Mr Rudd, who challenged Kim Beazley for the top Labor job, won the vote 49-39 in a Caucus room meeting this morning.
Julia Gillard is the new deputy leader, replacing Jenny Macklin. No-one else nominated for the position.
Now what?
Updates over the fold…
Update: The Oz announces that the spill of the front bench won’t be until Thursday. So, no sleeping yet.
Update: Beazley gets the very sad news that his brother, David, has died.
Update: Peter Van Onselen argues that Labor now stands to lose even more WA seats, rather than winning them back. I don’t doubt that a WA Prime Minister may have been a factor in people’s thinking over here, but I’m certain we lost Stirling and Hasluck due to lacklustre campaigning and a very effective interest rates scare. Perth house prices are now higher than Sydney. It’s the economy, not the parochialism.
Update: News.com provides a blog round-up, beginning with our very own Comrade Trotsky (although they don’t seem to accurately read Gummo’s tone.)
Xander and Nico sum it up succinctly:
For the love of God, please, don’t fuck this up.
Update: My feelings about this? I was solidly on “Team Rudd”, and I’m glad he won. I think that his leadership will strike the right balance – providing a fresh look and feel, without being too over-the-top like the incredible excitement that followed Latham’s win.
I think that he does appeal to lots of people out there, helped mostly by his regular appearances on Sunrise. He doesn’t have the experience that Beazley has, but there’s no point being experienced if people won’t let you do the job. Governments in Australia don’t rest on one person, and a solid front bench and a good team of staff should see him through. (Note to Rudd: please get better staff than Beazley. And if you don’t know the latest Australian Idol winner, either hire someone who does, or don’t go on breakfast radio. No-one cares if you don’t know these things, but they do care if you pretend as though you do.)
My biggest worry – and I differ from much of the Hivemind on this – is Gillard. For all of Macklin’s faults, she did at least make it clear that she wanted to be the Deputy. I don’t think Gillard will be capable of that for long. Richard Farmer is right to argue that: “It will be essential that Rudd finds a job for Gillard where she is so busy developing and selling a major policy that she has no time to blunder off in to other areas.”
Lastly, as I always am when Beazley loses something, I’m sadly reminded of what might have been. He excels at concession speeches. If only he had been able to do that all year round.
Overall, I am quietly optimistic.
Update: What’s with the pink? (Warning! Sound!) “It may look like a new girly version of Labor, but…”
Dumb.
Update: Rudd claims that he will choose his own front bench.
The cynic in me thinks it would be a more serious threat if he named his front bench now. Still, it’s a good start – let’s just hope he decides on a good team.
Gillard won’t be choosing her own portfolio apparently. She also has a great response to the “is there a deal for the Leadership” question:
“There is no way that I will have the same purse for a decade …” Ms Gillard told ABC radio.
Update: Out, out, damn’d spot?
Now it’s time for all good bloggers and blog commenters from every part of the political spectrum to start giving Rud and Gillard instructions on how to do their jobs properly, of course.
Without the help of our extensive expertise, how can they possibly make the ALP a credible alternative to the Liberal Party?
A new shadow cabinet that will be worked to death. Rudd has a work ethic that can’t be surpassed. And he has experience as an administrator so there will be no place for slackers to hide.
“there will be no place for slackers to hide”
There’s always the blogosphere
What wpd said.
When will we know about the other changes?
Also, Conroy? Frickin’ Dalek.
Cue Denis Shanahan, etcetera condemning Rudd.
The question on everyone’s lips is when will the new team meet Bono?
Now what? 72 hours of struggle for the frontbench ballot to be held on Thursday.
Zoe just posted a link to a Glen Milne article which might explain why it took almost an hour to hold a single, two-person ballot today.
Presumably the Beazley camp, once they realised the numbers were against them, withdrew all objections to postponing the spill. This gives time for those who voted for Rudd to dissolve into a jealous, feuding melee as they compete against each other for frontbench positions.
No announcement yet about where Beazley will sit at Question Time today – front or back bench – or even if he will turn up.
Prescription for the Rudd era:
1. A determined show of consultative process of policy formulation. Under no circumstances a return to policy formulation from the hip like Latham. Maximum trust to shadow ministers. (That doesn’t mean trust them all the same.)
2. Struggle for what you believe is right. Under no circumstances adopt anything like the “small target” strategy of Beazley.
