Australia news LIVE: Liberals vote on a leader, new cabinet sworn in
Axed Labor minister Ed Husic has again spoken out about his treatment at the hands of the party’s factions, arguing he was denied dignity when he was dumped from cabinet last week.
Husic and Mark Dreyfus, the former attorney-general, were tipped out of cabinet because Labour’s Right faction determined that Victorians from the group loyal to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles were underrepresented in the ministry.
Ed Husic was cut from cabinet by a factional move.Credit: Renee Nowytarger
Husic labelled Marles a “factional assassin” on Sunday. On ABC’s Q&A program on Monday, Husic claimed the moves were gratuitous.
“[Dreyfus] should have been given dignity,” Husic said. “There should have been some class extended to Mark. I feel really bad for the way that he’s gone. I think a lot of other people feel that way.”
Husic, who represents the western Sydney seat of Chifley and has been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, said factions played an important role in the party when they exercised authority in a reasonable manner.
But, he said, last week’s coup would “repel people from the party”.
“I just don’t think at the start of what was a great win, I just don’t think we should have had the distraction.”
Husic said he met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday and had a “civil” conversation that did not result in any new positions being offered to Husic.
