Malarndirri McCarthy and Jenny McAllister set for promotion in Anthony Albanese’s cabinet reshuffle

Two female Labor senators are set for big promotions when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveils his new look frontbench on Sunday.

NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy and NSW senator Jenny McAllister will be elevated to the ministry in Mr Albanese’s first reshuffle since winning the 2022 election.

It means Perth MP and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman will miss out, after being among a group of five left faction assistant ministers in the mix for a promotion to the 30-member ministry.

Senator McCarthy is expected to rocket straight into cabinet to replace Linda Burney as Minister for Indigenous Australians, whose departure along with Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor triggered the reshuffle.

Mr O’Connor’s replacement is expected to come from the outer ministry, with Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy considered the favourite.

That means Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh and Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly would miss out on a cabinet promotion, leaving WA with just one spot.

Mr Albanese has put a premium on stability during his first two years in office and Sunday’s reshuffle is not expected to include wholesale changes to his senior ranks.

There has been widespread speculation Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles will be shifted to new roles after a torrid 9 months of struggling to contain the fallout of the High Court’s bombshell ruling on immigration detention.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Ms O’Neil, who is said to have her sights on the housing portfolio.

Senator McCarthy and Senator McAllister’s elevation to the ministry, coupled with Carol Brown’s decision to step down to the backbench, opens three spots in the assistant minister ranks.

Fremantle MP Josh Wilson is a stronger contender for one of the positions, along with Victorian’s Julian Hill and Kate Thwaites and NT backbencher Marion Scrymgour.

Speaking on Sunday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the reshuffle presented a chance to “refresh” Labor’s top lineup ahead of the election.

“The Prime Minister is taking that opportunity, but this comes after a remarkably stable ministry throughout the first term of the Albanese Government,” Mr Marles told Sky News.

“All of that is in real contrast to what we saw under the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government.”

Mr Marles would be drawn on the specifics of the reshuffle, including the prospect that the Home Affairs portfolio could be split up.

“All is going to be revealed later today. And I’m not going to pre-empt any of that,” he said.