3. Remember that Howard is old and that the Howard regime is old. Howard has run out of important groups to bribe. Voters in marginal electorates are financially overstretched. They want to hear that their jobs will be safe under Labor and that their working conditions are under threat under Howard.
The ALP should present the electorate with a powerful suggestion that they have safe hands and a warm heart.
Anyone who thinks the front bench won’t be decided on factional lines is dreaming.
Nicely said, Katz.
It depends what you mean. The factions have divided all over the place today.
Will the Queensland Right see things the same way as the NSW or Victorian Right? What about the so-called ‘hard’-Left (who supported Beazley) and ‘soft’-Left (who supported Rudd).
Young turks from the Right or Left who can attract support from both sides of their respective factions might
Will the factional bosses be able to enforce a ‘show-me-your-ballot’ rule from their followers this time?
Most importantly, will there be a contested ballot, or will things go back to the days when, as Mischa Schubert said in this Age article on Saturday:
You’re right, I fear, Anna. That total spill during the turmoil of the leadership struggle might’ve offered the best chance to break the stranglehold.
Still, I’d like to see a few more females given a go. Maybe they could caucus as a sub-faction as the South Australians used to do years ago.
Broader consultation is the key to Rudd-Gillard getting wider support and better acceptance. Never did have much confidence in the Roosters.
I tend to agree, Anna, but there are patterns. Despite all this talk of ‘fracturing’ the NSW and assorted other Left backed Beazley pretty solidly and I think they’ll be rewarded for their discipline with demotions.
My pick: Albo’s going
home in the back of a divvy vanback to the backbench.Yes, the leadership is always a more free (although not always completely unfactional) vote.
Again, the factions didn’t completely control today’s vote. But aside from that, I didn’t say it wouldn’t be messy. There are lots of factions and fractions in the ALP. And people will vote accordingly.
Yes. They’ll pair up like they always do.
Who knows, but whether there’s a ballot or not, people will still vote on factional lines. I know it sounds strange for someone not involved, but don’t forget that people actually choose their factions for myriad reasons, and often it involves liking the people, and wanting the group to get ahead.
It doesn’t mean that Independents won’t get up – both because their talent is recognised, and because they understand that independents need to be looked after as well.
Also, don’t confuse the vote for the shadow ministry, which caucus gets to decide, with the allocation of portfolios, which the Leader gets to decide.
Liam, Anna, any other Labor people, any suggestions on whether the influence of the AWU and Shoppies can also be expected to wane somewhat in the light of this result? Also it was interesting to see Martin Ferguson backing Beazley despite his close affinity with Gillard.
I would _love_ to see Emerson hit the frontbench. Smart guy, it’s about time his exile ended.
The radio is just saying Kim Beazley’s brother died today. That may put caucus events in perspective for him anyway. Extremely rough. His press conference due to begin in a minute.
Channel surfing my radio, I just heard a report that after the Caucus meeting Kim Beazley received news that his brother David has just died.
Nothing on Google News yet – but if the report’s correct I we’re in for an interesting day.
In the meantime, here’s the response from one Government MP who was quick off the mark with a quotable soundbite.
David,
Can we have fewer links to speculative articles written before the spill please? thread This is more for keeping up with the news as it happens, my first comment notwithstanding. <span style=”patronising”>It was intended ironically.</span>
Why has COnroy remained deuputy leader in the Senate? He is a joke, a careerist who does nought to advance the alp. Please Ruddy get rid of him.
Paul: the short answer is no. The long answer is that the influence of trade unions is primarily exercised through votes at State conferences (Queensland for the AWU, NSW, Tas and Vic for the shoppies) which select Senate tickets, not directly into the Parliament itself. You need only to look at the long tradition of Labor’s Parliamentary antagonism to unionism once in government to see that.
It’s a Byzantine system, but it does have the value of making wholesale takeovers in the NSW Liberal pattern difficult.
…
As to Ferguson, see my comments on Left discipline. I’ll be cheering on Ferguson’s punishment, I must say. Crucify him! </mob>
First on-line report of David Beazley’s death.
“Kim Beazley’s brother died today”
Poor bastard. Sorry Kimbo – tough week dude.
What Liam said: both things.
*joins mob*
Spans, Gummo? Tsk, that’s so 2001. CSS is what the cool kids are using these days.
Good press conf from the Beaze, as you would expect. Gracious and hitting the right notes. Wish we could have seen more of that stuff during his tenure, but anyway. Very emotional during thanking his family, refused to answer a questions about his brother which is fair enough.
