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Too early to talk of new direction: ALP MP

The new Labor shadow ministry is set to be unveiled on Sunday ahead of a listening tour of the country, triggered by the party's shock federal election loss.

Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is preparing to announce his 20 member shadow cabinet on Sunday. (AAP)

As federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese puts the final touches on his frontbench, one member of his new ministry team admits the party must get better at listening.

Victorian Labor MP for Scullin Andrew Gilles, who was named in Mr Albanese's shadow ministry this week, says it is too early to talk about a change of direction for the party after its unexpected election loss two weeks ago.

"Our job across the Labor team is to really take stock on how we let Labor supporters and people who depend on Labor governments down," Mr Giles told ABC television on Saturday.

"Our challenge ... is to get better at listening rather than reaching conclusions too quickly."

After announcing Labor's new leadership and ministry team this week, Mr Albanese will allocate their portfolios on Sunday.

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The shadow cabinet will then meet in Brisbane on Tuesday as Mr Albanese and colleagues engage in a post-election "listening tour" of the country.

The Labor caucus has already elected Victorian MP Richard Marles as deputy leader and made senators Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally the leadership team in the Senate.

Latest vote counting on the Australian Electoral Commission website shows Labor could end up with 68 seats of the 151-seat House of Representatives, compared with the coalition with as many as 77 seats.

There are six crossbenchers.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


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