From his allocation of portfolios to frontbench colleagues, Craig Emerson writes what we can glean about Anthony Albanese’s policy priorities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hasn’t spent 28 years slogging in out in Parliament to sit back and relax in the coming parliamentary term.

Albanese made several strategic portfolio changes to his ministry this week after being returned to government in an election landslide.

So, what does this show about his policy priorities?

Having made major reforms to the Child Care Subsidy and abolishing the activity test that denied access to free childcare to the nation’s most vulnerable mothers, Albanese will pursue universal childcare as a major personal and Labor legacy.

Tanya Plibersek, Katy Gallagher, Senator Jess Walsh, Ged Kearney and Rebecca White will support him in developing this policy which, once in place, will not be removable by a future conservative government.

Mark Butler has had the responsibility for the NDIS added to his health portfolio.

Like the defining Labor reform of Australia’s health system – Medicare – where rorts have been identified and removed over the years, if the NDIS is to enjoy popular support its excesses need to be removed too. Butler has been given that task.

The lessons from Medicare are salutary.

Its predecessor, Medibank, introduced by the Whitlam government, was abolished by the incoming Fraser Government.

Bob Hawke reinstated it as Medicare, but........

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