Emerson is the Elvis of the ALP.
Comrades, it’s about time the union connection and the ALP ended.
Sad about David Beazley; such tragedies put the bullsh*t of politics into perspective.
Union connection with the ALP (I’m not feeling well).
Beazley continued his tradition of giving brilliant concession speeches. He doesn’t sound like he’s going to go round again.
However, there are two distinct ways that ‘factional’ voting can work.
In the Hawke/Keating era, there were three factions. Left Centre-Left, Right, and a few independents. The sub-divisions within these factions were managed behind closed doors, and a ballot was a mere ratification of a decision made by faction heads. Everyone knew the results of frontbench ballots.
Now, as far as I can pick up from the newspapers, the Left factional tension which has always been there has now split the group into two separate factions. The Right does not seem to be caucusing as a whole, either.
I’ve seen reports over the weekend of so-called factional bosses who controlled four other votes. If four or five votes counts as a ‘faction’ these days, then there are a lot more variables when struggling for a place.
This will not stop people voting on factional lines – people always seem to clump together in groups to get what they want, so why should this be any different?
But it will make factional lines much more unclear and turn out a different sort of result – possibly one that is in doubt up until the last vote is counted.
If there is a ballot at all on Thursday, instead of an orderly nomination of 28 candidates for 28 vacancies, that will show that factional bosses are unable or unwilling to control the enthusiasm of their ambitious followers. That will have quite an effect on the sort of partyroom that the ALP takes into the next election.
Well yes. It’s been that way for a long while now, David. Those of us who are ALP members are well aware of the history/ current status of factions.
People should stop assuming that this is always for the best, however. More freedom doesn’t mean that people will stop being ambitious and vote only according to talent.
It’s about who can bring themselves to put the party first, not how unpredictable the vote is.
The good news is that they’ve elected the right team. The bad news is, as wpd inadvertently pointed out, that it’s the wrong way around.
On Gummo’s question from the closed thread:
Because the poll shows that the extra votes taking Labor up to 48% come from Greens, independents, and Democrats.
Mind you, I’m with Andrew Leigh. The poll is most likely rubbish.
http://andrewleigh.com/?p=1256
Considering that Labor currently holds 5 from 15 seats, and potentially only three of those are safe (Perth, Fremantle and Brand), and that there are lots of seats in Qld, NSW and SA that need to be won, this isn’t much of an argument.
ie, the argument Peter made in his opinion piece isn’t much of an argument.
agree with Mark – does anyone really think that Labor would win 56% of the 2PP vote in an election was held now?
I agree, Sacha, that if we have to lose in WA to gain elsewhere then it’s a sacrifice we should make, but I don’t think it’s even a question. I think we stand to win Stirling back at least, and Canning is going to be a lot more marginal than it was at the last election as long as we can stick to just one candidate.
It’ll be an interesting test of Queensland parochialism at any rate.
“It’s about who can bring themselves to put the party first, not how unpredictable the vote is. ” Rest assured Conroy, Swan and Smith will not put the ALP first above themselves. They never have and they never will. They are the very worst type of professional pollies that have wrecked the ALP.
stirling? wow that is my old stomping ground. can it go back to labour? too many mcmansions are going up and the council yards have moved. now only the water authority remains and the strip of light-industry off the freeway for the trad labour vote. although the sound of heavily worked v8s doing burnouts still sends balcatta to sleep at night, at least it does when I’m home
one interesting thing about the demographic/spatial mapping of perth regarding the property prices is that it might actually produce some sort of ‘inner city’ vibe around leaderville because the housing bubble will force land owners to knock over old small-houses-on-big-blocks and create townhouses, etc. it is a question of whether the cultural infrastructure is ripe in the area. inner-city sydney is bourgiefied sure, but it also has universities and a massive student population who are not too interested in the footy and other suburban pursuits.
I think we have a good chance in Stirling depending how the preselection works out. We have a pretty impressive candidate throwing his hat into the ring.
Devastating news for Beazley. Life can be far too cruel sometimes. I hope he spends time with his family and close friends.
Well last week I viewed this entire scenario (any leadership challenge) as a disaster.
I’m softening my views…but my main thought is, as I said in my blog. (I really, really need to get over the 2004 election I know).
Alas, Im afraid he hasnt Katz.
