"ABSOLUTELY stoked!" That's how a beaming Bill Shorten summed up his reaction to being one of the big winners of the Gillard reshuffle yesterday. And who could blame him?
Not only has he been allocated the portfolio he is well-equipped to fill, he has been given it at precisely the time that workplace relations is returning to prime time.
That is good news for one of Canberra's more nakedly ambitious MPs. It is also a sensible allocation of resources by a leader who needs to make the most of every opportunity.
Mr Shorten, 44, has only been in the Parliament for four years and this is his fourth and biggest promotion. It rewards his good work in the areas of disability reform and superannuation and, more recently, in advocating on the government's behalf when Qantas grounded its fleet.
More than that, it recognises that he has a skill that has been in short supply since Labor won power under Kevin Rudd in 2007 and clung on under Gillard last year the ability to communicate in measured terms to the middle ground.
A former debating champion from Xavier College, he came to national attention as a talking head during the Beaconsfield mining collapse and rescue of miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell in 2006.
It was then that the nation's most breathless tabloid, Sydney's Daily Telegraph, screamed "BILL FOR PM" on its front page and reported that senior Labor figures were urging Shorten to "enter politics immediately and lead the Labor Party to the next election".
Mr Shorten did enter Parliament at the next opportunity, vacating his top job at the Australian Workers Union for another young man in a hurry with a penchant for wheeling and dealing, Paul Howes.
If he took the speculation about his leadership prospects seriously, he learnt soon enough and perhaps the hard way that the best way to prosper is to do the job you are given and do it well.
Those outside politics who have watched him closely say the reputation for self-promotion is misplaced.
"Everyone talks about how ambitious he is," says Yooralla's Bruce Bonyhady. "What people should comment on is how he is prepared to tackle difficult issues and invest his political capital to get things done."
With Jenny Macklin, Mr Shorten realised quickly that addressing the shortcomings of how this country treats those with a disability could constitute nation-building reform. It now ranks very high on the Gillard to-do list for the coming year.
Mr Shorten's attention now turns to industrial relations, just when debate is starting in earnest on whether the pendulum has swung back too far from John Howard's WorkChoices and individual contracts in the direction of union power and arbitration.
While the political task will be to convince voters that Mr Abbott would restore the toughest features of WorkChoices, Mr Shorten gave the impression yesterday that he will adopt a much broader perspective.
"I do not have a catastrophic view of Australian industrial relations," he told reporters. "I do not believe it is too difficult to be pro-employee and pro-employer at the same time."
If the poll numbers do not improve, of course, sometime next year his loyalty to Ms Gillard will be put to the test, but quite deliberately he has left himself very little wriggle room on the question of leadership.
"[Ms Gillard] is here for the duration. She has been tried in the fire and come through."
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What role did Bill Shorten receive in the Gillard reshuffle and how did he react?
Bill Shorten was appointed to the workplace relations portfolio in the Gillard reshuffle. He described himself as "absolutely stoked," reflecting that he was pleased to be given a role he is well-equipped to fill just as workplace relations is returning to prime time.
Why is the timing of Shorten's workplace relations appointment important for investors watching policy and labour market risks?
The appointment matters because debate about industrial relations was intensifying again, and policy changes can affect business costs and labour relations. The article notes workplace relations was returning to prominence, so investors should be aware that government direction on employment rules could influence market sentiment and company labour arrangements.
What relevant experience does Bill Shorten bring to the workplace relations portfolio?
Shorten, 44 and with four years in Parliament at the time, had prior achievements in disability reform and superannuation and had recently advocated for the government during the Qantas grounding. He was a former Australian Workers Union leader, a debating champion, and had built a reputation for communicating to the political middle ground.
How did Shorten say he would approach industrial relations policy, and what does that mean for businesses and workers?
Shorten indicated he would take a broad, measured approach, saying he did not have a "catastrophic view" of Australian industrial relations and that it's possible to be both pro-employee and pro-employer. That suggests he aimed for balanced policies rather than extreme swings toward either strict deregulation or expansive union powers.
Does Shorten's appointment signal a return to policies like John Howard's WorkChoices?
The article says the political task for opponents would be to argue that Tony Abbott might restore the toughest features of WorkChoices. Shorten gave the impression he would respond with a broader perspective and not simply paint industrial relations as catastrophically broken, indicating he was unlikely to allow a straightforward return to the harshest WorkChoices-style measures without political debate.
How might Shorten's past involvement in issues like the Qantas grounding affect corporate-government relationships?
Shorten's recent advocacy on behalf of the government when Qantas grounded its fleet shows he has experience engaging with high-profile corporate crises. That background suggests he may be active in government responses to major industrial disputes or operational disruptions affecting listed companies.
What do observers say about Shorten's style and ambitions, and why does that matter to investors?
Observers in the article say Shorten is ambitious but willing to invest political capital to tackle difficult issues rather than just self-promote. For investors, that signals a minister likely to actively shape policy and pursue reforms, which can create both risks and opportunities for companies affected by workplace regulation.
Could Shorten's loyalty to Prime Minister Gillard affect his leadership prospects and policy stability?
The article notes Shorten has shown loyalty to Julia Gillard and has left himself little wriggle room on leadership, but his loyalty could be tested if poll numbers don't improve. That dynamic implies potential future political uncertainty, which investors sometimes watch because leadership changes can alter policy priorities.
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