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Kevin Rudd feels the chafe of his Labor family ties Kevin Rudd feels the chafe of his Labor family ties
(17 days later)
“Without families, we are nothing,” said Kevin Rudd of his wife, Therese Rein.“Without families, we are nothing,” said Kevin Rudd of his wife, Therese Rein.
Equally, the sentence also summed up the very reason why Labor finds itself staring down the barrel of electoral loss.Equally, the sentence also summed up the very reason why Labor finds itself staring down the barrel of electoral loss.
As Rudd took the stage at the official campaign launch, there in front of him stood the Labor family: former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and party elders such as John Faulkner. Gough Whitlam could not be there. Julia Gillard did not want to be a distraction.As Rudd took the stage at the official campaign launch, there in front of him stood the Labor family: former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and party elders such as John Faulkner. Gough Whitlam could not be there. Julia Gillard did not want to be a distraction.
Certainly Whitlam, Hawke and Keating are the towering living figures around which Labor has spun its fables, based on the tenet that the party of progressive Australia melded reform with a heart and soul.Certainly Whitlam, Hawke and Keating are the towering living figures around which Labor has spun its fables, based on the tenet that the party of progressive Australia melded reform with a heart and soul.
Central was the belief that the Labor cause is bigger than any one individual. The family came first. Without families, we are nothing.Central was the belief that the Labor cause is bigger than any one individual. The family came first. Without families, we are nothing.
Enter Kevin Rudd, the man who by his actions suggested that he remained convinced that he was bigger than any cause, Labor or otherwise.Enter Kevin Rudd, the man who by his actions suggested that he remained convinced that he was bigger than any cause, Labor or otherwise.
So it was always going to be a hard task – the campaign launch – in a hard week, the last of the campaign.So it was always going to be a hard task – the campaign launch – in a hard week, the last of the campaign.
Rudd had little reason to rise above his party’s woes and yet he did. With grace and dignity, he delivered one of the strongest performances of Labor’s election campaign.Rudd had little reason to rise above his party’s woes and yet he did. With grace and dignity, he delivered one of the strongest performances of Labor’s election campaign.
First on was Anthony “Albo” Albanese, Australia’s deputy prime minister, a man who has given his all to the Labor party and his own ambition, since his early days as leader of the left in Sussex Street.First on was Anthony “Albo” Albanese, Australia’s deputy prime minister, a man who has given his all to the Labor party and his own ambition, since his early days as leader of the left in Sussex Street.
The task was not lost on Albo, who had supported Rudd, then supported Gillard, then supported Rudd. A Camperdown boy, brought up by a single mother, he is a survivor.The task was not lost on Albo, who had supported Rudd, then supported Gillard, then supported Rudd. A Camperdown boy, brought up by a single mother, he is a survivor.
Albo was the man who had to rally the troops, and he brought along his own family, including his wife, former New South Wales Labor minister Carmel Tebbutt and their son Nathan, who he proudly shouted out to on this Father’s Day.Albo was the man who had to rally the troops, and he brought along his own family, including his wife, former New South Wales Labor minister Carmel Tebbutt and their son Nathan, who he proudly shouted out to on this Father’s Day.
“It’s one to remember,” said Albo, and for Labor, it certainly was.“It’s one to remember,” said Albo, and for Labor, it certainly was.
The deputy was emotional. Without family, we are nothing.The deputy was emotional. Without family, we are nothing.
And so Albo began spinning those fables, casting out the Labor aura like a great fishing net to draw in voters and drag back the true believers who have given up and shed their Labor skins.And so Albo began spinning those fables, casting out the Labor aura like a great fishing net to draw in voters and drag back the true believers who have given up and shed their Labor skins.
“Our opponents seek government because they believe it is what they are entitled to,” said Albanese.“Our opponents seek government because they believe it is what they are entitled to,” said Albanese.
“For Labor, government is never the end in itself. We govern so that we can build for the future. It’s the Labor way.”“For Labor, government is never the end in itself. We govern so that we can build for the future. It’s the Labor way.”
Albo listed Labor’s achievements: steering the economy through the global financial crisis, a carbon pricing scheme to address climate change, boosts for renewable energy, the national broadband network.Albo listed Labor’s achievements: steering the economy through the global financial crisis, a carbon pricing scheme to address climate change, boosts for renewable energy, the national broadband network.
“Whatever you say about John Howard, he was a man of intellect, who had a vision for his country. Not my vision, but a vision nonetheless,” Albanese said. “Mr Abbott is a man mired in pessimism and stuck in the past.“Whatever you say about John Howard, he was a man of intellect, who had a vision for his country. Not my vision, but a vision nonetheless,” Albanese said. “Mr Abbott is a man mired in pessimism and stuck in the past.
“If you want a bloke who can jump through tyres, you can vote for Tony Abbott. If you want a bloke who can guide you through the next financial crisis, vote for Kevin Rudd.”“If you want a bloke who can jump through tyres, you can vote for Tony Abbott. If you want a bloke who can guide you through the next financial crisis, vote for Kevin Rudd.”
Rein came next, reminding Australia that her husband lost his father at a young age, which forced the family to move from the dairy which had been their home. In a role mirrored by Abbott’s daughters at the Liberal campaign launch a week before, Rein was there to put private flesh on the public bones of the prime minister.Rein came next, reminding Australia that her husband lost his father at a young age, which forced the family to move from the dairy which had been their home. In a role mirrored by Abbott’s daughters at the Liberal campaign launch a week before, Rein was there to put private flesh on the public bones of the prime minister.
And when that man came on to the stage, he was looking upbeat and the most relaxed he has been in this campaign. Rudd announced a range of new policies. He was defiant in the face of the polls and a well-oiled Liberal party machine. Like Albanese, he returned to Labor values.And when that man came on to the stage, he was looking upbeat and the most relaxed he has been in this campaign. Rudd announced a range of new policies. He was defiant in the face of the polls and a well-oiled Liberal party machine. Like Albanese, he returned to Labor values.
“The values which gave us fair pay, fair conditions and an independent umpire. Values that built the age pension. Values that built a free public hospital system. Values that built a university system accessible for all under Gough Whitlam. Values that built superannuation for all under Paul Keating. Values that built DisabilityCare for all under Julia Gillard. These are values worth fighting for,” he said.“The values which gave us fair pay, fair conditions and an independent umpire. Values that built the age pension. Values that built a free public hospital system. Values that built a university system accessible for all under Gough Whitlam. Values that built superannuation for all under Paul Keating. Values that built DisabilityCare for all under Julia Gillard. These are values worth fighting for,” he said.
Julia Gillard. It was a name he could not mention. It was also a name he could not fail to mention. In the Labor family, Gillard’s presence hangs like the sibling excised from the will. Like the aunt not invited to Christmas dinner. And it was palpable at the launch.Julia Gillard. It was a name he could not mention. It was also a name he could not fail to mention. In the Labor family, Gillard’s presence hangs like the sibling excised from the will. Like the aunt not invited to Christmas dinner. And it was palpable at the launch.
Without family, we are nothing.Without family, we are nothing.
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