Rudd/Gillard be well warned: the fix is in, IMO, the next election will be run on -
a. Pensioner vote (massive new schemes for tax reductions on super, running your super as an investment a/c, with extremely improved tax consequences for retireees, including eleglibility for pension. I dont understand full scope, but I can see the electoral pitch. This has already happened)
b. Childcare: full tax deducibility is on the agenda. May not get up in that form, but this will be a key pitch area.
All in all: a reform agenda capable of knitting together (and, dare I say, recruiting) an electoral majority for a fifth term.
ALP be warned. It is a potential winner. Get moving to head em off at the pass. No time to pissfart, and hanging around looking like competent managers in waiting wont cut it.
Overall, I am quietly pessimistic.
Because of Rudd, or were you pessimistic before that?
Just caught Rudd’s first Question Time on the ABC.
Overall, I’d say it was a good performance from the cobra (or is Rudd the mongoose?), starting with two good questions on ending the blame game in health (Howard’s response to both was, essentially, I blame the States).
On the other side, Jacqui(?) Kelly didn’t impress – she wasn’t able to get through her Dorothy Dixer without several fits of the giggles. It was one of those “is the minister aware of any other views?” questions.
Before that – because they can’t seem to take a trick on holding the government to account. Rising interest rates, disastrous war, open feuding within the Government, AWB, Pacific policy consisting of yelling and cops, WorkChoices, etc. etc.
I have doubts about Rudd as a communicator and I think his past record shows him to be better at basically implementing others’ agendas rather than being proactive. I don’t see any track record at all of being a policy innovator.
And the re-emergence of all the internal stuff can’t be good. Beazley’s basic strategy was to keep it frozen in time. With the influence of people like Conroy diminished, does anyone imagine he’ll be a loyal lieutenant of the new leadership? And Fitzgibbon’s public threats of retribution and undermining if Beazley had won…
Just noticed that quote from me on the News Site. Don’t think there’s a damn thing I can say that isn’t going to make me sound like an intellectual snob.
With respect, you obviously don’t know Kevin very well Mark.
Thank Christ for that vote.
Go Labor.
Cheers, folks.
And this is all wrong too.
Beazley’s spill might have thrown a spanner in the works.
Rudd’s delaying it til Thursday is a move born of weakness and probably a concession to get votes. It will most likely ensure that we’ll end up with the usual suspects still promoted beyond their ability plus Garrett.
I can’t see why anyone gets excited about Emerson. His “economic literacy” seems to entail being as right wing as possible on everything. And he’s a shithouse communicator.
If Tanner gets up as Shadow Treasurer, perhaps I’ll cheer up.
Although I, for one, thought Swan was doing a good job.
Gillard in IR would be good.
I think the news.com.au journo grabbed a feed off technorati. Hence all those blogs we’ve never heard of with the exception of LP and TBP – not to diminish your joy, Gummo!
Another reason for pessimism. It’s well known that Rudd isn’t well liked within the Qld ALP. Big Bill Ludwig is typically and offensively over the top, but you can bet that he’s not atypical:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20866114-2702,00.html
Well, I’d be happy to be proved wrong, cs.
Apologies for the fact that your comments are in moderation, btw. We had a persistent troll using the same university IP address and different monikers. It’s a blunt instrument, unfortunately.
I agree with Mark about Emmerson. Boring right-winger? No thanks, we have enough.
I’d be happy with Swan staying on, but I’d love to see Tanner get the job too.
Surely if Gillard has ambitions to lead,which no doubt she has, I would have thought she would be looking for the Shadow Treasurers job.
If Gillard doesn’t take Treasury, she will look weak.
Re Emmerson, last time he went for latham and Ludwig banned him from the shadow ministry. This time, according to the local media, he was going for Beazley. Can’t take a trick.
Well, I suppose he was trying to do what Big Bill wanted him to do this time round, wpd.
I think you could make a case for Gillard taking IR as deputy – highlights its importance, she’s able to get a message out better than Smith did. I don’t want to knock her as a potential shadow Treasurer, but with the election reasonably close and a new leadership team, I think you need someone in that slot with economic portfolio experience – ie either stick with Swan, or give it to Tanner.
Btw – heads up to some fine photoshopping from Rowen:
http://www.rowen.id.au/blog/2006/12/alp-leadership-spill/
That Mr Ludwig does say the silliest things, in the most vulgar way possible. I supose he thinks that swear words make people cry. He really needs to catch a plane out of FNQ. Actually, I wonder what Mr Ludwig will do when a national IR system not designed by Howard takes hold?
