Bill Shorten leaves parliament, and this is his legacy

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Bill Shorten had a bigger impact than most during his 17 years in parliament. The ABC’s national political lead David Speers looks at the legacy he'll leave.

Transcript

00:00Bill Shorten arrived here as a man in a hurry, from his early role in bringing down Kevin

00:07Rudd and then Julia Gillard to his six years leading Labor.

00:11The ultimate prize, though, of becoming Prime Minister was never to be.

00:14Remarkably, he didn't emerge from all that completely bitter and twisted.

00:18He got on with the job under Anthony Albanese's leadership.

00:21The two former rivals were never particularly close, but there was genuine respect, as we

00:26saw today.

00:28Bill Shorten's prospects of ever returning to the top job were remote.

00:32He'd had his turn, and some within Cabinet aren't shedding tears over his departure.

00:37There are old scars that remain.

00:39Others, however, acknowledge that this will be a loss for Labor.

00:43He carried the experience of a former leader, and Bill Shorten proved to be one of the government's

00:48more effective ministers.

00:50There's also a powerful legacy from the Shorten era, Labor's more pragmatic approach to policy.

00:56Bill Shorten took bold ideas on negative gearing and franking credits to an election

01:01defeat.

01:02Anthony Albanese's more modest offering led to victory.

01:06So as he prepares to leave the stage, Bill Shorten is urging the party to stick with

01:10sensible policies if it wants to stay in government.

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