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Julia Gillard will not attend Labor launch, says Rudd Julia Gillard will not attend Labor launch, says Rudd
(25 days later)
Julia Gillard will not be attending Labor’s campaign launch in Brisbane next Sunday because she "does not want to distract" from Kevin Rudd's message, she has said.Julia Gillard will not be attending Labor’s campaign launch in Brisbane next Sunday because she "does not want to distract" from Kevin Rudd's message, she has said.
"I have respectfully decided not to be present at next Sunday's campaign launch because I simply do not want to distract in any way from Kevin Rudd's powerful message to the Australian people," the former prime minister said on Sunday."I have respectfully decided not to be present at next Sunday's campaign launch because I simply do not want to distract in any way from Kevin Rudd's powerful message to the Australian people," the former prime minister said on Sunday.
"I stand with all those throughout our party, and with our great candidates, in voicing my fervent hope for a decisive Labor victory on September 7.""I stand with all those throughout our party, and with our great candidates, in voicing my fervent hope for a decisive Labor victory on September 7."
Rudd said Gillard's decision was "entirely appropriate". "I respect her decision entirely," he told ABC television. "It's entirely appropriate that she make her own call on it," he told ABC television on Sunday.Rudd said Gillard's decision was "entirely appropriate". "I respect her decision entirely," he told ABC television. "It's entirely appropriate that she make her own call on it," he told ABC television on Sunday.
Rudd ousted Gillard in June. She had deposed him in the run-up to the 2010 election.Rudd ousted Gillard in June. She had deposed him in the run-up to the 2010 election.
In that election campaign Rudd did attend Labor’s launch. "The difference is in 2010 I was of course recontesting [my seat]," the prime minister said.In that election campaign Rudd did attend Labor’s launch. "The difference is in 2010 I was of course recontesting [my seat]," the prime minister said.
Gillard is not standing for re-election and has been absent from Labor's election campaign this year.Gillard is not standing for re-election and has been absent from Labor's election campaign this year.
Rudd said he "honoured" Gillard's record and would not engage in character assassination of her.Rudd said he "honoured" Gillard's record and would not engage in character assassination of her.
Asked if he was thankful Gillard supporters had not sabotaged his campaign in the same way his backers had in 2010, Rudd said: "I'm not going to go into internal debates within the Labor party."Asked if he was thankful Gillard supporters had not sabotaged his campaign in the same way his backers had in 2010, Rudd said: "I'm not going to go into internal debates within the Labor party."
He distanced himself from comments he made on Friday referring to the fact that Gillard had been on track to lead Labor to a catastrophic defeat.He distanced himself from comments he made on Friday referring to the fact that Gillard had been on track to lead Labor to a catastrophic defeat.
"I said that bluntly at the time [of the leadership contest]," he said."I said that bluntly at the time [of the leadership contest]," he said.
The prime minister said Australia was a better place as a result of "the extraordinary work which Julia has done", citing her education reforms and the introduction of the disability insurance scheme.The prime minister said Australia was a better place as a result of "the extraordinary work which Julia has done", citing her education reforms and the introduction of the disability insurance scheme.
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