National

'Factional assassin': dumped minister's angry response

By AAP Newswire

May 11, 2025

A file photo of Ed Husic — Former industry minister Ed Husic has lashed out after he was ousted from Labor's frontbench. -AAP Image

Ed Husic has lashed factional boss Richard Marles after losing his spot on Labor's frontbench.

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The former industry minister has been ousted by internal powerbrokers, a move understood to be signed off by Victorian right faction leader and deputy prime minister Richard Marles.

Speaking for the first time since being axed from his industry minister job, Mr Husic said Mr Marles had chosen to "wield the factional club to reshape the ministry".

"When people look at a deputy prime minister, they expect to see a statesman, not a factional assassin," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.

Asked if Mr Marles put his ambition to boost his numbers ahead of the good of the Labor party and the government, Mr Husic said "a lot of people would draw that conclusion".

Following Labor's resounding win at the polls, the party's progressive left and more conservative right factions have been carving up the 30 spots in the ministry.

Mr Husic was dumped to rebalance the ledger between the NSW and Victorian right, with the former over-represented in cabinet as spots are decided on a proportional basis between factions and states.

Mark Dreyfus has also lost his spot as attorney-general in the factional rejig.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press