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| Labor returns to Kevin Rudd in bid to avoid election wipeout | Labor returns to Kevin Rudd in bid to avoid election wipeout |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labor has deposed Australia’s first female prime minister and resurrected her predecessor Kevin Rudd in a desperate bid to avoid annihilation at the upcoming election. | Labor has deposed Australia’s first female prime minister and resurrected her predecessor Kevin Rudd in a desperate bid to avoid annihilation at the upcoming election. |
| The leadership ballot – which Rudd won 57 to 45 – must now be confirmed by the hung parliament for Rudd to be sworn in as PM and the government to avoid being forced straight to an election. Some crucial crossbench independents have not yet guaranteed their backing. Gillard last night asked the governor general, Quentin Bryce, to commission Rudd as prime minister. | The leadership ballot – which Rudd won 57 to 45 – must now be confirmed by the hung parliament for Rudd to be sworn in as PM and the government to avoid being forced straight to an election. Some crucial crossbench independents have not yet guaranteed their backing. Gillard last night asked the governor general, Quentin Bryce, to commission Rudd as prime minister. |
| Speaking after the ballot, a composed Gillard said she was proud of her achievements in what “has not been an easy environment to work in” because of the minority parliament, the internal Labor divisions and the Coalition’s fierce anti-carbon tax campaign. | Speaking after the ballot, a composed Gillard said she was proud of her achievements in what “has not been an easy environment to work in” because of the minority parliament, the internal Labor divisions and the Coalition’s fierce anti-carbon tax campaign. |
| Referring to the accusations that she had “played the gender card” by calling out sexism, she said her position as the first female incumbent “does not explain everything about my prime ministership and does not explain nothing about my prime ministership”. She said: “It explains some things and it is for the nation to think in a sophisticated way about those shades of grey.” | Referring to the accusations that she had “played the gender card” by calling out sexism, she said her position as the first female incumbent “does not explain everything about my prime ministership and does not explain nothing about my prime ministership”. She said: “It explains some things and it is for the nation to think in a sophisticated way about those shades of grey.” |
| When he announced his candidacy, Rudd promised “no retributions, no paybacks, none of that stuff”, but Gillard, the treasurer, Wayne Swan, the climate change minister, Greg Combet, the education minister, Peter Garrett, and the trade minister, Craig Emerson, all immediately announced they were standing down from the frontbench. Gillard, Garrett and Emerson said they would not contest the forthcoming election. | When he announced his candidacy, Rudd promised “no retributions, no paybacks, none of that stuff”, but Gillard, the treasurer, Wayne Swan, the climate change minister, Greg Combet, the education minister, Peter Garrett, and the trade minister, Craig Emerson, all immediately announced they were standing down from the frontbench. Gillard, Garrett and Emerson said they would not contest the forthcoming election. |
| The leader of the government in the House, Anthony Albanese, will be Rudd’s deputy. | The leader of the government in the House, Anthony Albanese, will be Rudd’s deputy. |
| The finance minister, Senator Penny Wong, will be the leader of the government in the Senate. | The finance minister, Senator Penny Wong, will be the leader of the government in the Senate. |
| Addressing the media late on Wednesday night, Rudd said he had contested the prime ministership again because “I simply do not have it in my nature to stand idly by and allow an Abbott government to come to power in this country by default”. | |
| He did not say when he would call the election and made few references to policy. | |
| But he repeated a phrase he used when he was first prime minister – that he did not want to lead a country that did not make things any more – and said there would be “a big future for Australian manufacturing under this government”. | |
| He also reached out to the business community, which has been disenchanted with some recent Labor policies, saying “Let me say to Australian business, I want to work closely with you … I don’t want to see things that drive business and Labor apart.” | |
| And he repeatedly said he wanted an end to the recent divisiveness of the political debate. | |
| “In recent years politics has failed the Australian people, there has been an erosion of trust, there has been too much negativity all round. In fact it has been holding our country back, and all this must stop,” he said. | |
| “I see my role as prime minister as forging consensus wherever I can … without resorting to personal vitriol, that diminishes and demeans us all. We can do better than that.” | |
| He also acknowledged Gillard’s achievements, saying she was “a woman of extraordinary intelligence, great strength and great energy” who had “achieved much under the difficult circumstances of a minority government”. | |
| Gillard said her caucus colleagues had “defied gravity” by sticking with her for so long, but understood that in this last ballot the political pressure had become too great. | Gillard said her caucus colleagues had “defied gravity” by sticking with her for so long, but understood that in this last ballot the political pressure had become too great. |
| Swan said she was “one of the toughest warriors that has ever led the Labor party”. | Swan said she was “one of the toughest warriors that has ever led the Labor party”. |
| It is the third time Gillard’s leadership has been tested in this tumultuous term of government. In February 2012 she decisively beat Rudd and in March 2013 he did not stand in a ballot she called after another period of escalating leadership tension. | It is the third time Gillard’s leadership has been tested in this tumultuous term of government. In February 2012 she decisively beat Rudd and in March 2013 he did not stand in a ballot she called after another period of escalating leadership tension. |
| After the March ballot, Rudd said there were “no circumstances” in which he would return to the leadership, but as Labor’s primary vote languished at 29% and showed no signs of improving, his backers launched yet another desperate last-minute push. Rudd said he changed his mind because he feared the consequences of a Coalition landslide. | After the March ballot, Rudd said there were “no circumstances” in which he would return to the leadership, but as Labor’s primary vote languished at 29% and showed no signs of improving, his backers launched yet another desperate last-minute push. Rudd said he changed his mind because he feared the consequences of a Coalition landslide. |
