Bill Shorten elected leader of the Australian Labor Party
Bill Shorten has been elected as the new leader of the federal Australian Labor Party.
Shorten won 52.02 percent of the overall vote, comprising 63.9 percent of the caucus vote and 40 percent of the Party members' vote.
"The branch members will be disappointed that their candidate didn't win," outgoing interim leader Chris Bown admitted. "[But] they'll be grateful that they had a say, and they'll have a say in future."
More to come.
The grassroots effect
Under reforms introduced by former prime minister Kevin Rudd, caucus and party members were given a 50-50 say in determining who will lead the fight against the Abbott government from opposition.
This morning Mr Shorten said he was "quietly confident" grassroots members would back him, while Mr Albanese was hoping his popularity among the rank and file would get him over the line.
Labor president Jenny McAllister said whatever the outcome, the party would rally behind the new opposition leader.
She played down the prospect of the winner's leadership being weakened because of the split between the caucus and rank and file results.
"It's probably been the toughest process faced by any of the previous men or women who have led the Labor Party on their journey to leadership," she told Sky News on Sunday.
"It's actually not two votes but one large vote."
The party will look at how the process worked once it's over, she said.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison mocked the Labor party's new leadership ballot process.
"They seem to have forgotten the fact that they've lost an election and the reasons for losing that election," he told Network Ten on Sunday.
"They think it was all about personalities but remain in complete denial about the policy failures that led to their loss."
Labor political strategist Bruce Hawker said he'd be surprised if Kevin Rudd made another tilt for the party's leadership.
"I don't think it's advisable, frankly," Mr Hawker told Network Ten.
"I think those days are behind us."
Mr Hawker said the party would be well served by both Mr Albanese and Mr Shorten.
Mr Albanese was a "pugnacious performer", he said, while Mr Shorten was "smoother in presentation".
Mr Albanese arrived at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday morning flanked by his wife Carmel Tebbutt, a former NSW deputy premier.
He told reporters that whoever wins the ballot will be "more legitimate than any political leader in a major political party in Australia's history".
Mr Albanese pointed out that Prime Minister Tony Abbott won the Liberal Party leadership by one vote in its party room, whereas 30,000 Labor members have had a say in the ALP's leadership ballot.
