TRANSCRIPT
As Australia's first Muslim cabinet minister, Ed Husic was one of the first ministers to hold a copy of the Islamic holy book, the Quran, while taking his oath of office three years ago .
But as Labor is finalising the federal cabinet for its second term, Mr Husic claims he has been removed from the cabinet, partly due to his stance on Gaza.
"I'm very straightforward and direct. I'm passionate about the things that I believe in,. Some people are receptive to that, others maybe not so much. But I just couldn't stay silent. Tens of thousands of people being killed. People are turning to their elected representatives not wanting (the political) lines of the day. They want an expression of values about what we think, what we will do, how we will respond."
Speaking to SBS News, Mr Husic also blames Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles for fuelling competition between different factions within Labor, leading to his decision to volunteer to leave the cabinet.
"Clearly I have a disagreement about the way he conducted himself. I don't think someone in the leadership group should then go, like getting involved in factional negotiations that effectively are like using the factional club to reshape the ministry. I also think he didn't demonstrate leadership in that. You got to be able to manage merit, moderate ambition, and be able to do what's good for the wider collective, and I just don't think he made that test."
Mr Husic also criticised Labor's leader Anthony Albanese for failing to intervene.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party will hold a partyroom vote on Tuesday [to determine who will be on the leadership team.
Peter Dutton lost his seat of Dickson in Brisbane to Labor candidate, Ali France - becoming the first sitting federal opposition leader to lose their seat at a federal election.
After defecting from the Nationals to the Liberal partyroom, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has confirmed she will be running for the role of deputy leader of the Liberal Party.
"I think we're in a really good position to come back from this and come back strong. And I think we have such passion for this country, for our party and for the Coalition as a whole. That's what I think Australians need to understand that we're a team that's prepared to get out and fight."
She will be joining Opposition's Treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor in his bid to be the leader of the Liberal Party.
Mr Taylor says they make a good team.
"You've been an inspiration to me. We have got to regroup, rebuilt and get it back into the fight."
Deputy leader Sussan Ley is also running for party leadership, with support expected from some party moderates, who say having a woman in charge may repair the party's negative image among female voters.
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma told Sky News that regardless of who is chosen to lead, the party needs unity.
He also says the two contestants will have to address lots of questions to win supports from colleagues.
"I think a fair characterisation is I have given every candidate who has put themselves for leadership a good audience. (I) interrogated them on how they wanna do things differently, how they would run a party, how they would consult with the backbench, how policy making would work, how they think we will appeal to this large swing of voters that we have lost."
The National Party will also hold a partyroom to vote for its leadership team [[Mon 12 May]], as is outlined in the rules for the party procedure after every election.
Nationals leader David Littleproud says he welcomes the challenge from Queensland senator Matt Canavan for the role of leader of the party.
Mr Sharma says once the leadership contests are decided, the two parties that form the Coalition will need to sit down and discuss what policies need to be reviewed - that includes nuclear power.
"I think it's time to revisit that policy, but I think that's not unique, I mean any of the policy we took to the election we will need to review, revisit, doesn't mean we are gonna dump them all, but it also doesn't mean we automatically keep them."
The Greens will also hold a partyroom vote this week on Thursday to choose a new leader, after Adam Bandt lost his seat of Melbourne to Labor candidate Sarah Witty.
Speaking to Sky News, Greens Senator David Shoebridge says he wants to see a woman leading the party.
"I think the bulk of our partyroom are women. And I think it's time would be good to see a woman lead the Greens. I've been pretty clear about that. And I look forward to whoever we choose ... really bringing us together, and we are pretty united. And then making a clear platform in the next three years, and using the sole balance in the Senate."