I think we will be hearing a little less from Mr Ludwig in the future, who has shown he is well and truly a fat overfed pussy cat, as opposed to the factional warrior of his unappealing imagining. Ha ha
Lefty E, I did mention some of your areas for bribes in this post in another thread.
I agree that Childcare (and education vouchers) are potentially useful bribes.
On the other hand, Pensions target voters who are fairly set in their political ways.
Neither of them add up to the electoral muscle of Howard’s housing bribes.
And housing indebtedness hits the same folks who want childcare, so that one may be blunted at the next federal election.
I can understand your reticence to like Emerson, but I hold a lot of respect for his work with the UN, qualifications and the principled stand he has taken on other issues like racism and ‘wedge politics’ in the past. It would be a nice change to have a shadow treasurer who’s really qualified for a change.
That said, I’m a Tanner fan-boy, too, but do you really think he’ll get a portfolio that big?
Quite possible, I think.
“Beazley forces” say he will…
There are quite a lot of excellent Australian political blogs which aren’t very well known, only have a small readership, but do good (if overlooked) work…
Which would hit Labor hard, as they didn’t go that far in their last policy on childcare. Of course, the ALP can try and spin it that tax deductions only work for high earners/high tax-payers, but as soon as you say ‘tax deduction’ to the average Aussie voter, I think you have them hooked…
Gillard could be good with IR – She certainly attracts attention and it would highlight the importance the portfolio is viewed with by Labour – and the Victorian experience of having the Deputy as not-Treasurer has worked fairly well… so, it could be good.
And the Liberal Dirt Unit has swung into action already -
http://www.sameoldlabor.com/
I must admit it’s clever though.
I definitely agree with that Aus article… Swan and Smith will not retain their positions under Rudd. I hope Tanner gets treasury. I don’t fancy Albanese’s chances either… Garrett would look better in Environment… but that might freak the right out a bit.
I think Education will feature highly in the next election… all the signs seem to point that way. A voucher system for private schooling would be the natural step for the Howard Government to take.
Give IR to Gillard – that’ll confuse this Ludwig bloke.
Thanks for that, Nico. I’ll certainly have a look with a view to including some on the blogroll.
My comment really related to the fact that the “around the blogosphere” story was in the same order as the technorati feed, indicating slackness on the part of the writer.
I think it’s all just delightful. Rudd is a fine worker. I want both Emerson and Tanner to have a higher profile than they currently do, which isn’t to say that I don’t think Swan is good in the role. He really is.
Cliff, there are too many places in Australia where a voucher system wouldn’t work, unless it meant ‘differential’ vouchers. Differential vouchers, while fine in theory, would reveal how much country people are subsidised when it comes to schooling.
Also administrative costs would be a nightmare, particularly with a mobile population.
Gillard with IR: Interesting idea. It would say “IR is our number one priority” and put a real attack dog it the role. It would let Gilly have a crack at Nelson who is too smug.
But I don’t think it will happen however.
Is there a list anywhere of exactly which mps voted for whom?
You mean Kevin Andrews, I think.
There’s a lot of good blogs around with all sorts of good articles and comment – unfortunately you won’t come across them on Google by looking by topic. You at least have to Go Google –> News —> then down to Search blogs – before you get anything at all and then it only goes back about a year or less.
See excellent post by david barista for more depth on the topic. In fact I move that the LP apparatchiks should ask if they can respectfully recommended to the politburo and central committee if they can repost Tiley’s piece here.
In my capacity as Comrade #1, I’ll email David now, FXH.
“IR is our number one priority”???
But the grammar is appalling!
What is with the Liberals ‘same old Labor’ site? While my two year old is asking to see it again (and he obviously needs more Socialist brainwashing), would an adult actually take it credibly? Or is it some very sneaky Labor counter-insurgency measure? Very juvenile.
Flash must be wiped from the earth!
This message has been brought to you by the Union of Soviet Socialist Dialup-Internet Users.To be honest, when I first checked out that Liberal website I thought it depicted Greg Combet and Sharan Burrow having a root. I was so very glad when I realised that wasn’t the intent, but was merely a byproduct of poor animation.
Rudd did well on the 7 30 report, I thought.
Just watched Rudd on the ABC. Performance was superb. And that praise is from someone who doesn’t like the man at a personal level.
A Latham he ain’t.
He did come over well with Red Kezza. And finally Peter Garrett will be on the front bench.
