Another day, another campaign. Let's look back on the day that was:
- MPs returned to Canberra for the first time since the election;
- Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott congratulated his troops and told them it was time to start work on keeping the trust the voters placed in them last Saturday;
- Mr Abbott's ministry is expected to be announced early next week and sworn in on Wednesday;
- a rank and file ballot of the Labor Party will be held to determine its new leader;
- the contenders are Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten; and
- Chris Bowen is interim leader until the ballot is finished.
Thanks, as always, to everyone who read and commented. My apologies if some of the later posts look out of order. They are but some gremlins in the system rearranged things and our technicians are working on it.
Another big round of applause to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen. We will be back with you next week.
Enjoy the weekend.
Mr Shorten says Labor will "have to work hard to rebuild people's trust in Labor".
"I'm a campaigner and I'm a builder," Mr Shorten says.
He harks back to his days as an early advocate for the national disability insurance scheme and says this shows he can take an idea from small beginnings to reality.
"We want to build a big Labor Party, we want a movement for change," Mr Shorten says.
Labor must reflect the "dynamism and diversity" of Australia.
What is going on with the government elect? Until it is sworn in, not much.
The expectation is that Tony Abbott will now not announce his ministry until early next week (which puts the swearing in back to later in the week).
But for a hint of what it might look like Breaking Politics' Tim Lester spoke to former Coalition staffer David Miles.
Abbott's front bench
Former Liberal staffer David Miles tells Breaking Politics what he expects in the first weeks of the Abbott government.
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And that's it for Mr Shorten.
Bill Shorten at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Shorten says he "takes some responsibility for the dischord" inside Labor over the past few years.
Labor MP Bill Shorten at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The deputy will be elected by the caucus, Mr Shorten says.
He again nominates Tanya Plibersek as a good candidate but says "there may be others".
(Mr Albanese did not nominate anyone.)
Mr Shorten says he wants to help "batter down the cynicism" about politics.
Labor MP Bill Shorten at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
"It's about ideas to excite Australians," Mr Shorten says.
Mr Shorten is asked if he loses this ballot whether he would run again.
Mr Shorten says "whoever wins this ballot will have the ongoing support of the caucus until the next election".
Labor MP Bill Shorten at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Shorten says Labor must reach out to tradespeople, women, small business owners, academics and people from the bush.
"Labor must have ideas that speak not to the 24 hour news cycle but to the next four or five years," Mr Shorten says.
The election process will be "civil", Mr Shorten says.
Mr Shorten says people can have "no greater say" in politics than by joining Labor and having a say in the leadership.
Mr Shorten says the Labor Party is "not just about individuals".
"The essential task is to unify our party and to unify our purpose," he says.
"It will not be the contest of personalities, it will be a contest of ideas."
Labor MP Bill Shorten at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Bill Shorten: "I wish Mr Albanese well. I've indicated if he is successful I will serve in whatever capacity he chooses."
"Labor is drawing a line under the rancour of previous years," Mr Shorten says.
"We will not seek to publicly disparage each other and our efforts."
Mr Rudd said the next election was "entirely winnable for whoever you elected as your next leader".
Electing a new leader is "within our wit and wisdom...particularly given the enormous opportunity it provides for the first time for our rank and file to have their say".
To occupy us until then let me post some of the comments Kevin Rudd made to the Labor Party caucus which he has helpfully just emailed to reporters.
"To those of you elected to this place for the first time, I welcome you with every word of encouragement," Mr Rudd said.
"No one's political career is ever smooth. Each of you will face great challenges in the future. But you are also part of a new beginning and great successes lie ahead for you all."
"For the campaign that has been fought, I have given it my all but this was not enough and I, of course, accept full responsibility for the outcome. Throughout this campaign we have all fought the good fight. And together we have preserved the party as a viable fighting force for the future."
Bill Shorten will hold a press conference at 3.15 pm.
What do you think? Should Anthony Albanese or Bill Shorten be leader of the Labor Party?
Have your say in our online readers poll which you can find here.
(Is it just me or does anyone else find it amusing that Labor says it should stop talking about itself before embarking upon about five weeks of doing just that?)
Anthony Albanese during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
And here is the address Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott gave to the Coalition party room:
Abbott addresses party room
Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott has received rapturous applause in the coalition party room, telling MPs they have won the trust of the Australian people.
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For those who would like to relive some of today's highlights here is the video of Mr Bowen's press conference:
Chris Bowen interim leader
Former Treasurer Chris Bowen has taken over as interim leader of the opposition while a ballot is held to choose between Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese.
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The Labor leadership is exciting MPs:
You'd give half the Coalition frontbench for an MP of the calibre of @albomp or @billshortenmp. This contest will be the stuff of legends.
