Albanese on Tuesday said he had spoken to Marles “many times” about his current portfolio and he was happy with the role.

“He is loving it,he asked for the portfolio that he currently has,he is a science nerd par excellence,” he said.

“He also is very interested and passionate about employment and small businesses,and the portfolios that he holds.”

As deputy leader,Marles would have the right to choose any role he wanted in government,including the coveted treasury and foreign affairs portfolios.

But Albanese has told senior members of the party he wants Chalmers as treasurer and Wong as foreign affairs minister if he forms government.

Albanese said on Monday:“I expect that everyone will be in their current jobs,that is my starting point.”

“It is possible that someone says ‘I don’t want to do that job’ or what have you – that happens from time to time.

“But it doesn’t happen over someone like Jim Chalmers being the treasurer of Australia.”

Multiple Labor sources confirmed there were also questions over whether Kristina Keneally would stay in the home affairs portfolio if Labor won the election.

Asked whether he could guarantee Keneally would stay in home affairs and O’Connor would remain in defence,Albanese said:“Well,that’s my starting point.”

Marles has long been interested in national security. One source said he would ordinarily take foreign affairs,but he would not move on Wong.

Both Marles and Labor’s campaign headquarters declined to comment.

Marles was active in his 4½ years as Labor’s defence spokesman,calling on the government toconsider conducting freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea whilecriticising its handling of the relationship with Beijing.

When asked on Sunday whether he would like to be defence minister,Marles said:“I’m not going to walk down this path.”

“I’m focused on the job between now and the 21st[of May],” he told the ABC’sInsiders program.

“And we don’t know who the health minister will be if Scott Morrison is re-elected and if Scott Morrison is re-elected,you can bet London to a brick,there will be some version of a reshuffle,which occurs as prime ministers will do after they have won elections.

“So that will be the normal course whoever wins. But right now there’s an election to be won. I’m focused on reconstruction. I’m very excited and energised about this portfolio.”

Labor has criticised Morrison for not naming a replacement for Health Minister Greg Hunt,who is retiring at the election,but the prime minister on Monday said he would be “announcing that this weekend”.

Jacqueline Maley cuts through the noise of the federal election campaign with news,views and expert analysis. Sign up to our Australia Votes 2022 newsletterhere.