According to ABC TV News in Perth, Former Natioanl ALP Secretary Gary Gray is tipped to stand in Brand if Beazley decides to retire.
I just hope that Beazer doesn’t quit before the Federal Election, as there is currently a By-Election for the State seat of Peel, which covers parts of Brand, for Discraced Small Business Minister Norm Marlborough, who quit due to his association wwith former Premier Brian burke and is subject to a Crime and Corruption Commission Hearing into Burke’s dealings as a Lobbyist.
RE Garratt on the Front Bench, prepare for the Liberal Dirt Unit to start analysing Midnight Oil Lyrics for any hidden messages etc.
Some other blog reaction:
Anonymous Lefty seems to be still rather upset about Greens vs. Labor stoushes a few weeks ago:
http://anonymouslefty.blogspot.com/2006/12/duh-vs-meh.html
Leftwrites contributors fear that Rudd is more right-wing than Beazley:
http://www.leftwrites.net/2006/12/02/whats-at-stake-in-labors-leadership-battle/#comment-17936
And that Rudd was installed by a Murdoch conspiracy complete with faked polls:
http://www.leftwrites.net/2006/12/04/murdoch-tears-down-labor-leader/#more-547
To be fair to Leftwrites commenters, some do point out implausibilities in this take in the comments thread.
I don’t think the Libs will have to look hard for meaning on the Oils lyrics. They were pretty open in their politics. I don’t think targetting Garret over his lyrics will work anyway. Given the Oils 10 to 1 was the best ranked Aussie album in last night’s travesty of a show on ABC there is still a resonance with the public that could work for Labor.
And the Oils of course have plenty of working class cred, of course. Speaking of which, I thought the way Ruddy spun the jobs/manufacturing/skills issue was very clever. One to win over the “Howard battlers”.
shaun – not to mention Oils were big on the christian bit.
I would caution Garrett not to have ago at Kimbo ‘dancing” to Barnsey – pot – kettle.
Yes Mark, the pitch on industry policy is no bad thing, and I liked it – even beyond electorally. The decline in value added exports under Howard has been nothing short of disastrous, only partly obscured by high primary commodity values. Its simply not the case that Howard has some unimpeachable economic record, and I like that signal he’s sending there.
But here’s a question for those in the ALP know (which Im not): Is it Creanite industry policy (with capital letters), or Keating’s version (cut tariffs but have the odd targeted export subsidy scheme)?
It’s probably a fight between the two!
I liked Gillard’s performance on Lateline. She said all the right things.
Glad that Rudd and Gillard won – there’s an image that new people are in charge. The hangover from Hawke and Keating is gone. The ALP needed this.
Rudd showed he’s unflappable and that his brain works faster than Kerry’s. He’s the only Labor leader in memory including Keating who got to say pretty much what he wanted to say in an interview with Kezza.
I liked his emphasis on sorting out the levels of government thing and presumably he has a decent understanding of this from his days with Goss.
I understand that Rudd asked a question about lower productivity rates in question time today. This might be part of a theme going up to the next election – Don Russell talked tonight at an ALP meeting about collective bargaining helping to improve productivity rates and its absence doing the converse.
The argument can be made that Howard is neglecting Australia’s future by his legislation on collective bargaining.
His quip “Howard’s happy for us to be China’s quarry and Japan’s beach”. That’s gold.
The argument can also be made that people should have the ability to collectively bargain if they want to.
Off to bed soon – getting up for gym early in the morning, and I have to get enough sleep in any event as I have a lots of different activities to do in December – and I wanted it to be a not-so-busy month!
Gillard was on a high on Lateline. Didn’t even dodge the inevitable question about her leadership ambitions – her answer to which translates as “yeah, well one day I’m likely to have a crack at it.” The rhetoric about a new style is more than words at this stage.
Amongst those at work, who are normally entirely disengaged from politics or at least think that it is only polite that they should feign complete ignorance, there was an actual degree of interest in the result today. Breakthru already.