— Andrew Leigh (@ALeighMP) September 13, 2013
Mr Albanese says it was "pretty obvious" that last Saturday's election was always going to be very difficult.
But it is possible to come back.
"The one thing we have to be that we did not do between 1996 and 1998 is not be shy about our legacy," Mr Albanese says.
"The makings of the next Labor government, an experienced team, are there."
And that's it for Mr Albanese.
"I'm sure this can be a very constructive process," Mr Albanese says of the vote.
Mr Albanese says the Labor Party "must modernise"
"The Labor Party needs to move beyond narrow factions," Mr Albanese says.
He likens the Labor Party to "bowling clubs of the 1960s" that have not kept pace with the times and are now "withering".
Opening up the leadership to a rank and file vote can only be a good thing, he says.
"There's been too much tactics [sic] and not enough vision," Mr Albanese says.
Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
"Labor has to be prepared to argue out our case...to our supporters but to those who are not our supporters," Mr Albanese says of Labor's position on climate change.
There must be a strong policy on climate change and a price on carbon, Mr Albanese says.
He could not look his son in the eye and tell him Labor did not fight on that issue.
Mr Albanese says he would be happy to participate in debates with Mr Shorten.
Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Albanese pays tribute to his "friend" Bill Shorten who he says would also be a good leader and mentions his role in the creation of DisabilityCare.
He ends with a call to people to join up.
"Join up, be part of the Labor Party growth. Be part of the rebuilding of Labor," Mr Albanese says.
"Today we begin the rebuilding of our own party."
Mr Albanese says "what you see is what you get" with him.
"We should be standing up for our views. We should also be prepared to engage and not be negative for negative's sake," Mr Albanese says.
"We need to use this period of opposition to encourage new policies, new ideas."
Labor needs to "take advantage" of the unfortunate situation of being in opposition, Mr Albanese says, to think about the new national broadband network and DisabilityCare.
Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Albanese says Labor must advocate a platform for the future based on four things:
- a strong economy;
- creating opportunities;
- a sustainable Australia; and
- a fair go for all.
"What we leave for future generations is important," Mr Albanese says.
"Labor governments are at their best when they take on inequality and discrimination."
Mr Albanese: "In the coming weeks I will run for the Labor leadership on the same platform as I would run for Australia's prime minister. We have to change, we have to do better for Australia and for Labor."
"Labor must always be about the concerns that are being discussed around the kitchen table and in the living rooms of Australians," he says.
"I stand before you as the personification of what Labor can do in terms of changing people's lives. I grew up in a housing commission flat in Camperdown with a single mother who was on a disability pension."
Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Anthony Albanese is speaking.
Mr Albanese says it was "appropriate" that he told his family first, then Bill Shorten and then the caucus.
He is running because he believes he is the "best person" to lead Labor back into government.
"I'm standing because I have the policy credentials developed over a long period of time," Mr Albanese says.
And the winner is.....well you've got another five weeks or so to wait.
Portraits of Labor leaders Gough Witlam, Bill Hayden, Bob Hawke, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard hang in the caucus room at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
And no, to those who are interested, no mention was made at the meeting of who the deputy Labor leader might be.
Julie Collins and Tanya Plibersek depart the Labor Party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Bowen has just finished his press conference.
Expect to hear from Messers Shorten and Albanese shortly.
Labor MP Chris Bowen addresses the media during a doorstop interview at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The new leader will allocate portfolios to a front bench elected by caucus, Mr Bowen says.
Mr Bowen is about to be a very busy man - interim leader and treasury spokesman for the next month or so.
Bill Shorten departs the Labor meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Bowen says he will not be endorsing either leadership candidate because of his position as interim leader.
Mr Bowen says Kevin Rudd gave a "moving and inspirational report".
The caucus moved a unanimous motion of thanks to Mr Rudd and his wife, Therese Rein, for their service to the party.
"He's still a relatively young man with things to offer the nation," Mr Bowen says.
"It's up to him to decide whether he wants to do that in Parliament or through other mechanisms...He is welcome to stay the member for Griffith for as long as he chooses."
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd departs the Labor meeting with NSW senator elect Sam Dastyari and Alan Griffin at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
"The more engagement we have the better," Mr Bowen says.
(Does this mean we are about to have an election campaign for the Labor party leadership?)
Anthony Albanese departs the Labor meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Bowen is outlining the rules of the vote.
The caucus has not voted. It will vote once the party membership has voted.
The caucus will not know the result of the party membership vote.
Mr Bowen says while he is interim leader he will do his best to hold Tony Abbott to account.
The new leader will have the "greatest legitimacy" in Labor Party history because he will have been chosen by both the party and its members.
"This is bringing us into line with the rest of the world and I think other parties will in time follow," Mr Bowen says.
Chris Bowen says the Labor Party has a choice between "two very good candidates with a vision for Australia".
