Australian Leadership Challenge- Gillard vs. Rudd

[senamic]

From the BBC News website:

Australia PM Kevin Rudd faces Labor leadership ballot

Australia's ruling Labor Party is to hold a leadership ballot shortly which may see Prime Minister Kevin Rudd replaced by his deputy, Julia Gillard.

Commentators say Ms Gillard appears to have the support of enough MPs to win and become Australia's first woman prime minister.

Mr Rudd called a late-night news conference to announce the contest after Ms Gillard said she would stand.

The leadership battle comes just months before a general election.

The Labor Party has suffered a sharp drop in support in recent polls.

"Labor's message had been lost for the last few weeks, and in fact months, under the prime minister's leadership," Australian Workers Union chief Paul Howes told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
'Super tax'

Mr Rudd, who led Labor to a landslide election victory against the Liberal government in 2007, blamed "a number of factional leaders" within the party for plotting against him.

"I was elected by the people of Australia as prime minister of Australia," he told reporters in Canberra. "I was elected to do a job. I intend to continue doing that job."
Continue reading the main story

"I believe I am quite capable of winning this ballot tomorrow. I believe there is a strong body of support for the continuation of my leadership," he added.

The ballot will be held early on Thursday (late on Wednesday GMT), just hours before the prime minister is due to fly to a G20 summit in Canada.

The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says Mr Rudd started this year as the most popular Australian prime minister in three decades.

He was widely expected to win the federal election expected in October with ease, not least because Australia was one of the few countries to avoid recession after the global financial crisis, our correspondent says.

But his popularity has plummeted following a number of policy setbacks, he adds.

Having once described climate change as the greatest moral challenge of our time, he shelved the centrepiece of his environmental strategy, an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which led to accusations of political cowardice.

Mr Rudd then entered into an angry fight with the country's powerful mining sector over his plans for a super tax on their "super profits", which again damaged his government, our correspondent says.

But he defended his government's record, which includes signing the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and making a formal apology for the past wrongs caused by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population.

"We have made mistakes on the way through, but in navigating this economy through the worst crisis the world has seen, and keeping hundreds of thousands of Australians in jobs who would otherwise have been in unemployment queues, of that I am fundamentally proud," he said.

Our correspondent says Mr Rudd has always been more popular with the public than with his colleagues - he is regarded as intellectually arrogant and aloof.

So when his approval ratings started to slump, his critics within the Labor Party moved against him, he adds.

Where do you place your support? I don't like Rudd, but because I believe we should have anyone but Abbot, a win by Gillard in this challenge would certainly decide my vote. The way I see it the following ar the most likely scenarios:

Rudd wins- Labour likely to lose election at current rate
OR
Gillard wins- Labour appears united again, regains popular support through being allowed to 180 on policies
OR
Gillard wins- Rudd doesn't go down quietly, ruins labours chances.

Feel free to discuss, but keep this civil, its not an election, just an internal leadership challenge.

EDIT: Rudd has stood down, Gillard is in office!

 

[Casio]

It's absolutely outrageous this whole situation, actually makes me physically angry. Basically kicking out your boss because people don't like him on a personal level, and putting in someone else who has the EXACT same policies and has stood by every decision Rudd has made. Gillard is as much an idiot as Rudd is.

As much as I dislike Rudd, this situation is just a joke. What's the point of even voting for a leader if the party can just gang up and change the ****ing Prime Minister with any public input. The whole system is just a sham. Makes the country look like a laughing stock.

 

[senamic]

It's absolutely outrageous this whole situation, actually makes me physically angry. Basically kicking out your boss because people don't like him on a personal level, and putting in someone else who has the EXACT same policies and has stood by every decision Rudd has made. Gillard is as much an idiot as Rudd is.

As much as I dislike Rudd, this situation is just a joke. What's the point of even voting for a leader if the party can just gang up and change the ****ing Prime Minister with any public input. The whole system is just a sham. Makes the country look like a laughing stock.

The point is that if Rudd is deemed to have lost public support, the party, as our elected representatives, should replace him with someone that it is believed will represent Australia adequately. I personally welcome this, he has stood down instead of let it break down into a :censored:storm, and as such has maximised labour's chances of holding off the coallition in the upcoming election. Many swinging voters who don't like Rudd or Abbot will be moved towards labour due to Rudd's resignation of the leadership.

And on the comment of us becoming a laughing stock, I think that a party divided is a bit more comical than a party making moves to remain united. Rudd has lost much support within his own party as of late with his policies (super tax anyone) and as such, has no backing. We didn't vote for Rudd. We voted for Labour.

