Anthony Albanese is the new Australian Labor Party leader

Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles.

Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles. Source: AAP

Anthony Albanese has become the new leader of the Australian Labor Party after nominations closed this morning with no other challengers.


Anthony Albanese has become the new leader of the Australian Labor Party.

Nominations for the role closed on Monday morning and Mr Albanese was the only person to put his hand up.

Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles are the only contenders for Labor leader and deputy, after nominations closed this morning (27 May).

The Sydney MP said he is honoured to be taking on the top job.

"Thank you to members of caucus, rank and file members and affiliates for your support," he posted on Facebook.

"Together we can return our great party to government in three years time."

Victorian MP Richard Marles is in line to be his deputy, again being the only person with his hat in the ring for the job on Monday.

Both men have promised to talk to voters who didn't vote Labor in a bid to make sure they understand last Saturday's shock election loss.

Labor has had a man and woman in the leadership team since 2001, except for a three-month stint in 2013 after Kevin Rudd got his revenge on Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard.

But Victorian MP Clare O'Neil dropped out of the race for deputy after her colleagues told her she needed more experience bringing the party together behind a leader.

"Richard Marles has got the skills and the qualities and the experience at this stage to be able to do that job really well," she said.

Labor's entire front bench also faces a shake-up following last weekend's unexpected federal election loss.

"Certainly I hope I can be a force for unity in the party," he said.

Mr Marles said it was important to maintain the party unity that Bill Shorten instilled in Labor after the tumultuous Rudd-Gillard years.


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