Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil his Cabinet reshuffle at a press conference in Canberra this afternoon.
Mr Albanese will speak at Parliament House at 2pm Canberra time today, where it is expected he will elevate NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy and NSW senator Jenny McAllister to the ministry.
Senator McCarthy is expected to rocket straight into cabinet to replace Linda Burney as Minister for Indigenous Australians, whose departure along with Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor triggered the reshuffle — Mr Albanese’s first since winning the 2022 election.
![Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy speaks during a visit to Clothing the Gap ahead of early voting for the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum in Melbourne, Monday, October 2, 2023. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/9ddd45c2e170506510f7b00895eee9594d7e6464.jpg)
Mr O’Connor’s replacement is expected to come from the outer ministry, with Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy considered the favourite.
![Federal and state government ministers visit the Henderson naval precinct. Pictured - Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/85bfd19e07e782064f2da2e56af6b26230642d62.jpg)
Mr Albanese has put a premium on stability during his first two years in office and Sunday’s reshuffle is not expected to include wholesale changes to his senior ranks.
The reshuffle will lock-in the frontbench Mr Albanese will take to the next election, due next May.
![Minister for Skills Brendan O’Connor, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney at a press conference in Sydney, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/32b798c86178e48a575c90fff1231b81c7953723.jpg)
There has been widespread speculation Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles will be shifted to new roles after a torrid 9 months struggling to contain the fallout to the High Court’s bombshell ruling that has forced the release of almost 180 immigration detainees into the community.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Ms O’Neil, who is said to have her sights on the housing portfolio.
Mr O’Connor endorsed Senator Watt for a promotion during an interview with ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday morning.
Senator McCarthy and Senator McAllister’s elevation to the ministry, coupled with Carol Brown’s decision to step down to the backbench, opens three spots in the assistant minister ranks.
![Assistant Minister for Climate Change Jenny McAllister during Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING MICK TSIKAS](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4bffd56f827ba5d4ea4a8ede88b9ca96db0dca90.jpg)
Speaking on Sunday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the reshuffle presented a chance to “refresh” Labor’s top lineup ahead of the election.
“The Prime Minister is taking that opportunity, but this comes after a remarkably stable ministry throughout the first term of the Albanese Government,” Mr Marles told Sky News.
“All of that is in real contrast to what we saw under the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government.”
The reshuffle confirms Mr Albanese’s frontbench lineup for the next election and will fuel speculation he is preparing to send voters to the polls early.
The announcement comes just a day after NSW Labor members were told prepare for an election as soon as December, five months before the term expires.
Labor strategists will be anxious after new RedBridge polling showed the Coalition leading for the first time since the 2022 federal election at 51.5-48.5 two-party preferred.