The Power List: loyalists shown the door as builds new team

 GEOFF CHAMBERS FEDERAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT @Chambersgc

SIMON BENSON NATIONAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

 2 HOURS AGO DECEMBER 11, 2019  287 COMMENTS

Anthony Albanese has sidelined Bill Shorten’s union powerbase, turned to his old left-wing network and recruited experienced campaign strategists to put Labor back in the game ahead of the 2022 election.

In the final instalment of The Power List, reveals the Leader has moved quickly to clean out Shorten loyalists and install new blood in his inner sanctum, including a shrewd digital media team to combat the ’s election dominance. At the centre of the team Albanese has built around him is new chief of staff , the “Kevin 07” mastermind, former ALP national secretary and director of the successful “Yes” marriage equality campaign.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: AAP

“Tim knows how to win elections. It’s as simple as that. He was critical to the successful campaign that got Kevin elected,” a senior Labor source said.

Gartrell and other senior recruits, including deputy chief of staff Sabina Husic, join a team of long-time Albanese lieutenants, including communications director Matthew Franklin and Jeff Singleton.

Sources told The Australian that Albanese keeps in contact with Rudd, whom he remained loyal to, and long-time friend and ally from the NSW Left, former senator .

Albanese’s confidantes also include , and business heavyweights Rod Eddington and Kerry Schott. Left-wing rabble rouser and former NSW upper house president Meredith Burgmann is also believed to remain a confidante. On indigenous affairs, he primarily takes advice from , who he regards as a close friend.

Anthony Albanese’s Chief of Staff, Tim Gartrell, is a long-time Albo lieutenant. Picture: James Croucher

ALP national secretary Paul Erickson is a close confidant of Anthony Albanese. Picture: @PaulEErickson/Twitter

Paul Erickson, the new ALP national secretary who took the reins following the disastrous May 18 election campaign, is said to have quickly formed a close relationship with the Labor leader and has been handed the task of rebuilding towards the ALP national conference in next year.

Albanese has also broken the mould of Shorten’s office, which was dominated by “spin doctors”. He has brought in former senior Labor advisers in the key areas of engagement and research.

Sabina Husic, Anthony Albanese’s Deputy Chief of Staff.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus. Picture: Jane Dempster.

Husic — sister of NSW Right Labor MP — is highly regarded as a result of her digital and social media campaigning work under Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. She had most recently been employed by Liberal Party powerbroker Michael Photios at his PremierState lobbying firm.

A key component of the damning ALP election review focused on how Labor’s digital, advertising and ground game was trounced by the Coalition. Gartrell, Erickson and Husic have been drafted in to lead Labor’s resurgence.

The new power circle in caucus includes , a left-wing faction leader and political enemy of Shorten, , , and . Right-wing faction powerbroker is also considered a key adviser.

Mark Butler. Picture: AAP

Penny Wong. Picture: Kym Smith

Chalmers, a right-faction member with ambitions to be leader, has been brought into the circle of trust by Albanese.

Eamonn Fitzpatrick, a director of Labor-aligned lobby firm Hawker Britton, also acts as a sounding board, having worked on successful state ALP campaigns, including Annastacia Palaszczuk’s in 2015.

The Australian understands Palaszczuk, Andrews and WA Premier Mark McGowan are in close contact with Albanese, with , Western Australia and looming as crucial 2022 election battlegrounds. Union figures who have emerged as powerbrokers under Albanese include veteran militant maritime union leader Paddy Crumlin and ACTU heads Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil.

Insiders said Albanese was a “rare leader in modern times. He’s as consultative as you can get. He listens, takes advice and can shift where he needs to. But he’s also a do-er. If he believes in something he will pursue it relentlessly.”