Pressed on leadership, Health Minister Mark Butler backs Albanese to "stick around" amid succession chatter
Health Minister Mark Butler has played down leadership speculation, saying he wants Anthony Albanese to "stick around" and serve a full term even as the Prime Minister approaches a tenure milestone and succession talk gathers pace. Butler has emerged as a surprise frontrunner for any future Labor leadership contest, in part due to his close relationship with Albanese and his influence within the party’s now dominant Left faction.
He has been in the spotlight this week over plans to overhaul the National Disability Insurance Scheme. For political watchers, the reform drive is notable for another reason: the minister who spent heavily on Medicare to help Labor win the last election is now taking on a contentious task likely to create enemies.
Obvious contenders from the Right faction include Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Defence Minister Richard Marles. Yet the rise of the Left means the Right no longer commands control of the party, and Mr Albanese would undoubtedly favour Mr Butler, who has stuck by him and helped him win a second term under the banner of Medicare.
In an interview, Sky News host Andrew Clennell asked Butler whether he had ambitions to replace Albanese as Labor leader and Prime Minister. "Anthony was only re-elected less than 12 months ago with a huge majority. He’s got a very big agenda," Butler replied.
"He’s steering the country through probably the worst global fuel crisis we’ve experienced, if not ever, then certainly for 50 years. He’s not going anywhere. And you know, I’ve supported Anthony probably more closely and more consistently than anyone else in the caucus.
I don’t want him to go anywhere. I feel privileged to be able to serve under him... I want to see him stick around for the long term." When told the diplomatic answer did not sound like a no, Butler responded: "It’s not something we’re thinking about. I mean, Anthony, I think, said last week he’s enjoying the job.
It’s a hard job, but I think right across government, we want him to stay in it for the long term. Certainly I do." By the unofficial metric of regular appearances on the breakfast program Sunrise, Butler ticks the box of a leadership contender. Tanya Plibersek does too, but she is no longer regarded as in the running and would not command the Left’s power base as Butler would, having previously served as ALP president.
He would be backed as a candidate by Foreign Minister and Senate leader Penny Wong, one of his longest political allies. Butler was born in Canberra in 1970 and later moved to Adelaide after his parents’ divorce. He comes from a prominent political lineage: both his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were conservative premiers of South Australia.
His great-great-grandfather Sir Richard Butler served in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1890 to 1924 and was Premier from 1905 to 1909. His son, Sir Richard Layton Butler, became Premier in 1927 and steered the state through the Great Depression.
With Mr Albanese on track to overtake Paul Keating’s four years and 82 days in office to become Australia’s eleventh longest-serving Prime Minister, attention is inevitably turning to what might follow if he decides to retire. For now, Butler’s message is clear: he wants the Prime Minister to stay put for the long term.