Ah, the first few days are always the best.
rudd really needs better speech-writers and media advisers. ‘the fork in the road’ and ‘the bridge too far’ managed to overshadow the content of his acceptance speech. all the news bulletins, and 7.30 report edited them together.
he also needs to drop his fondness for lame jokes, and the boring sloganeering as well. It was the one of the reasons he never cut through on awb and iraq – his message was always lost trying to provide a punchline or headline. memo to kev – sub-editors will do this for you…
he was better on the 7.30 report, kerry picked up on the new ‘style’ of leadership spin – rather than ‘new leadership’…. can we send a copy of don watson’s death sentence as a primer to labor spin doctors (who should be de-registered, surely for their job to date)
if rudd can learn not to let himself be rushed to answer – like ratty – who takes as much time as he wants to answer – he might scrub up.
gillard on lateline was a v. happy camper – she’s a natural.
btw – howard is looking very tanned and relaxed, i think he’s channelling george hamilton – which is so not right. i hope he keeps the tan up – it makes him look like he’s been on holidays & therefore not looking after the country. They should change the bulb on his desk lamp….heehee.
I thought I could see Gillard’s mind saying, “After two terms I’ll be PM.” Good on her.
Yeah, that’s an excellent observation. Howard will twitch the brows, give the lip a bit of a quiver, and then and only then, launch into a coherent side-step of the question.
Rudd’s a pretty slick unit but he does have some front of camera flaws that need ironing out. And we’ve only got 6 months or so to fix ‘em. So keep the suggestions coming, jo.
My minor contribution would be that he lose the pursed lipped “Good to be with you Kerry/Tony” salutation. Not suggesting he go with the full “Thanks, mate” approach, but he does need to tone down his suburban Sunday morning vestible schtick a touch. She’s a wide brown land he’s seeking to win over.
so wbb – you’d stick him in howard’s brown akubra squatters hat? Shit the bugger wears RM’s with his bloody suit already – that’s close to losing my vote. RM’s with a suit!!! Keating will be turning in his grav
e(itas) sartorialness.So far I’ve rationalised by saying to myself:
” At least they’re not the cuban heeled ones”
FXH, RM’s were TEH THING in Europe last winter. Seriously, every high-end shoe store I went into were proudly selling them. I dunno about this year though, I think they have done their dash.
Wears RMs does he, Father? Do you have a 42″ LCD? I have trouble picking up that sort of dtl thru me rabbit-ears. I know he wears glasses though. Bloody hell those shots of him in the 1970s. It rivals early Howard. At least we know the next election’ll be about substance. Anti-charisma explosion.
Howard has substance as well as glasses?
THe Oz is NEVER satisfied – They were the ones driving this, and it went their way, and they STILL whinge.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20870754-601,00.html
Editorial: New leader, same old problems
December 05, 2006
Kevin Rudd must use the honeymoon period to address the fundamental issues keeping the ALP from office
A DREAM-TEAM honeymoon for newly elected Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd and his deputy, Julia Gillard, is sure to enliven the politics of the holiday period and add a new dimension to Prime Minister John Howard’s calculations for a poll next year. If Mr Rudd can use the honeymoon to cut through to voters in a way that Kim Beazley proved unable to do, he will have the opportunity, with new policies, to make Labor a more competitive force. Mr Rudd has the luxury of not owing his new position to factional loyalties and as a result is equipped to make personnel and portfolio changes based on merit. Non-performers, including industrial relations spokesman Stephen Smith, should be replaced. Talented backbenchers such as Craig Emerson and Peter Garrett should be given the opportunity to help develop new policies and perform. How Mr Rudd handles the unwinding of Mr Beazley’s deadly embrace with the union movement will be crucial to his long-term success.
Enough with the Tony Blair smash the relationship with the unions thing!
Message to News Ltd: Aint gonna get what you want.
Making headlines from last night’s 7.30 report interview: Rudd demanding control over the makeup of the frontbench.
Note: not “Mr Rudd said he would recommend Mr Garrett to Caucus”. By identifying himself with what appears to be a surge to Garrett, Rudd gets a chance to control the process – and avoid an open ballot (?) while promoting an ‘outsider’ figure.
Rudd is clearly moving quickly to seize authority early on. If anyone opposes him, he is daring them to defy his public authority, while the fact that the Senate leadership positions remain unchanged demonstrate that he is willing to negotiate and not lash out in revenge at Beazley’s supporters.
Based on Rudd’s performance, I predict an orderly, nomination process on Thursday, with the number of candidates matching the number of vacancies. Rudd will be forced to accept some compromises but will promote enough new talent that he will be able to talk about cross-factional generational renewal.
Other parts of the 7.30 report interview that have stuck with me:
Manufacturing. I agree this will appeal to the ‘Howard battlers’ – as well as the unions. I think I saw an interview with Rudd saying he does not support higher tarriffs…will try to find it again.