| Wednesday night’s ballot was a dramatic resolution to the leadership tensions that have simmered ever since Gillard overthrew Rudd in June 2010 and took the nation to the polls just over three weeks later. | Wednesday night’s ballot was a dramatic resolution to the leadership tensions that have simmered ever since Gillard overthrew Rudd in June 2010 and took the nation to the polls just over three weeks later. |
| Under Gillard’s leadership Labor legislated a carbon price, a national disability insurance scheme, aged care reform and a new needs-based system of education funding, which passed the Senate on the same day she was deposed. | Under Gillard’s leadership Labor legislated a carbon price, a national disability insurance scheme, aged care reform and a new needs-based system of education funding, which passed the Senate on the same day she was deposed. |
| Gillard took a resolute approach to the job, despite an often hostile media and a fierce attack from the Coalition, and gained worldwide recognition for her “misogyny speech” in which she said she would not be lectured about sexism by the Coalition leader, Tony Abbott. | Gillard took a resolute approach to the job, despite an often hostile media and a fierce attack from the Coalition, and gained worldwide recognition for her “misogyny speech” in which she said she would not be lectured about sexism by the Coalition leader, Tony Abbott. |
| But after the 2010 election resulted in a hung parliament she was forced to govern without a majority in either house, a state of uncertainty that proved unpopular with voters. | But after the 2010 election resulted in a hung parliament she was forced to govern without a majority in either house, a state of uncertainty that proved unpopular with voters. |
| Her popularity and that of her government suffered under an intensive campaign by Abbott against the carbon pricing deal she did with the Greens and independents. Because it started with a fixed price it was seen as the “carbon tax” she had promised never to introduce. Her position was further eroded by a series of scandals, including allegations against Labor backbencher Craig Thomson, who was forced onto the crossbench, and against former Coalition MP Peter Slipper, who Labor convinced to become Speaker. | Her popularity and that of her government suffered under an intensive campaign by Abbott against the carbon pricing deal she did with the Greens and independents. Because it started with a fixed price it was seen as the “carbon tax” she had promised never to introduce. Her position was further eroded by a series of scandals, including allegations against Labor backbencher Craig Thomson, who was forced onto the crossbench, and against former Coalition MP Peter Slipper, who Labor convinced to become Speaker. |
| The ballot was called by Gillard after Rudd supporters began collecting signatures for a petition to call a special caucus meeting to consider the leadership. But it quickly became apparent the numbers in caucus were moving against her and shortly before the vote factional powerbroker Bill Shorten announced he was reluctantly shifting his support to Rudd. | The ballot was called by Gillard after Rudd supporters began collecting signatures for a petition to call a special caucus meeting to consider the leadership. But it quickly became apparent the numbers in caucus were moving against her and shortly before the vote factional powerbroker Bill Shorten announced he was reluctantly shifting his support to Rudd. |
| 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”. | 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”. |
| “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. | “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. |
| Rudd’s ability to form a government will be tested, either with a vote in the House of Representatives, or on the assessment of the governor general. | Rudd’s ability to form a government will be tested, either with a vote in the House of Representatives, or on the assessment of the governor general. |
| Key crossbench independents have been equivocal about what they would do in this situation. | Key crossbench independents have been equivocal about what they would do in this situation. |
| The Greens said they were considering their options 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 they were considering their options 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 and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie both said they would back Rudd in a confidence motion. | But Queensland MP Bob Katter and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie both said they 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 support 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 support the leadership change it would "condemn Australia to a landslide election", which was not in the national interest. |
| In February 2012 Gillard defeated Rudd 71-31. 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. | In February 2012 Gillard defeated Rudd 71-31. 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. |
| The bitter rivalry between Rudd and Gillard has blighted Labor’s second term, with the party split between Rudd supporters who believe his popularity is the only way of rescuing the ALP from cataclysmic defeat and Gillard supporters who believed Rudd has acting as a saboteur and undermining the government. | The bitter rivalry between Rudd and Gillard has blighted Labor’s second term, with the party split between Rudd supporters who believe his popularity is the only way of rescuing the ALP from cataclysmic defeat and Gillard supporters who believed Rudd has acting as a saboteur and undermining the government. |
| Two of the independents who supported Gillard, Rob Oakeshott and Windsor, announced on Wednesday they would not recontest their seats at the election. | Two of the independents who supported Gillard, Rob Oakeshott and Windsor, announced on Wednesday they would not recontest their seats at the election. |
| The Liberals have already begun releasing anti-Rudd advertising, using attacks against him by his own colleagues and claiming “the faceless men are at it again”. The Coalition has war-gamed this result and its party room met to “regroup” for the new electoral contest they will now face. | The Liberals have already begun releasing anti-Rudd advertising, using attacks against him by his own colleagues and claiming “the faceless men are at it again”. The Coalition has war-gamed this result and its party room met to “regroup” for the new electoral contest they will now face. |
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