 

[Casio]

Rudd and Gillard have the exact same policies and as early as two days ago she said she was no chance of running as PM. This decision isn't in the interest of the country it's in the interest of the Labor party. The only difference between her and Rudd is personality, which really has no bearing on representing Australia. Why would people swing towards Gillard? What is she going to bring different than Rudd?

 

[Syntax error]

Nothing new here from the Labor government, it's not the first time they have done this. Time for them to call an election. I aggree with Casio that there is little distinction between Rudd & Gillard. One acted like a girl and the other is one.

Although at present the Liberal leadership is not the most attractive option either. Libs really need to bring back Peter Costello if they want to have a chance of winning. At least with Costello they would have a proven track record of stable economic management if nothing else.

 

[Jay]

It's absolutely outrageous this whole situation, actually makes me physically angry. Basically kicking out your boss because people don't like him on a personal level, and putting in someone else who has the EXACT same policies and has stood by every decision Rudd has made. Gillard is as much an idiot as Rudd is.

As much as I dislike Rudd, this situation is just a joke. What's the point of even voting for a leader if the party can just gang up and change the ****ing Prime Minister with any public input. The whole system is just a sham. Makes the country look like a laughing stock.

Exactly, there is much more to this than the "people" are aware of.

 

[GT Pro]

Labor politicians, or any moderate-to-far-left political parties, are a joke. Regardless of who ends up assuming leadership (I'd actually rather Rudd remain than Gillard), their status as a quasi-socialist government will remain a veritable blight on society. I really think it is time we consider following along the lines of the U.S and establishing an obligatory, NOT compulsory, voting system; intelligent decision making is as much a role of the people when deciding who comes to power as it is those in power themselves. By allowing those with low intellect (the majority of Australians), and little care for politics, to waive their right to vote, the benefits will be substantial.

 

[Famine]

Sky are reporting that it's already done - Rudd stepped down.

 

[GT Pro]

Indeed- today is a dark day. That said, now she's in a better position to screw up the country perhaps an end to Labor's reign will come more easily.

 

[Paulie]

I don't like the whole thing, it seems like there are more sinister goings on that have resulted in this, especially since Rudd wasn't doing THAT badly, not like Gough Whitlam... I actually felt sorry for Rudd when he was on TV on the verge of crying over the loss of his position, he must feel like all of Australia hates him now. Mind you, I probably would have voted Liberal back in anyway.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Oh, what's occurring!

 

[GT Pro]

I just don't understand how left-wing governments are elected in the first place anyway. Sure, the majority of society are employees, not employers, and more often than not socialist policies aim to deprive the owners of production for the economic wellbeing of the employee (so employees will always be sympathetic to leftist ideologies). Labor policy is thus characterised by excessive social welfare expenditure (provided to those who do not really need it) and an abhorrently counter-productive progressive taxation system. That said, do the majority not realise that such policy is completely contradictory to a fundamental implied human right that the harder you work, the more you should be rewarded? I've tried to understand why people vote that way, but have failed to settle on a conclusion. Can anyone tell me why?

 

[Jay]

They're all as bad as each other. This thread isn't about why Labor was voted in btw.

I commend Rudd for the way he stepped a side with all those fellow labor daggers still in his back without spitting the dummy in any way.

 

[waggles]

Oh lawdy.

Gillard in my opinion will set two records-first lady PM, and shortest serving PM. It's either in her best interest to call the election ASAP, and avoid anyone else deserting the sinking ship, or waiting as long as possible (March '11 is the latest I think) in order to put this debacle behind them.

Labour tends to be financially irresponsible, so I would prefer Liberal power-but I'm still irrelevant to the vote, so do me a favour and vote Liberal.

 

[Paulie]

Oh lawdy.

Gillard in my opinion will set two records-first lady PM, and shortest serving PM.

She would be hard pressed to defeat Frank Forde's astonishing time as Prime Minister of 8 days in 1945.

 

[Casio]

I'm starting to think that this has all not just come about from Labor party members, but Union Leaders (I'm looking at you Paul Howes) and probably some big names in mining industry. Rudd wouldn't budge on the miners and take crap from the Unions (very un-labor like) so a overthrow was organised with perfect timing given his slip from the polls.

I'm still finding it hard to believe that someone that certain members of government have decided that the person elected is no longer suitable to run the country. That's what we have elections for. It's made a mockery of politics.

On a side note, I also didn't know that you didn't have to be born in Australia to become Prime Minister...

 

[GTP_V8SuperCars]

Well this is a joke, the right hand man(woman) to Rudd goes behind his back and stabs him, thats just the person i want running this country, goes from bad to worse.

Bring on an election, Rudd was a Dud, Gillard is a back stabber and has no idea.

 

[senamic]

Well this is a joke, the right hand man(woman) to Rudd goes behind his back and stabs him, thats just the person i want running this country, goes from bad to worse.

