Mr Shorten strongly backed his deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, when she was weighing a tilt at the leadership on Sunday - until she pulled out on Monday citing family reasons. He has since joined a factional phone hook-up to discuss potential replacements and lobbied MPs in Victoria and interstate. The activities of Mr Shorten - who beat Mr Albanese for the leadership in 2013 - have shocked some colleagues who say he is "up to his neck in it" and should stay out of the selection process. "He was initially ringing people around the country urging them to vote for Tanya. He has also been actively lobbying people making sure someone runs against Albo," said one senior MP. "It's weird. As a former leader you have an opportunity to be above it. You get treated with a whole respect for making that choice." Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

Those close to Mr Shorten argue he should play a role in preserving the unity he fostered during his long tenure as opposition leader. Loading "He supports the people he worked most closely with - Tanya and Chris - but he’s not playing an an active role," said one source close to Mr Shorten. "He’s determined to ensure the party remains as unified as possible." Mr Bowen declared his hand on Tuesday promising to "lead the economic debate, which we must win". However, many in Labor believe Mr Bowen's close proximity to the party's failed economic agenda is exactly what disqualifies him from the top job. Privately, some senior figures said they were "gobsmacked" he threw his hat in the ring.

Mr Albanese will benefit from a split in the party's right faction in NSW which is expected to result in about half its MPs abandoning Mr Bowen for the left-winger, including Mr Burke. NSW Right frontbencher Tony Burke is supporting the Left's Anthony Albanese. Credit:AAP Mr Burke is not a leadership contender but would stand for the deputy's position in the unlikely event the party does not conclude the job should go to a woman. All the declared candidates and possible challengers for the leader's job are men. Clare O'Neil, a right faction frontbencher from Victoria, would be a prime candidate for the deputy leadership in the event Mr Albanese becomes leader, while Mr Bowen identified Linda Burney and Mark Butler as potential deputies. While Mr Bowen spoke of economic growth as "the best poverty alleviation program ever invented," Mr Albanese cast himself as a social democrat keen to drive economic growth but one who would not be shy about government intervention in the economy.

He said there was not a massive ideological chasm between himself and Mr Bowen but added: "I believe in markets but I believe that there's a government role to intervene in a market economy because markets don't have a conscience. Loading "Markets are very good at a range of things in our economy. What they do often, though, is entrench existing economic and social relationships in terms of power structures. "We seek government so that we can intervene to change outcomes. It's not to change who's in the white [Commonwealth] cars. There would be a strong agenda were I to lead the Labor Party but it would also be one that's founded upon a consensus model." Mr Albanese's bid will also be bolstered by a split among the right-wing unions. The Transport Workers Union and others are expected to offer soft support for Mr Albanese or at least avoid campaigning for Mr Bowen.