If this should happen Labor will be in the wilderness for years.
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen has refused to rule out nominating as a contender for the Labor leadership if Bill Shorten and the ALP lose the July 2 election.
Party rules dictate the position of Labor leader will be deemed vacant if Mr Shorten fails to win government but there will only be a contest if someone other than the Opposition Leader puts their name forward. Mr Shorten is already facing questions about a possible leadership challenge. Asked if he’d be a candidate, Mr Bowen told ABC radio:
“The big question is not what happens if Labor loses, the question is what happens if the Liberals win … I’ve spent my last three years preparing to be treasurer, I’ve written a 160,000-word book on being treasurer, that’s been my focus, that’ll continue to be my focus and I hope that John Fraser’s meeting me on Sunday to give me the incoming treasurer’s briefing.”