He pwnd Kerry O’Brien twice:
Firstly when he was talking about federalism and Red Kez said ‘its not exactly a bbq stopper is it?’
Rudd said (approximately): That’s a rather Canberra-centric view, Kerry…he went on to relate the issue to the funding of your local hospital. Delivery not quite as slick as it could have been, but clever.
And secondly when O’Brien called him an ‘apparatchik’. Rudd talked about how “I grew up in rural Queensland, I’ve run my own business, I’ve worked in an embassy”, and wondered out loud why O’Brien would take out just a few years of Rudd’s career to draw a picture of him.
He spits out his ‘p’s and ‘c’s ‘In my time in the _P_remier’s department’ and that can make him sound bitter.
I thought it sounded powerful when he said that people wanted more than an ‘echo’ of Howard.
Clearly now is the time for a Labor leader to attempt to impose his authority over the factions.
The ALP has suffered a decade of defeat and instability at the top.
Yet, the Howard government looks vulnerable and reactive, with the smell of decay about it. A disciplined ALP can roll Howard. Surely this is the Great White Whale for Federal Labor — the prospect of Howard’s protuberant lower lip quivering almost imperceptably under the glare of TV lights on a late Saturday night in October 2007.
But all Rudd can do is beg the factions not to present him with no-talent loyalists. If they choose to ignore him, they can.
And institutionally, the democratic power of the caucus is always available to fuel factional warfare. Until federal members are answerable to their constituency membership in real, viable branches, the apparatchiks will reign supreme.
Also — memo to Rudd: Stay away from extended metaphors. That whole “bridge too far” thing reeked of phoneyness.
Yeah, he’s clever, and got ideas, but he’s got a bit of work to do on presenting his arguments. There a bit too much of the Stott-Despoja school of debating about him eg “(deep breath) My team and I have done extensive research, and come to the orbvious conclusion that….yada yada”.
Other than that, seemed to kick off pretty well.
To which Garrett’s obvious comeback will be that the lyrics in question were actually written by Rob Hirst and/or Jim Moginie.
A more interesting question is whether Peter Garrett will be given a portfolio such as Environment or Aboriginal Affairs on which he has a long and very public prior history of robust stances which might be too bolshie for Federal Labor to fully embrace, in which case he stands to be pilloried by erstwhile allies as a sell-out whenever he presents the Caucus line, or whether he will be given the opportunity to apply his talents to a policy area on which he doesn’t have a past to either live up to or live down.
Poor old AWU – now neither of the two most influential and well-known people in the Queensland ALP are in the faction or owe any debts to it.
Yeah, bugger Australia’s Worst Union. What have they done for us lately? When I was a manager in the disability support sector, all they did was come in and undercut other unions deals, doing sweetheart deals with management. Dropped the payrate $2 per hour for the support workers, compared to the ASU award. Screw them.
I reckon Garrett should go Enviro and Indigenous Affairs. One could be too precious about “portfolio integrity” while in oppositon, Im not sure it matters.
Garrett could take 3-4% of the Greens vote in the role. Even as a Greens supporter, I’ll gladly pay that one-off price to see Howard’s concession speech on constant loop in the Byron Lounge at Keating Towers.
He’s also the best chance of taking back the Howard battlers vote. People with thank Latho for that one day.
The declining influence of the AWU over labour movement politics in Qld has done nothing but good for that state, and will improve things immeasurably in the country as a whole. The AWU is not a union, it is a ramshackle coalition of conservative forces with only a tangential relationship to the workforce of the 20th century, and none whatsoever to the workforce of the 21st century.
Bill is yesterday’s man, and the ramshackle group of forces he controls will become increasingly uncontrollable as time moves on and the fallout from the constitutional timebomb detonated by the High Court decision, spreads its magic solvent.
Back in the period of union “rationalisation” under the Hawke/Keating government and later Accords, the AWU was notorious for winkling its way into “Principle Union” status at mine sites, giving it exclusive coverage of workers at those sites – and then presiding over the complete deunionisation of the mines.
Fast forward to 1999, and Bill Ludwig is one of just three Queensland public figures to oppose the State government’s south-east Queensland forest agreement – the others being Rob Borbidge and Pauline Hanson.
Julia has a great response to the “will you challenge for the Leadership” question:
Fantastic! She is not afraid to mix with the boys, but remains all girl.
I LOVE HER!!