It hasn’t gone unnoticed that Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek didn’t accompany the prime minister on his trip to Far North Queensland today, as speculation of a deepening rift between the factional rivals reignites.
Sky News directly asked Plibersek the question that surely haunts Albanese: “How many people say to you that they wish you were the prime minister?”
Albanese and Plibersek appeared together at the re-opening of Paddy’s Market in the latter’s electorate of Sydney on Wednesday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Plibersek was predictably diplomatic in her response, saying people “love” what the PM is doing at the moment.
The environment minister revealed in 2023 that she didn’t contest the Labor leadership in 2019 because of a family crisis, but claimed that she had the support of the caucus to win.
Asked why she wasn’t in Cairns, given the PM is visiting the Great Barrier Reef which is central to her environment portfolio, Plibersek replied that she’s been to Cairns “three times recently”.
“I launched [Labor candidate for Leichhardt] Matt Smith’s campaign,” she said.
“He’s a former Taipans [basketball] player. He’s going to give Dan Repacholi a run for his money for biggest bloke in the parliament.”
