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Updated 10.51am
THE FORMER AUSTRALIAN prime minister Kevin Rudd has returned to power this morning after ousting Julia Gillard in a dramatic Labor party leadership heave.
Rudd’s return to his old job comes three years after Gillard toppled him in a leadership heave, and just over a year after he unsuccessfully challenged Gillard’s leadership.
Rudd won a ballot of Labor members 57 to 45 returning him to power.
The change comes three months after Rudd decided not to contest a leadership ballot that Gillard had called amid a sharp decline in her’s and Labor’s popularity in government.
Calling a ballot again early this morning (late in the evening Australian time), Gillard said the issue needed to be resolved before the scheduled election in September.
Gillard is likely to quit politics altogether after three eventful years in office that have been notable for the unrest within her own party and Rudd’s presence which seemingly undermined her at various times.
She had earlier said ahead of the ballot: “I believe anybody who enters the ballot tonight should do it on the following conditions: that if you win, you’re Labor leader; that if you lose, you retire from politics.”
Federal elections had been scheduled for September but reports in Australia indicate that Rudd will go for an August election in an attempt to seize the initiative from the opposition party, spearheaded by Tony Abbott.
First published 8.55am
Can someone who knows a good bit about Australian politics explain why the labour party are almost certain to lose? Haven’t been following it and would love to know..
Massive dissatisfaction amongst the electorate in short due to broken promises and abandonment of Australian Labor Party values. But it goes deeper. Over a decade of conservative government ended in 2007 when the Labor Party gained power with Kevin Rudd. In 2010 Julia Gillard backed by union factional power brokers staged a bloodless coup because “a good government had lost its way” and she was installed. The electorate was stunned and confused. A snap election was held 21 August ’10 resulting in a hung Parliament. Division and fighting amongst the Gillard & Rudd camps persisted. Despite implementing some major reforms and economic indicators the envy of the world (AAA rating, low debt to GDP etc) the government has been embroiled in numerous scandals and grubby back room deals to cling to power. Plus the failure of the government to protect Australia’s borders with over 1,000 people dying on asylum seeking boats grates with some. And the introduction of a carbon tax when Gillard promised before Aug’10 not to do so.
Interesting times…
Wrote a big explanation but seems to have been lost!
Their leader is waaay to the right! Very unlikable
Abandonment of Labour Party values——–scandals and grubby back room deals to cling to power,
Thank God we live in Ireland.
I see and is Australia a two party state?
Great explanation.
It all sounds so familiar..
Simple; Lanigan’s Ball, Australian style.
Glen, good analysis of the fighting in the Labour Party. Sad to think that the ‘Mad Monk’ will probably benefit from all this in fighting. An odd comment you made about failure to protect borders – ‘ with over 1000 asylum seekers dying in the sea’ are they just letting God do the job for them? It is not illegal to seek asylum. Australians, being nestled in the Asian area far from their ‘roots’ ((we’ll just ignore the Aborigines for now!) are completely paranoid about the Asian hordes invading their country
Hi Bridget, thanks. The border issue is often used to whip us support for the major parties. More asylum seekers and refugees arrive by plane than by boat and of course it is not illegal to seek asylum. Under the Howard government the flow was drastically reduced to negligible numbers by policies that were viewed by some as unconscionable. With Labor’s election in 2007 the policies were reversed and the numbers increased again. Unfortunately people smugglers who exploit the vulnerable have the most to gain. 2012–13 (to 31.12.12) there have been 205 boats and 11,896 people arriving. “Hundreds have drowned at sea over the past few years while trying to reach Australia, with about 90 thought to have died when a boat carrying about 200 people capsized in June 2012. About 50 were killed in a horrific shipwreck on the cliffs of Christmas Island in December 2010, including 15 children.”
Haha love that one
The party will be rightly destroyed in the upcoming election, which they more than deserve, for such appaling behaviour.
