Australian politician Ed Husic accuses deputy Prime Minister of being a 'factional assassin' following his removal from frontbench duties

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Ed Husic has criticised Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles as a “factional assassin” after losing his spot on Labor’s frontbench in a cabinet reshuffle this week.

Former industry minister Husic has been ousted by internal powerbrokers, a move understood to be signed off by Victorian right faction leader Marles.

Speaking for the first time since being axed from his industry minister job, Husic said Marles had chosen to “wield the factional club to reshape the ministry”.

“When people look at a deputy prime minister, they expect to see a statesman, not a factional assassin,” he told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.

Asked if Marles put his ambition to boost his numbers ahead of the good of the Labor Party and the government, Husic said “a lot of people would draw that conclusion”.

A man speaking in front of a blue curtain and Australian flag.

Ed Husic said he felt obligated to speak out about civilians being killed in Gaza. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Following Labor’s , the party’s progressive left and more conservative right factions have been carving up the 30 spots in the ministry.

Husic was dumped to rebalance the ledger between the NSW and Victorian right, with the former over-represented in cabinet as spots are decided on a proportional basis between factions and states.

Mark Dreyfus has also lost his spot as attorney-general in the factional rejig. Dreyfus is set to be replaced by Victorian MP Sam Rae.

During his appearance on Insiders, Husic, who had been the cabinet’s sole Muslim member, also suggested may have contributed to his ousting.

A man with grey hair, glasses, a blue blazer and red tie standing, with green seats behind him.

Mark Dreyfus was also axed as attorney-general as part of the reshuffle. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

When asked by host David Speers if he thought his stance had “cost” him, Husic responded: “I think it’s been a factor in there. Would I do things differently? I don’t think so.”

Husic said he had taken the view that “you need to speak up for the communities that you care about” and that he couldn’t “stay silent in the face of innocent civilians slaughters, tens of thousands starved out of Gaza”.

“So, I tried to find the way to be able to speak to the Cabinet table and speak elsewhere, to be able to make sure that their voices are heard,” he said.

“I think I fulfilled my role not just as a cabinet minister but as a caucus member. You should have the ability to speak up on the issues that you believe in. You should have the ability to question. It builds a stronger, not a weaker, party, to do so.”

On Friday, former prime minister Paul Keating criticised “factional lightweights” for demoting Husic and Dreyfus, .

He added that ousting Husic signalled “contempt for the measured and centrist support provided by the broader Muslim community to the Labor Party at the general election”.

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