“OMG - what a rollercoaster evening in the Federal Parliament.”
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This was Senator Ursula Stephens’ reaction to the dramatic Labor Party caucus leadership ballot on Wednesday night, which saw Julia Gillard stripped of the Prime Ministership and forced to retire from politics.
It also saw Kevin Rudd resume his previous position as the head of the government and lead his party to the upcoming election.
Senator Stephens, a longtime Rudd supporter, was not available for comment yesterday but on her Facebook page she confirmed she had once again backed her colleague and friend.
“As a locked on Rudd supporter I am honoured to have checked his ballot paper for the leadership vote,” she wrote. “Julia was a wonderful Prime Minister, but politics is brutal and about the greater good. Julia has been extraordinarily gracious in her defeat in the ballot, and what a tough day it has been.
“This is the reality of politics - there are always winners and losers. It’s tough, but we won’t be found wanting in the lead up to the next federal election.”
Before a single ballot had even been cast the opposition already had an attack ad in the can.
Its message was simple: the government is dysfunctional and the Labor Party divided.
In Hume, Liberal candidate Angus Taylor is already driving that message.
“With at least one third of the Cabinet are refusing to serve under Kevin Rudd, Labor is still divided and dysfunctional,” he said. “Kevin Rudd does not have the confidence of (former ministers) Wayne Swan, Peter Garrett, Craig Emerson, Stephen Conroy, Greg Combet or Joe Ludwig.
“Once again the unions and factions, rather than the Australian people, have chosen a Prime Minister. The government of our country should not be a continuing soap opera.
“(It is the right of) the Australian people to
choose their government and to choose the Prime Minister. The only way for that to occur is to have an election.
“In 2007 the Australian people voted for Kevin and got Julia. In 2010 they had Julia and got Kevin. Labor has turned federal politics into high farce. We are now the laughing stock of the world.”
Mr Taylor said the Coalition was united and had been for more than four years.
Meantime, Labor candidate Michael Pilbrow told the Post he thought the ballot was a positive for the party.
While he was an admirer of the former PM, he believed the policy debate has been overshadowed by rumours and speculation around the leadership for far too long. Now, he says, it can be put aside and the campaign can really begin.
“I am pleased that the caucus has met and brought the matter to a head and resolved the issue because discussion around the leadership has been a distraction for the campaign around the country, including here in Hume and for my campaign, so I’m really glad we have clear air to focus on the policies because the policies haven’t changed,” he said.
“The National Broadband Network (NBN), education and disability care. These are still the fantastic policies which Labor will be taking to this election.”
Mr Pilbrow said he was not concerned about the lack of stability at the party’s executive level. Even with six ministers opting to resign rather than serve under Mr Rudd, he still had faith in the strength of the parliamentary caucus.
“Labor has quite a deep talent pool so whoever ends up taking up the particular ministerial positions will still stack up very well and compare very favourably to the Coalition’s team….On policy debates I would back the Labor person over the coalition every time.”
He also won’t concern himself with the opposition’s “negative tactics”. He believes the Coalition is worried about Mr Rudd’s popularity and the strength of the government’s policy platform.
“I would like to pay tribute to Julia Gillard for her service to the country over the past few years. Some really good policies and reforms have come from her leadership, especially disability care, school funding reform and the NBN,” he said.
“Those things are a legacy which will last a long time.”
Mr Pilbrow recently met with Ms Gillard – along with five mayors from across Hume, including Geoff Kettle – to discuss the Barton Highway. He said she was charming, attentive and generous with her time.
He said she was trailblazer as the nation’s first female PM and that she had already inspired many young women to pursue a career in politics.