Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten to fight for Labor leadership

Phillip Hudson
Herald Sun

AUSTRALIA will have its first taste of US-style primary elections as Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten debate each other on TV and face ALP members in a 30-day campaign to be the next Labor leader.

But in a bid to end the divisions that have crushed Labor, both men vow to run a positive and civil campaign and say the loser will serve in the winner's shadow ministry.

Outgoing Treasurer Chris Bowen will act as interim Labor leader.

Kevin Rudd will spend his last weekend as Prime Minister as prime minister-elect Tony Abbott prepares to take over.

He is to announce his ministry on Monday and be sworn in on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Just days after losing a five-week general election, Labor is back on the campaign trail as rank and file members ready for an unprecedented vote to elect a federal leader to replace Mr Rudd.

Advertising is likely to be banned and the ALP will pay for the ballot, expected to be tens of thousands of dollars.

It was unclear if taxpayers would foot the bill for flights and travel allowances for Mr Albanese and Mr Shorten.

Labor will decide on Monday how many of its 40,000 members can vote.

At least 31,000 who have been financial members for two years will receive a postal ballot after nominations close next Friday.

There is a push to relax eligibility criteria to allow newer members to participate.

The new leader will be decided 50 per cent by the rank and file and 50 per cent by the Labor caucus, making each MP's vote worth that of at least 375 party members.

Mr Albanese told a meeting of Labor's 82 MPs that he had the right mix of experience and passion to lead.

"I firmly believe that I'm the best candidate to lead Labor back into government at the next election," Mr Albanese said.

"There's been too much tactics. What we actually need is vision," he said, setting out a four-point philosophy based on the economy, opportunity, sustainability and a fair go.

Mr Shorten said a ballot of members was "exciting" and represented "new politics".

He said he was "a builder and a campaigner" with energy and enthusiasm.

Mr Bowen said that the reformed electoral process would give the new leader "more legitimacy than any other political leader in Australian history".