Richard Marles successfully negotiated an increase in representation in the Labor Government Cabinet with the appointments of Daniel Mullino and Sam Rae as Ministers and Peter Khalil as Assistant Minister.
These appointments not only increase Victorian representation they are also important in terms of generational renewal within Labor. These Members election campaigns and actions as back benchers focused on support for workers and multicultural communities including for the Greek community in Victoria. And that support was reciprocated at the election.
Richard Marles acted in the interests of the Labor Party and Victorian representation in seeking to promote them.
It is wrong and unfair for Ed Husic to call Richard Marles a factional assassin for his actions. Just as it would be wrong to call Ed Husic a Hamas sympathiser.
Both these descriptions are false.
The fact that Husic condemns Israel for its actions in Gaza does not mean that he supports Hamas – even though some would argue that the main obstacle to achieving peace for Palestinians is Hamas who continue to sacrifice Palestinian lives rather than give up Israeli hostages or their remaining control over Gazans.
Equally the role of Richard Marles in factional negotiations over ministries was not about removing Husic but about ensuring appropriate Victorian representation.
While some speculative discussions had occurred prior to the election, it became clear to Marles after the election that Labor should begin to address renewal as well as the imbalance in positions between the NSW and Victorian Right given the better-than-expected election results in Victoria.
As the leader of the Right in Victoria, Marles sought to address this imbalance. The NSW Right was therefore asked to give up one of their Ministerial spots.
Husic well knows that it was the New South Wales Right, not Marles, that chose him to be “assassinated”. The NSW Right could, for example, have chosen Chris Bowen for the chop. On any measure Bowen has had a good run in senior positions in Government and Opposition. He presided over high electricity prices and is unlikely to be up for a significant expansion in gas peaking stations in place of closing coal plants that will be required to balance the energy system in the absence of nuclear.
Husic had a shot at Marles, but he did not criticise his own NSW right faction for offering him up as the sacrificial lamb. He knows that he will need their support if he is to be given another go.
Marles is a compassionate politician and did not deserve the bucket being tipped on him by some commentators. The NSW Right’s choice of Husic as their youngest and newest Minister to be dumped was designed to put maximum emotional pressure on Marles.
Adding to this pressure was Bowen’s suggestion to keep all NSW Ministers and reduce over time. Marles knew this would likely result in the NSW Right keeping the extra minister for the term. Marles did not blink – but neither did the NSW Right who continued to offer up Husic.
The dumping of Mark Dreyfus was regrettable as he is competent, but he has had a long career and at 66 it was reasonable to ask him to move over for younger and well qualified members in Sam Rae and Daniel Mulino. Those who encouraged Dreyfus to stay and not take the dignified exit route of the likes of Bill Shorten have something to answer for.
I know from experience that politics involves leadership and tough decisions for renewal to occur. In this case these were delivered by Marles and the Victorian Right. Victorian workers and our multicultural communities will benefit with more and more energetic leadership and support arising from their actions.
*Theo Theophanous is a Commentator and a former Victorian Labor Minister.
