This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/27/kevin-rudd-sworn-prime-minister
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kevin Rudd sworn in as prime minister | Kevin Rudd sworn in as prime minister |
| (3 months later) | |
| Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister for a second time, three years after being deposed, and now faces the daunting task of reworking policy and replacing more than one-third of the cabinet just months before an election. | Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister for a second time, three years after being deposed, and now faces the daunting task of reworking policy and replacing more than one-third of the cabinet just months before an election. |
| Rudd has not said when he will call the poll or whether he will stick with Julia Gillard’s nominated election date of 14 September, but appears to have the confidence of the hung parliament. The Coalition is indicating it will not move a no confidence motion. | Rudd has not said when he will call the poll or whether he will stick with Julia Gillard’s nominated election date of 14 September, but appears to have the confidence of the hung parliament. The Coalition is indicating it will not move a no confidence motion. |
| As the nation woke, yet again, to find the prime minister had been changed overnight and without reference to the voters, Labor struggled to work through the divisions that resulted in the overthrow of Australia’s first female prime minister in a ballot won by Rudd, 57 votes to 45. | As the nation woke, yet again, to find the prime minister had been changed overnight and without reference to the voters, Labor struggled to work through the divisions that resulted in the overthrow of Australia’s first female prime minister in a ballot won by Rudd, 57 votes to 45. |
| Rudd backer Chris Bowen who resigned from the cabinet after the last leadership crisis in March, has been confirmed as treasurer. Gillard backer Gary Gray said he had agreed to stay on as resources minister, but was still blunt in his assessment that Gillard’s leadership had been killed off by a constant campaign of destabilisation by Rudd supporters. | Rudd backer Chris Bowen who resigned from the cabinet after the last leadership crisis in March, has been confirmed as treasurer. Gillard backer Gary Gray said he had agreed to stay on as resources minister, but was still blunt in his assessment that Gillard’s leadership had been killed off by a constant campaign of destabilisation by Rudd supporters. |
| Gray only last week said Rudd was able to “get himself into the media … what he can’t do is govern and what he can’t do is lead the Labor party”. He has told ABC radio he made the remarks “in the heat of anger and frustration”. | Gray only last week said Rudd was able to “get himself into the media … what he can’t do is govern and what he can’t do is lead the Labor party”. He has told ABC radio he made the remarks “in the heat of anger and frustration”. |
| Speaking after the ballot on Wednesday night, 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 on Wednesday night, 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, communications minister Stephen Conroy and agriculture minister Joe Ludwig 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, communications minister Stephen Conroy and agriculture minister Joe Ludwig 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, has been sworn in as Rudd’s deputy. The finance minister, Senator Penny Wong, will be the leader of the government in the Senate. | The leader of the government in the House, Anthony Albanese, has been sworn in as Rudd’s deputy. 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”. | 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 made few references to policy. | He 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”. | 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. He said: “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.” | He also reached out to the business community, which has been disenchanted with some recent Labor policies. He said: “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. | 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. | “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.” | “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”. | 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”. |
| The workplace relations minister, Bill Shorten, who publicly announced he had switched his support to Gillard just before the ballot, explained his decision. | The workplace relations minister, Bill Shorten, who publicly announced he had switched his support to Gillard just before the ballot, explained his decision. |
| He said there were Labor policy legacies "which could only have been created by Prime Minister Gillard and that can only be kept by Prime Minister Rudd … Prime Minister Rudd gives us a chance to save these things”. He nominated policies such as the Gonski education reforms and superannuation changes. | He said there were Labor policy legacies "which could only have been created by Prime Minister Gillard and that can only be kept by Prime Minister Rudd … Prime Minister Rudd gives us a chance to save these things”. He nominated policies such as the Gonski education reforms and superannuation changes. |
| The environment minister, Tony Burke, a Gillard backer, said he had offered his resignation from the front bench to Rudd, but it had not been accepted. | The environment minister, Tony Burke, a Gillard backer, said he had offered his resignation from the front bench to Rudd, but it had not been accepted. |
| Gillard said her caucus colleagues had “defied gravity” by sticking with her for so long, and said she 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, and said she 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”. |
| The spill was the third time Gillard’s leadership had 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. | The spill was the third time Gillard’s leadership had 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. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |