideas.
“I said very clearly I want a federal EPA. That was something that was recommended by the review that the Coalition commissioned. I want a federal EPA that supports industry, but also supports sustainability. I think that can be achieved,” he said.
Wade and Lean had been upset by Labor’s spiking of the EPA plan, but Labor sources said the election result and a more progressive parliament should spur the government into adopting a more ambitious plan. Wade said that environmental reforms could be central to boosting Australia’s productivity, which the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said would also be a first-order issue for Labor.
“With every major economic project in the country needing federal environmental approval, the failure of our current environment laws cuts to the heart of the productivity challenge,” Wade said.
“We urgently need new laws that deliver better outcomes for the environment but faster, clearer, more transparent development decisions too … Environmental law reform is central to the treasurer’s ambitions.”
Asked on Monday whether the majority gave him licence for a more progressive agenda, Albanese said the government had already been “ambitious”, but added: “We’re not getting carried away, we’ve been an orderly government.”
The government’s increased majority – including boosted numbers in Queensland and its Melbourne-based MPs managing to hold off stiff challenges in Victoria – brought a welcome headache for Albanese: how to manage internal pressure from some Labor members for ministerial promotions.
“We are overflowing with talent. That’s the truth. We have so many people who you could put forward … People are entitled to have ambitions,” Albanese said.
Counting continued in key House and Senate races, and must be finalised before Labor’s factional system can decide how many ministerial positions each state or faction is entitled to. Sources in each state and faction said their members were already jockeying for more seniority and influence in the government’s second term.
The boosted numbers in Queensland made the case for members in that state to get an additional ministry position, some Labor sources said.
The Victorian left faction had been lobbying for an extra seat at the cabinet table, where some in that faction said they were currently underrepresented. The most senior left faction MP outside the cabinet is Andrew Giles, with the assistant health minister, Ged Kearney, also positioned for a promotion.
The Western Australian caucus had also been jostling for another seat in the cabinet, after helping Labor win government in 2022. Right faction MP Madeleine King is the sole representative in the cabinet for the west. A second cabinet position would be more likely go to a member of the left faction in the state: its most senior member (apart from the Senate president, Sue Lines) is Anne Aly, followed by Patrick Gorman.
Tasmania is also in play, with the former state Labor leader Rebecca White coming in with a high profile and a case to join the assistant ministry.
Asked about potential changes to the ministry, Albanese said he would engage with colleagues before making announcements or updates.“I respect the caucus. But I say to all of you, if you hear something, unless it comes out of my mouth, it is nonsense,” he said.