Butler sidesteps 'future PM' speculation

Minister for Health, Ageing and Disability Mark Butler has deftly sidestepped questions on ABC Radio about growing speculation he is the Labor Party's "leader-in-waiting" when Anthony Albanese's time as Prime Minister comes to an end.

In an interview with ABC Radio National host, Sally Sara, Butler skirted questions about whether he's interested in the top job, insisting he loves his current role.

The speculation followed a story in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) at the weekend, headlined: How Mark Butler rose to suddenly become Labor's leader-in-waiting. The in-depth feature described Butler in glowing terms as a "policy heavyweight, media darling, internal enforcer and the safest pair of hands to replace Albanese".