"While this important process is underway we won't stop holding the Abbott government to account," Mr Bowen says.
The acting shadow cabinet will be the same as it was when Labor was in government.
Richard Marles will take on Defence.
Chris Bowen departs the Labor meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Meanwhile, at least one Coalition MP did not make it to the party room meeting:
Sitting in Canberra Eye Hospital. i want to thank my colleague Dr Andrew Laming for his advise and referral for urgent attention.
— Bob Baldwin MP (@bobbaldwinmp) September 13, 2013
Remember how former treasurer Wayne Swan said on election night that he wanted to make policy contributions from the backbench? This just in from the social media backbench:
The march back to Government requires our entire movement to activate. Today is the first step of that purposeful march
— Wayne Swan (@SwannyQLD) September 13, 2013
Chris Bowen (is his title now interim Labor leader?) will hold a press conference in 15 minutes' time.
Stand by.
There are a couple of phrases each side of politics would like to see consigned to the recycling heap.
If you're on the Labor side of things yours might be "faceless men". If you're on the Coalition side of things yours might be "Tony Abbott's women problem".
But both are proving hard to dislodge.
Take the women bizzo. The Prime Minister elect is trying to work out how to deal with a glaring lack of women in his Cabinet, as Jonathan Swan reports.
Let me provide you with some links to the stories providing more comprehensive coverage of the meetings of the government and opposition party rooms.
Mr Abbott has told his colleagues to take just a moment to enjoy their victory.
The joint party meeting applauds as Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott delivers his address at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Introducing the new MP for Lindsay, Fiona Scott.
Incoming Liberal MP Fiona Scott at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Meanwhile, the meeting of the Coalition party room has just wrapped up. Feel free to hum whatever piece of triumphant marching style music you feel is fit.
Prime minister elect Tony Abbott departs after the Coalition party room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Sydney MP Chris Bowen is now the acting leader of the Labor Party.
The process of determining the new leader will take about a month.
The artist formerly known as the prime minister.
Kevin Rudd arrives at the Labor Party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Tanya Plibersek is in the House.
Jenny Macklin, Penny Wong Tanya Plibersek and Senator Joe Ludwig arrive for the Labor caucus meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Senator elect Sam Dastyari (the former head of the NSW Labor Party) is there as is David Feeney (former senator but now the member for Batman).
The national secretary of the ALP, George Wright, is in town but did not enter the caucus meeting.
Senator elect Sam Dastyari, new MP David Feeney and ALP campaign director George Wright arrive for the Labor meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
We may be waiting some time.
Bill Shorten and Richard Marles arrive for the Labor Party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Attention now turns to the Labor Party meeting.
Anthony Albanese talks with former PMO staff on his way to the meeting of the Labor caucus at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Tony Abbott tells his MPs it is his "honour" to "welcome you back to Canberra as the prime minister elect of Australia".
"Governments change but rarely in this country. All changes of government are historic," Mr Abbott says.
"All of you can be proud of the part you have played. Our task is but to briefly savour this moment."
Mr Abbott says the job of the Coalition government will be to "purposefully, calmly and methodically to deliver on our commitments".
The Coalition joint party meeting applauds after prime minister elect Tony Abbott's address. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Labor Senator Kate Lundy exits the Coalition party room watched by Andrew Hirst and James Boyce from Tony Abbott's staff.
Labor Senator Kate Lundy exits the Coalition party room at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
We've all been there:
Lol! I just went into the Govt party room!
— Kate Lundy (@KateLundy) September 13, 2013
Oops - well it's a confusing kind of day:
Kate Lundy just wandered into the Coalition party room ...
— Kelly O'Dwyer (@KellyODwyer) September 13, 2013
Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop were re elected as leader and deputy leadership of the Liberal Party (no surprises there).
Prime minister elect Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop at the Coalition joint party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
There is much packing and moving of boxes going on around Parliament House today.
This picture used to hang in Tony Abbott's office back when he was opposition leader. Once he becomes prime minister Mr Abbott will have the pick of the building's extensive art collection.
Artwork is removed from the Opposition Leader's office at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
They say walking clears the head and helps one focus on making a decision.
Labor MP Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
The retirement of key independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott helped give the National Party its best lower house election result since 1998 in last Saturday's election.
You can read about the National Party's election results here.
National Party MPs arrive for the Coalition joint party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: ALex Ellinghausen
Northern Territory Senator Nigel Scullion will be the leader of the Nationals in the Senate. His deputy will be Fiona Nash.
Mark Coulton will continue as the chief National whip while Bridget McKenzie will be the National Senate whip.
New LNP member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, is congratulated by Senators Bridget McKenzie and Fiona Nash at the National Party meeting in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
The National Party has announced the results of its leadership team following its party room meeting.