Bring on an election, Rudd was a Dud, Gillard is a back stabber and has no idea.

Don't forget what the alternative is. I like the way that UWA's issue of Prosh this year put it (back when it was Rudd vs. Abbott) Election 2010- Mad Monk of Mandarin Skunk.
While I firmly believe in Kevin 07, out by 11 (which we achieved), I honestly see Gillard as the lesser of two evils. Abbott's speeches and proposals of policy appear to go further against the intention for this nation to be secular, morally he wishes to return us to the 1950s, and I feel that he would see a further removal of our rights (can you honestly see Abbott turning down the opportunity to use the net filter to block pro-abortion and anti-religious sites in the "Public Interest"?). Frankly I see that Gillard is a safer bet this election, but I would like to see the House of Representatives to be in Labor's hands, and the Senate in Liberal's.

 

[Omnis]

Does Australia have an Internet party?

 

[Casio]

Rather than making another thread maybe this can become the Australian Election Thread, as it's almost two weeks away.

So it turns out the Labor party has managed to go even further downhill since the leadership debacle, with now Gillard enlisting Kevin Rudd's help to win the election.

I am not a big wrap for either party to be honest, but at least a Liberal government managed to keep a party in one piece for more than 3 weeks.

One thing that does concern me is the growing Green numbers. Which would be everyone's worse nightmare come true...and what many people don't realise is a vote for the Greens is a vote for Labor.

--

In a positive. The Libs have officially stated today they won't be supporting the internet filter.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I am not a big wrap for either party to be honest, but at least a Liberal government managed to keep a party in one piece for more than 3 weeks.

Bah. If the Liberals get into power, they'll keep the party in one piece while the country falls apart around them. All Tony Abbott will do is run the country into the ground. If - heaven forbid - he gets into power, then I'm declaring my home to be an independent nation. I don't want to live in a country run by someone who will give tax breaks to the rich whilst taxing the hell out of the poor.

 

[Casio]

One day out from the election and it's pretty freaken close in the polls.

50-50 split. I think a hung Parliament is likely. Thoughts?

 

[Keef]

I think your political system is corrupt like ours. People should be voting on logic and principle, and nothing else. Liberty is universal.

 

[mafia_boy]

50-50 split. I think a hung Parliament is likely. Thoughts?

That would be good as it would stop either of these two muppets running Australia into the ground. Abbott strips away all the public service and taxing the hell out of the poor vs Gillard stripping freedoms via the internet filter (stop the BS with the "stopping child porn" gimmick, it's not the primary reason you want it, Conroy would rather us be like China!) and giving away money like it's water to crooks with the many botched schemes that have occurred (Insulation for one, schools for another).

One thing I will say though re: The Greens.......they have provided the most sensible aspects of this campaign. Bob Brown at the National Press Club (I actually watched it) was actually quite thoughtful and showed some intelligence (which I can't say can be said for Abbott or Gillard!) and a lot of their policies were actually quite sound. I'm personally for the Greens having the balance of power in the senate, rather than have to rely on Xenophon & Fielding for anything to get past the senate. Also, if they got Adam Bant into the House of Representatives and it wound up being a hung parliament, then the Greens would have the balance of power.....giving them all the power in both houses of parliament and personally, I'd love the Greens to squeeze the balls of Labour & Liberal.

 

[Casio]

I personally can't stand the Greens. While Bob Brown actually is a decent leader, their hardline environmental policies (Such as putting fuel economy targets on vehicles) outweigh their sometimes rather reasonable personal ones.

 

[Omnis]

One day out from the election and it's pretty freaken close in the polls.

50-50 split. I think a hung Parliament is likely. Thoughts?

Fixed so my fellow northern hemisphere folks can read it.

 

[mafia_boy]

Well, it's two days since the election, and we're in the midst of a hung parliament. To win government, one of the two major parties needs to have won 76 seats. The Liberals (LNP) have 72 seats, Labor has 71 seats, the Greens have won their first lower house seat (Adam Bandt), and there are 3 independents with 3 seats still in doubt, with Labor expected to get one, Liberal to get one and another independent to get the last seat.

What this means is that both of the major party leaders (Julia Gillard & Tony Abbott) have to do a lot of sweet talking to the independents to gain their support to create a minority government. If they can't get a result then it may wind up that we go to the polls again in a few weeks time. So, bottom line is that Australia is in political limbo like the UK was just recently with their election.

Who will be the next Prime Minister of Australia?? Only time will tell........

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I hope it's going to be Gillard. If Abbot wins, I think I'm declaring my home an independent nation. All he's going to do is run the country into the ground.

 

[Tornado]

You said that already.

 

[Jay]

I think Casio and I should walk into Canberra and declare ourselves the new leaders.