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Julia Gillard challenges Kevin Rudd to do-or-die leadership spill Kevin Rudd to take on Julia Gillard in do-or-die leadership spill
(about 1 hour later)
Julia Gillard has challenged Kevin Rudd to a do or die ballot at 7pm on Wednesday night, on the condition that the loser retires from parliament to end the debilitating Labor leadership war once and for all. Kevin Rudd has accepted Julia Gillard’s challenge to a do-or-die leadership ballot at 7pm and also the condition that the loser retires from parliament to end the debilitating Labor leadership war once and for all.
She said she was calling the ballot on the basis that “if you win you are Labor leader and if you lose you retire from politics” and she would retire from politics if she lost. Gillard said she was calling the ballot on the basis that “if you win you are Labor leader and if you lose you retire from politics” and she would retire from politics if she lost. “Tonight is the night,” she said.
“Tonight is the night,” she said. Rudd said he was standing in the ballot – contrary to his previous assurances – because Labor was “on course for a catastrophic defeat unless there is change” and Australians “want a real choice”.
She added that she would not be contesting the ballot unless she had “a degree of confidence about the support of my cabinet colleagues” and she had not been approached by any colleagues suggesting that she stand down. “I owe it to people to offer them a viable alternative,” he said, vowing there would be “no retributions, no paybacks, none of that stuff” if he won.
Guardian Australia broke the news that Rudd supporters were circulating a petition to get the necessary signatures of one third of the Labor caucus to force a special meeting to consider a leadership ballot. Gillard said the petition was like the “Loch Ness monster” – everyone had heard of it, but no one had seen it. Both sides have professed confidence. Rudd’s backers claim “55 to 60 votes and growing”; Gillard said she would not be contesting the ballot unless she had “a degree of confidence about the support of my cabinet colleagues”.
Rudd did not explain what policy changes he would make as leader or how he intended to navigate the constitutional uncertainties that would ensue if he won.
Guardian Australia broke the news earlier on Wednesday that Rudd supporters were circulating a petition to get the necessary signatures of one-third of the Labor caucus to force a special meeting to consider a leadership ballot. Gillard said the petition was like the “Loch Ness monster” – everyone had heard of it, but no one had seen it.
Rudd would require a majority of the 102-strong caucus to win the ballot. He has previously indicated he would want a convincing majority in order to overcome the ongoing destabilisation and divisions.Rudd would require a majority of the 102-strong caucus to win the ballot. He has previously indicated he would want a convincing majority in order to overcome the ongoing destabilisation and divisions.
After a leadership change, Rudd’s ability to form a government would be tested, either with a vote in the House of Representatives, or on the assessment of the governor general, Quentin Bryce.After a leadership change, Rudd’s ability to form a government would be tested, either with a vote in the House of Representatives, or on the assessment of the governor general, Quentin Bryce.
Key crossbench independents have been equivocal about what they would do in this situation, adding to the uncertainty of any leadership change.Key crossbench independents have been equivocal about what they would do in this situation, adding to the uncertainty of any leadership change.
The Greens said a change might trigger an immediate election and key independent Tony Windsor said he might withdraw confidence from Labor and even back Tony Abbott if a new Labor leader tested support for the government in the parliament.The Greens said a change might trigger an immediate election and key independent Tony Windsor said he might withdraw confidence from Labor and even back Tony Abbott if a new Labor leader tested support for the government in the parliament.
Other independents whose vote Labor would also need to make a restored Rudd the prime minister also refused to guarantee their support.Other independents whose vote Labor would also need to make a restored Rudd the prime minister also refused to guarantee their support.
But Queensland MP Bob Katter said he would back Rudd in a confidence motion.But Queensland MP Bob Katter said he would back Rudd in a confidence motion.
Katter said that "if, and only if, caucus selects Kevin Rudd, I will provide a vote of confidence to facilitate his election". He said if he did not facilitate the leadership change it would "condemn Australia to a landslide election", which was not in the national interest.Katter said that "if, and only if, caucus selects Kevin Rudd, I will provide a vote of confidence to facilitate his election". He said if he did not facilitate the leadership change it would "condemn Australia to a landslide election", which was not in the national interest.