Being in opposition for about 10 years is what is ahead for this party, as they obviously do not know what they stand for! Do we miss leaders like Hawke & Keating???
Yes liberals & lab & the senate which we also vote in. And state and local governments! For 22 million people, oh and you have to vote, otherwise you get fined! Slightly over governed, might have been needed at the time of federation more than a 100 years ago due to the size of the country but not in 21st century!
Keating? The author of the recession that Australia had to have? I’m glad we have moved beyond that kind of ‘leadership’.
We’re screwed if Abbot gets in. The man is an idiot.
Keating ran out of favour for his mouth ! He got the ball rowing too fast without a bat. I liked his views how he spoke up for Australia of its economy and republicanism In fact he may have stirred Hawke getting Australia into a recession and on the other hand he got Australia out of it in the end. His mouth wasn’t enough to defeat cold hearted Howard in 1996
PJ, I thought scandals and grubby back room deals were pretty much the norm for a Labour Party, of whatever nationality.
She really ticked all the hard – left’s boxes -
- utterly humourless
- climate change fanatic
- politically correct
- played the ‘gender discrimination’ card at every opportunity
- soft on immigration
- high tax on productive sector = good
- Welsh heritage (Nye Bevan etc.)
- Privileged
That’s horse shit. She is not humourless, was always cracking jokes and was very hard on immigrants and refugees, never played the gender card (but did pull Abbott up when he was blatantly sexist)- regardless of my personal opinion, get your facts straight. Also Aussie labour is not hard left, the Greens might take that label, labour is in many ways conservative, whereas libs are ultra conservative.
Gillard is the living proof of why lefties can’t run a country [other than into the ground ], her quote is priceless ““I am aware how debilitating this nonsense is for my political party, for my parliamentary colleagues” she said.
No mention of her country.
At least we wont have to listen to that gawd-awful voice of hers – her accent was just plain embarrasing
That’s the main thing!
‘Glenn’, a good summary of the situation. I also agree with you about the tainting of Abbott by Labour. As far as we can tell, from a distance, he seems a decent person, but unfortunately won’t make a brilliant leader. He doesn’t have what it takes. Malcolm Turnbull would be a spectacular Prime Minister.
Thanks. I also admire Mr Turnbull but I fear in this age, counter-intuitively he’s too much of an intellectual for the thrust and cut of modern politics.
Intelligence had no place in ‘Tiger’ era here but in the aftermath it’s the only thing we need to rescue us.
If Turnbull is too intellectual now then the Oz tiger is roaring strong and the time will come when people like him will be required.
Ballot at 10am Irish time. Gillard stays = loses September election by predicted landslide. Rudd regains control = government remains divided but may regain some ground with electorate (still loses in September).
80 days until the Federal election 14 September (Tony Abbott asked the PM in QT today to bring forward the election date to August 3 – earliest date possible – because of the paralysis within Labor over the leadership.)
The electorate wants the chance to sack Gillard, an opportunity not extended to her predecessor.
The prospect of Abbot in charge is terrifying
Abbot in charge will turn Australia upside down and damage it ! He is not to be trusted
I disagree. I find nothing on close examination that “scares” me about an Abbott lead coalition government. Most of his shadow cabinet served in the Howard government that has been widely praised. As a party of consensus (Liberal) one person does not a policy make.
The left and Labor Party have sustained a character assassination attempt on Abbott trying to label him “extreme right wing”, a “misogynist” etc. etc. Fortunately most are seeing through this smokescreen.
Isn’t Australia already upside down? What’s with the interest in oz? Ya’ll ozzies?
He couldnt do any worse a job than Gillard and Rudd, a pair of lying fu*kwits
Glen. Howard government widely praise by whom? George W of course for Australia’s grasping at the chance to join in the phoney Iraq war. No wonder Howard was widely known as Bonsai Bush
Thanks Alan for that inciteful political analysis
bring back bertie!!
Bonsai Bush – lol.
There is already too many here quick to act the expert Bridget!
