Labor and the Coalition are expected to reveal the make-ups of their ministries in the coming days, as debate continues to rage about when Labor will present its mining tax to the Parliament, and exactly what it will look like.
Both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott addressed their party rooms this morning, welcoming new party MPs and receiving formal confirmation that they will continue in the top job.
While there had been speculation that Andrew Robb could launch a challenge incumbent Julie Bishop for the position of deputy Liberal leader, this has now been ruled out.
The Coalition has immediately gone on the attack against what it is calling a “rainbow coalition” of Labor, the Greens and the independents, claiming cracks were already beginning to show over Labor’s controversial mining tax.
While key independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott are broadly supportive of the tax, they want a debate over its implementation to be held as part of a promised tax summit, which will be held in the first half of 2011.
However, Financial Services minister Chris Bowen has this morning confirmed Labor’s position that it will take the policy to the Parliament sooner rather than later.
“That’s our policy and that is what we will take to the Parliament,” he told Sky News.
“People can raise at the tax summit what they choose to raise, but that’s our policy and that what we will take to the parliament.”
That drew a sharp response from Opposition resources spokesman Ian Macfarlane, who claimed the Labor-independents coalition was now in “disarray”.
“(The tax) now has been put back a further year. How is she (Julia Gillard) going to balance the budget? Is she going to change the mining tax under pressure from the Greens?”
“She’s already in disarray on one front and I think that’s going to continue,” he told The Australian.
Meanwhile, speculation is continuing to grow over who will fill crucial leadership positions on both sides of politics.
Speculation suggest Labor is likely to dump Penny Wong from the position of climate change minister, while Gillard also needs to fill the position of finance minister, left vacant by Lindsay Tanner at the last election.
Chris Bowen, Tony Bourke and current Small Business Minister Craig Emerson are all seen as candidates for the prized finance job.
Gillard also needs to find room in cabinet for Kevin Rudd (the foreign affairs portfolio remains a possibility) and will also need to continue negotiations with Rob Oakeshott, who has been offered a Cabinet spot (possibly regional redevelopment).
On the Liberal side, the question of whether Tony Abbot can find a spot for Malcolm Turnbull remains the main talking point.
Victorian Liberal MP Bruce Billson is set to retain the job as Opposition small business spokesman.
James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