This is the third time since the 2010 election that Julia Gillard’s hold on the leadership has been tested. In February 2012 she defeated Rudd 71 votes to 31 votes. In March she called a ballot as leadership tensions again escalated, and as MPs and Senators were gathering for the meeting, Rudd declared he was not going to stand. This will be the third time since the 2010 election that Julia Gillard’s hold on the leadership has been tested. In February 2012 she defeated Rudd 71 votes to 31 votes. In March she called a ballot as leadership tensions again escalated, and as MPs and Senators were gathering for the meeting, Rudd declared he was not going to stand.
At that time he pledged that there were "no circumstances" in which he would return to the Labor leadership and several ministers who had supported his candidacy resigned from the ministry, with some, such as Martin Ferguson, announcing they would retire from parliament.At that time he pledged that there were "no circumstances" in which he would return to the Labor leadership and several ministers who had supported his candidacy resigned from the ministry, with some, such as Martin Ferguson, announcing they would retire from parliament.
The bitter tensions between Rudd and Gillard have blighted Labor’s second term, with the party riven between Rudd supporters who believe his popularity is the only way of rescuing the ALP from cataclysmic defeat and Gillard supporters who believe Rudd has acted as a saboteur who has undermined the government.The bitter tensions between Rudd and Gillard have blighted Labor’s second term, with the party riven between Rudd supporters who believe his popularity is the only way of rescuing the ALP from cataclysmic defeat and Gillard supporters who believe Rudd has acted as a saboteur who has undermined the government.
If Rudd were to stand and win it would be the second time Labor has switched leaders in panic just before an election. Gillard called the 2010 poll just three weeks after she shocked the nation by challenging Rudd to become the nation’s first female PM. If Rudd were to win it would be the second time Labor has switched leaders in panic just before an election. Gillard called the 2010 poll just three weeks after she shocked the nation by challenging Rudd to become the nation’s first female PM.
That campaign was marred by damaging leaks that Gillard’s supporters blame on Rudd and resulted in the hung parliament. Gillard successfully negotiated with the Greens and the independents to form government, but the combination of the way she became prime minister, the way Labor formed government after the election and the Coalition’s campaign against the carbon tax served to undermine her legitimacy as leader in the eyes of some voters.That campaign was marred by damaging leaks that Gillard’s supporters blame on Rudd and resulted in the hung parliament. Gillard successfully negotiated with the Greens and the independents to form government, but the combination of the way she became prime minister, the way Labor formed government after the election and the Coalition’s campaign against the carbon tax served to undermine her legitimacy as leader in the eyes of some voters.
Two of the independents who supported Gillard, Oakeshott and Windsor, announced on Wednesday they would not recontest their seats at the election.Two of the independents who supported Gillard, Oakeshott and Windsor, announced on Wednesday they would not recontest their seats at the election.
Abbott sought to capitalise on Labor’s woes, telling parliament: “The public are sick of the deals behind closed doors. They are sick of the incompetence, sick of the deception.” He unsuccessfully moved that there be an immediate election.Abbott sought to capitalise on Labor’s woes, telling parliament: “The public are sick of the deals behind closed doors. They are sick of the incompetence, sick of the deception.” He unsuccessfully moved that there be an immediate election.
The Coalition has already begun circulating the accusations made by Labor MPs against Rudd during the ongoing leadership battles, including Gillard’s claim that the Rudd government had suffered “months of paralysis and chaos” before she took over as leader and that Rudd had “chaotic work patterns”, and Wayne Swan’s allegation that he displayed a “deeply demeaning attitude towards other people.”The Coalition has already begun circulating the accusations made by Labor MPs against Rudd during the ongoing leadership battles, including Gillard’s claim that the Rudd government had suffered “months of paralysis and chaos” before she took over as leader and that Rudd had “chaotic work patterns”, and Wayne Swan’s allegation that he displayed a “deeply demeaning attitude towards other people.”
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