Warren Truss was re elected as leader (which means he will become deputy prime minister once the Coalition government is sworn in) and the deputy leader will be Barnaby Joyce.
Barnaby Joyce at the National Party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Albanese is from the NSW Left and very popular with the party's members.
Mr Shorten is from the Victorian Right so could have the upper hand when it comes to the numbers inside caucus.
Mr Albanese's decision to run means not only will the Labor caucus have to vote on the leadership but that the party's rank and fille members will also have their say.
According to the rules instituted by former prime minister Kevin Rudd the votes of the party membership are weighted at 50 per cent. The remaining 50 per cent will be based on the vote of the caucus.
While the rank and file membership vote there would be an interim leader.
Labor MP Anthony Albanese arrives at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Regular readers will know I have a soft spot for Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop.
I can only hope she becomes the new Speaker because that would be excellent for future question time blogging.
Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop arrives for the Liberal Party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: ALex Ellinghausen
A Labor MP has confirmed to breaking news reporter Jonathan Swan that Anthony Albanese will stand for the Labor leadership.
Here is a quick ready reckoner to the new Labor Party rules.
(NB - We have looked for the actual rules on the Labor Party website but can't find it. If anyone has had more success please let me know.)
My apologies. The new Labor rules are confusing for everyone (see 10.40 am).
The acting interim leader would be Chris Bowen not Penny Wong because the leader must be in the House of Representatives.
From the man who believes he is well equipped to be the new science minister.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter F. Drucker
— Dennis Jensen MP (@DennisJensenMP) September 13, 2013
Should the Labor Party leadership go to a ballot of the rank and file membership its interim leader would be Senator Penny Wong.
Senator Wong would hold the job because she is the next most senior person in the leadership chain of command.
You can read the latest on the leadership here, courtesy of The Age's political editor, Michael Gordon.
And here is some background on Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese.
What do you think about it? Is Indonesia's proposal to buy one million hectares of land to breed cattle in Australia's interests?
You can have your say in our online readers' poll which you can find here.
Incoming National Party MP, Barnaby Joyce, probably hasn't helped the relationship with Indonesia by criticising a plan to buy one million hectares of Australian farmland to safeguard its beef supply.
Any such purchase would have to go before the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Prime minister elect Tony Abbott will make good on his promise to visit Jakarta in the near future. However, Indonesia appears to be no happier with his plans to further toughen up immigration policy.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, has criticised the Coalition's proposal to pay bounties for information on people smuggling operations, as national security correspondent David Wroe reports.
"We will reject [Mr Abbott's] policy on asylum seekers and any other policy that harms the spirit of partnership," The Jakarta Post reported Mr Natalegawa as saying.
One person who will not be at today's Labor Party meeting is Mike Kelly.
Although Mr Kelly says it is still "mathematically possible" for him to retain his NSW seat of Eden Monaro he has conceded the postal votes have been going against him.
The seat's new MP is the Liberal Party's Peter Hendy, a former Coalition staffer and head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The result means Eden Monaro retains its claim to be a bellwether seat meaning that it goes with the government of the day.
Just in case you're wondering the new Parliament will not be entirely made up of men (although it sure looks that way).
Here's Labor MP Michelle Rowland arriving. Ms Rowland would be among the happier Labor MPs given she was all but expected to lose her western Sydney seat of Greenway last weekend. But then along came Jaymes Diaz and Ms Rowland hung on.
Labor MP Michelle Rowland arrives at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The boys are back in town.
Incoming LNP Member for Fisher, Mal Brough, arrives at Parliament House in Canberra, on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Despite the meetings on the Coalition's side there will be no announcement about the ministry today.
That is expected to happen on Sunday.
Liberal MP Greg Hunt returning from a morning run at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Labor is meeting to consider the issue of its next leader.
Bill Shorten is running, as we know. What Anthony Albanese is up to is anyone's guess. He was not giving anything away when he arrived at Parliament House a short time ago.
"One of the things that we have to do as a Labor Party is to actually run our internals," Mr Albanese said. "There's a reason for that word. It's called internal."
If Mr Albanese does not stand for the leadership then - obviously - the job is Mr Shorten's. This means the rank and file membership of the Labor Party will not get a vote. However if Mr Albanese does run then the party membership will also get to vote which means the result might not be known for some time.
Labor MP Anthony Albanese arrives at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
It's like the first day of school at Parliament House.
The National and Liberal Party MPs will meet separately at 11 am before coming together for a joint party room meeting at 11.30 am.
Then it's Labor's turn at midday.
Hai hai.
Christopher Pyne arrives at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of the day's events in federal politics.
Parliament House is alive with the sound of MPs once again. Liberal, National and Labor are milling around looking either jubilant or morose. Either way - it's back to business.
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