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| Kevin Rudd moves to end Labor coups as polls show election dead heat | Kevin Rudd moves to end Labor coups as polls show election dead heat |
| (2 months later) | |
| A new opinion poll shows the federal election race has tightened to a 50:50 dead heat, as Kevin Rudd moves to ensure no Labor prime minister in the future can be toppled by the party mid-term as easily as he and Julia Gillard were ousted. | A new opinion poll shows the federal election race has tightened to a 50:50 dead heat, as Kevin Rudd moves to ensure no Labor prime minister in the future can be toppled by the party mid-term as easily as he and Julia Gillard were ousted. |
| The poll taken last weekend by Lonergan Research showed Labor's primary vote on 40% and its two-party preferred vote at 50% – leaving Rudd's caucus with little choice but to approve his dramatic reform plan at a special meeting on 22 July if they want the party's electoral recovery to continue. | The poll taken last weekend by Lonergan Research showed Labor's primary vote on 40% and its two-party preferred vote at 50% – leaving Rudd's caucus with little choice but to approve his dramatic reform plan at a special meeting on 22 July if they want the party's electoral recovery to continue. |
| Rudd shocked many in Labor with the radical plan for grassroots party members to help elect the federal leader and for the backing of 75% of the caucus to be required before a Labor prime minister can be removed. | Rudd shocked many in Labor with the radical plan for grassroots party members to help elect the federal leader and for the backing of 75% of the caucus to be required before a Labor prime minister can be removed. |
| The move would reduce the power of factional bosses and union leaders and give Rudd an answer to the Coalition's claim that if he wins the election he would again hold office only at the whim of the so-called "faceless men". Rudd had dinner on Monday night with the ACTU president, Ged Kearney, secretary, Dave Oliver, and some other members of the ACTU executive to talk it through. | The move would reduce the power of factional bosses and union leaders and give Rudd an answer to the Coalition's claim that if he wins the election he would again hold office only at the whim of the so-called "faceless men". Rudd had dinner on Monday night with the ACTU president, Ged Kearney, secretary, Dave Oliver, and some other members of the ACTU executive to talk it through. |
| It mirrors changes in other social democratic parties, including in the UK, and its backers argue it means leaders will have the "breathing space" to see through difficult reforms. | It mirrors changes in other social democratic parties, including in the UK, and its backers argue it means leaders will have the "breathing space" to see through difficult reforms. |
| Rudd discussed the reform with his leadership group on Sunday night and with the full ministry on Monday. At least one minister is understood to have voiced significant concerns. | Rudd discussed the reform with his leadership group on Sunday night and with the full ministry on Monday. At least one minister is understood to have voiced significant concerns. |
| The prime minister is proposing that if Labor wins an election, its leader can only be removed if he or she resigns or requests a vote or if 75% of the federal caucus asks for a ballot "on the grounds that the current leader has brought the party into disrepute". | The prime minister is proposing that if Labor wins an election, its leader can only be removed if he or she resigns or requests a vote or if 75% of the federal caucus asks for a ballot "on the grounds that the current leader has brought the party into disrepute". |
| In those circumstances, or after a federal election loss, a new leader would be chosen in a ballot in which 50% of the votes would be cast by the federal caucus and 50% by the party membership. The candidates would be nominated by the caucus and would need 20% caucus support to run. | In those circumstances, or after a federal election loss, a new leader would be chosen in a ballot in which 50% of the votes would be cast by the federal caucus and 50% by the party membership. The candidates would be nominated by the caucus and would need 20% caucus support to run. |
| Rudd said the change answered a "legitimate question" in the minds of voters who are "demanding to know if the prime minister they elect is the prime minister they will get". He said voters wanted a "guarantee" that an elected Labor prime minister would serve a full term and said the change would "ensure that power will never again rest in the hands of a factional few". | Rudd said the change answered a "legitimate question" in the minds of voters who are "demanding to know if the prime minister they elect is the prime minister they will get". He said voters wanted a "guarantee" that an elected Labor prime minister would serve a full term and said the change would "ensure that power will never again rest in the hands of a factional few". |
| He said it would "prevent anyone wandering in one day or one night [to the prime minister's office] and saying, 'OK, sunshine it's over,'" but denied it the change was in any way motivated by revenge for his own removal. | He said it would "prevent anyone wandering in one day or one night [to the prime minister's office] and saying, 'OK, sunshine it's over,'" but denied it the change was in any way motivated by revenge for his own removal. |
| The Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, labelled the reform "more fake change" and said Rudd "wants to change the rules so he can't be sacked no matter how bad he is". | The Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, labelled the reform "more fake change" and said Rudd "wants to change the rules so he can't be sacked no matter how bad he is". |
| Lonergan Research conducted 1,369 "robopoll" surveys across Australia over the last weekend. It found the Coalition's primary vote was 44%, the Greens 9% and "others" 7%, leading to a two-party preferred result of 50% each for Labor and the Coalition if preferences are allocated as they were directed in the 2010 election. The poll has a margin of error of 2.64%. | Lonergan Research conducted 1,369 "robopoll" surveys across Australia over the last weekend. It found the Coalition's primary vote was 44%, the Greens 9% and "others" 7%, leading to a two-party preferred result of 50% each for Labor and the Coalition if preferences are allocated as they were directed in the 2010 election. The poll has a margin of error of 2.64%. |
| Announcing his party reform changes, Rudd did not say whether he would contest a leadership ballot if Labor lost the election, and would not comment on the proposition that this rule change might have stymied his own recent return to the prime ministership. | Announcing his party reform changes, Rudd did not say whether he would contest a leadership ballot if Labor lost the election, and would not comment on the proposition that this rule change might have stymied his own recent return to the prime ministership. |
| As a balance, Rudd is proposing that the caucus will again elect the members of the ministry, reversing a change he made in his early days as prime minister that has been criticised for making ministers reluctant to disagree with the leader. | As a balance, Rudd is proposing that the caucus will again elect the members of the ministry, reversing a change he made in his early days as prime minister that has been criticised for making ministers reluctant to disagree with the leader. |
| Labor hopes the ability to help select a federal leader will encourage people to join the party and address its rapidly diminishing membership base. It is launching what the deputy prime minister, Anthony Albanese, called "a massive recruitment campaign". | Labor hopes the ability to help select a federal leader will encourage people to join the party and address its rapidly diminishing membership base. It is launching what the deputy prime minister, Anthony Albanese, called "a massive recruitment campaign". |
| The direct election announcement comes after Rudd also announced a temporary federal intervention in the party's NSW branch. Rudd travels to the Northern Territory on Tuesday. | The direct election announcement comes after Rudd also announced a temporary federal intervention in the party's NSW branch. Rudd travels to the Northern Territory on Tuesday. |
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