7am ‘Factional assassins’ and Albanese’s new ministry
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May 13, 2025 
Jason Koutsoukis, a special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, delves into Anthony Albanese's newly sworn-in ministry. The discussion centers on the controversial axing of Ed Husic, who labeled Deputy PM Richard Marles a “factional assassin.” Koutsoukis examines how factionalism influences the Labor Party, looking at the balance between talent and loyalty. He also highlights the implications of Tanya Plibersek's cabinet reshuffle and predicts future tensions influenced by personal ambitions within the party.
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Factional system shapes ministry picks
- Anthony Albanese arranged his ministry mostly from candidates preselected by Labor's factional system.
- Despite constraints, he placed high-talent individuals in key roles like social services and climate change.
Factional limits override merit
- The ALP ministry formation depends heavily on factional arithmetic, geography, and internal political strategy.
- Talented figures like Ed Husic and Mark Dreyfus were axed due to factional limits, not merit.
Factional wars in ministry cuts
- Ed Husic directly called Richard Marles a "factional assassin" for his role in ministry reshuffling.
- Richard Marles, as Victorian right faction leader, promoted allies like Sam Rae, possibly to secure future leadership support.