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Kevin Rudd challenges Julia Gillard for leadership of Australia Kevin Rudd challenges Julia Gillard for leadership of Australia
(about 1 hour later)
Australia's former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced he will challenge Julia Gillard for leadership of the Labor party and the country amid a bitter and escalating power struggle. Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd has announced he will challenge Julia Gillard for leadership of the Labor party and the country amid a bitter and escalating power struggle.
Gillard has called a party leadership ballot for Monday in an effort to knock down Rudd's ambitions to return to power.Gillard has called a party leadership ballot for Monday in an effort to knock down Rudd's ambitions to return to power.
On Friday she accused Rudd of running a dysfunctional and chaotic government when she ousted him from the top job in June 2010 in an internal party coup. Their centre-left Labor Party scraped through elections later that year to lead a minority government in a hung parliament. On Friday she accused Rudd of running a dysfunctional and chaotic government when she ousted him from the top job in June 2010 in an internal party coup. Their centre-left Labor party scraped through elections later that year to lead a minority government in a hung parliament.
In a bid to win over his Labor colleagues, Rudd set out his platform for the leadership at a news conference in Brisbane.In a bid to win over his Labor colleagues, Rudd set out his platform for the leadership at a news conference in Brisbane.
"Rightly or wrongly, Julia has lost the trust of the Australian people (and) that's why I've decided to contest the leadership," Rudd said. "Rightly or wrongly, Julia has lost the trust of the Australian people [and] that's why I've decided to contest the leadership," Rudd said.
He insisted if he did not run, Labor would lose the next election, due in 2013.
/>"All indications are that we are heading to the rocks," he said.		 He insisted if he did not run, Labor would lose the next election, due in 2013. "All indications are that we are heading to the rocks," he said.
Rudd resigned as foreign minister during a trip to the US earlier this week, saying he could not continue in his role without the support of the prime minister.Rudd resigned as foreign minister during a trip to the US earlier this week, saying he could not continue in his role without the support of the prime minister.
Arriving back in Australia on Friday morning he confirmed that if he did not win the leadership contest, he would return to the backbench and not challenge a second time. During his press conference he said wanted to continue the work he had done as prime minister. Arriving back in Australia on Friday morning, he confirmed that if he did not win the leadership contest he would return to the backbench and not challenge a second time. During his press conference Rudd said wanted to continue the work he had done as prime minister.
"I want to finish the job the Australian people elected me to do when I was elected by them to become prime minister," he said."I want to finish the job the Australian people elected me to do when I was elected by them to become prime minister," he said.
"The government's problems as they have accumulated are of their own makings," he said, adding that during his time as prime minister, his opinion poll ratings only once fell below 50%. The current government's primary vote is languishing at around 30%. "The government's problems as they have accumulated are of their own makings," he said, adding that during his time as prime minister his opinion poll ratings only once fell below 50%. The government's primary vote is languishing at around 30%.
Shortly after he spoke Gillard held her own press conference in which she blamed Rudd for deliberately destabilising her government over the past year. Shortly after he spoke, Gillard held her own press conference in which she blamed Rudd for deliberately destabilising her government over the past year.
"What shouldn't happen in politics is you shouldn't be dragged down by someone who is on your own side," she said."What shouldn't happen in politics is you shouldn't be dragged down by someone who is on your own side," she said.
"When asked whether he had been involved in conversations undermining the Labor party and undermining the government, he refused to answer," she added. "When asked whether he had been involved in conversations undermining the Labor party and undermining the government, [Rudd] refused to answer," she added.
Gillard accused Rudd of trying to turn the leadership contest into a personality contest.Gillard accused Rudd of trying to turn the leadership contest into a personality contest.
"This is not an episode of Celebrity Big Brother, this is about who should be prime minister," she said."This is not an episode of Celebrity Big Brother, this is about who should be prime minister," she said.
"As prime minister I have got big reforms done that languished under my predecessor" she added."As prime minister I have got big reforms done that languished under my predecessor" she added.
She said they included the introduction of a price on carbon, a tax on the mining and resources industry, a national broadband network and health reform. Ironically there are very few policy differences on these issues between the two candidates. She said they included the introduction of a price on carbon, a tax on the mining and resources industry, a national broadband network and health reform.There are very few policy differences on these issues between the two candidates.
Gillard supporters have continued to attack Kevin Rudd and some cabinet ministers have openly said they would not serve under him. Gillard supporters have criticised Rudd while some cabinet ministers have openly said they would not serve under him.
"I doubt I would be asked, but I wouldn't accept if I was," said attorney general, Nicola Roxon. "I doubt I would be asked, but I wouldn't accept if I was," said the attorney general, Nicola Roxon.
"I don't believe he will win on Monday. I don't believe I will be a member of his team if he did," said environment and sustainability minister, Tony Burke. "I don't believe he will win on Monday. I don't believe I will be a member of his team if he did," said the environment and sustainability minister, Tony Burke.
One Gillard supporter accused Rudd of using Tea Party tactics by appealing to the electorate to use their power in the leadership contest.One Gillard supporter accused Rudd of using Tea Party tactics by appealing to the electorate to use their power in the leadership contest.
"Pick up your telephone, speak to your local members of parliament. Tell them what you think," Rudd said."Pick up your telephone, speak to your local members of parliament. Tell them what you think," Rudd said.
Three ministers have come out in support of Rudd publicly. The now housing minister and former attorney general under Rudd, Robert McClelland, said people just needed to look at Kevin Rudd's standing in the polls to see who was best placed to win the next election. Three ministers have come out in support of Rudd publicly. Robert McClelland, the housing minister and former attorney general under Rudd, said people needed to look at Rudd's standing in the polls to see who was best placed to win the next election.
"The reality is that we have been effectively flat-lining in support (under Gillard)" he said. "The reality is that we have been effectively flat-lining in support [under Gillard]" he said.
The conservative opposition has called for an election.The conservative opposition has called for an election.