All i know is that under their collective watch many Australian families are doing it tougher. This government has stumbled from one shambles to another.
@ Glen. Abbott as he admitted it himself as a homophobia, anti aboriginal and an extreme capitalist with a strong support for privatisation He would narrow and bring a big gap between communities that would bring violence In Howard’s time Australians were as stiff as cold hearts living in a cold dark world of conservatism and Murdoch’s media propagandism. I am aware that Abbott would double it
Yellow Buzzinfly – Tony Abbott’s sister is in a same sex relationship and his position is no different from Gillard’s on the issue. Tony Abbott has had an active interest in Indigenous Affairs and regularly does charity work in Aboriginal communities, so your statement is false. As for his economic conservatism I don’t see how fiscal responsibility is a negative?
Hopefully with Rudd back we may see more focus on policies rather than personal smear.
Glenn. I have known Abbott’s sister to be in a same sex. relationship They have come to a disagreement on their views Abbott does not support gay marriage and gay rights. Show me what you have Abbott’s view on aboriginal land rights I would be very surprised. I have already met this Abbott ten years ago He spoke strongly in supporting privatisation monarchism and conservatism A kind of a smooth talking perfect-dom’s dream all for himself
Hi Yellow. He is on record as not wishing to change the Marriage Act – the same position as Julia Gillard held, so no major differences there. I wouldn’t say he’s against gay rights as any move on the issue (and it just isn’t in any party’s agenda) would probably be a conscience vote (MPs can vote freely against the party line, unlike TDs).
As for Indigenous Affairs look up Noel Pearson.
“Before becoming Opposition Leader, he (Abbott) served as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs. He has worked closely with Cape York Aboriginal activist Noel Pearson. He has volunteered as a teacher in remote Aboriginal Communities and given an undertaking to continue to live one week a year in such communities if he is elected Prime Minister. He actively supports recognition of Aboriginal people in the Australian constitution.”
Thanks for that update, Glenn. I hope i am not mislead. Abbott did make a mock out at aboriginals in 2002. He called them un-Australians for not understanding capitalism . They bounced back saying “Where’s our land, where’s our education ? “. I am aware if he is trying win your pretty heart. Ask John Butler !
new captain of the titanic, promises to make ship sink sooner
Julia Gillard is a woman to be admired. She always fights for what is best for the Australian people, she did not lead any factional infighting in the Labour govt. With her leadership and policies Australia has low inflation, low unemployment, a growing economy, developments in education, carbon pricing and disability support schemes. Where she hasn’t made a lot of ground is refugees and same sex marriage. As an Aussie that supports Gillard, the strong, tenacious and witty woman that she is, this is a sad day for me.
Well said ! I agree with you Anita. I admire Gillard myself On my point if view I think Labour are lacking leadership being afraid they will lose to Abbott. Gillard nearly lost the election the last time. With Rudd in they believe will spare the party. I don’t mind Rudd. Little will. change. It is better to have him than the happiness of human love and life threatening Tony Abbott
I wish they’d announce the result missing my favourite TV shows, and the state of origin starts soon
Tony Abbott no good for immigrants or any people on 457 visas plus he is sexist. Julia Gillard could have been good if she had not been undermined at every turn by Kevin Rudd.
Patricia. Exactly
Can Ireland have a leadership heave please
P.S. Tony ‘Stop the Boats’ Abbott is conservative, sexist and big on promoting fear campaigns. A modern day Joseph Goebbles.
early rumours whilst ALP caucus meeting still going on is that PM Gillard is gone, Rudd to take over and go to an election in Early August , about 4 weeks early
Rudd is the new PM of oz 57 to 45 votes
The article heading is a bit premature. Just because she is no longer head of the party does not automatically remove her as Prime-minister. She still has to resign for Rudd to be installed. That’s assuming she does what she said she would.
Oh no! Seems Rudd has upset the apple cart! Will have to vote for GREEN in future.
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