The Gillard Government

[drsmith]

Tony Windsor has finally come to the realisation that all that's left to defend is the legacy of his decision to support Gillard Labor in forming government. He's clearly bitterly disappointed that in the dying days of this government, he's defending it mostly against forces within the party he supported to form government.

That's the bitter pill he's finding hard to swallow for the choice he made after the 2010 election. He could only trust Julia Gillard because of the power he and Rob Oakeshott together wielded within this government.

http://media.watoday.com.au/news/national-times/windsor-leaning-towards-abbott-4520610.html

 

[sptrawler]

So the fight for control of the Labor party continues. Will the Unions keep cotrol, or will Rudd and the moderates take over. What a tele movie.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...ck-julia-gillard/story-fnii5s41-1226670092584

 

[drsmith]

As Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott run for the hills, the ABC also understands the Rudd forces are storming the beaches,

The ABC understands that supporters of former prime minister Kevin Rudd have been circulating a petition to call a special Caucus meeting to hold a ballot on the Labor leadership.

It is believed the petition to remove Julia Gillard as leader has been gathering signatures since just before midday.

Under Caucus rules, a petition of one-third of Labor MPs is one way for a special meeting to be called and the leadership to be tested.

Follow our blog for updates as they happen.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-26/live-blog-labor-leadership/4782312

 

[Calliope]

It's on.

KEVIN Rudd will challenge Julia Gillard for the Labor leadership tomorrow morning.

A petition for a ballot circulated among Labor MPs is believed to now have the required numbers for a spill of the PM.

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed that the special caucus meeting has been called for tomorrow morning. However, the timing is not yet known.

The Daily Telegraph can confirm that Mr Rudd will contest the ballot.

“There is enough signatures,” said a key Rudd backer.

“We expect it tomorrow.”

The PM’s office claimed it was unaware of the petition for a ballot

.

 

[drsmith]

It's on.

Question time should be more interesting today.

 

[MrBurns]

Question time should be more interesting today.

Not really she's acting like she's still in charge, straight jacket required:screwy:

 

[drsmith]

Not really she's acting like she's still in charge, straight jacket required:screwy:

It's interesting she's chosen not to bring it on this time.

Her performance today is a last ditch pitch to those sitting behind her.

 

[Julia]

If nothing else at least these guys had the conviction to stand behind their beliefs, however misguided they might have been.

Aren't they elected to represent the wishes and views of their electorate? Both electorates, as I understand it, were of a conservative focus, and dismayed when their representatives sided with Labor/Greens.

Listening to Tony Windsor's frequent intense rants of hatred toward Tony Abbott, I have the impression the main principle involved was a determination to deprive the Coalition of the leadership.

It's on.

.

Has Rudd actually confirmed he is standing?

 

[Miss Hale]

Did I hear Windsor blubbering when he was talking about leaving parliament and taking his 21 year old son on a trip to Africa? Can we please go back to the days when everyone maintained a stiff upper lip? The tears don't make you look human they make you look like a dill Everyone has to make sacrifices in their life and many parents don't see as much of their children as they would like, especially those working two jobs to pay the bills as opposed to MPs on their generous salaries and perks

 

[db94]

Can Abbott pass a vote of no confidence if they challenge and Rudd succeeds? surely itd pass too. Could be an election sooner then we think (thank god)

 

[dutchie]

Question time should be more interesting today.

Abbott and Pyne just cut them to pieces.

 

[drsmith]

Abbott and Pyne just cut them to pieces.

Most of the Labor side left the house for the Abbott/Pyne speeches. I don't know if that's normal or not for suspensions of standing orders. House is dividing now.

As for Kevin Rudd himself, is this reflective of the state of the Rudd beachhead ?

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Did I hear Windsor blubbering when he was talking about leaving parliament and taking his 21 year old son on a trip to Africa? Can we please go back to the days when everyone maintained a stiff upper lip? The tears don't make you look human they make you look like a dill Everyone has to make sacrifices in their life and many parents don't see as much of their children as they would like, especially those working two jobs to pay the bills as opposed to MPs on their generous salaries and perks

Yeh I agree, sort of. I think if the emotion is there then there's not much point suppressing it. But I'd much prefer a leader who is a bit beyond all that.

Mr Bouris for PM.

 

[Julia]

Did I hear Windsor blubbering when he was talking about leaving parliament and taking his 21 year old son on a trip to Africa? Can we please go back to the days when everyone maintained a stiff upper lip? The tears don't make you look human they make you look like a dill Everyone has to make sacrifices in their life and many parents don't see as much of their children as they would like, especially those working two jobs to pay the bills as opposed to MPs on their generous salaries and perks

+1. I detest the weeping.
Suddenly there's all this emotion from Windsor and Oakeshott, some sort of epiphany that hey, I've just realised I don't see enough of my family. Only took me 22 years to figure this out. I guess it sounds better to their egocentric little hearts than "Hell, I'll probably lose so I'll avoid that ignominy."

The other factor, at least as far as Windsor is concerned, is that he seems to think the writing is on the wall for K. Rudd to take over, and he could not bring himself to support that, leaving him with the similarly unacceptable option of supporting Tony Abbott. The choice of retiring seems entirely preferable.

 

[Knobby22]

+1. I detest the weeping.
The choice of retiring seems entirely preferable.

Yes, he can just stay out in the wings till the election.
I wonder if he abstains in a no confidence motion whether that would cause the election date to be changed or whether it wouldn't make any difference.

 

[dutchie]

From Pickering..

 

[drsmith]

Andrew Wilkie and Tony Crook have been approached by Team Rudd on how they would respond to a no-confidence motion (ABC24).

 

[chops_a_must]

Aren't they elected to represent the wishes and views of their electorate? Both electorates, as I understand it, were of a conservative focus, and dismayed when their representatives sided with Labor/Greens.

Well, they got for their electorates more than what they would have with a coalition government.

The irony at the moment is that coalition policies are extremely detrimental to rural and regional areas.

 

[db94]

Ballot 7pm tonight!!

 

[drsmith]

Ballot 7pm tonight!!

She's conceded the beaches and wants to cut them off at the pass before team Rudd gets too many of their forces across the sand.

Gillard's terms for the ballot is for the loser leave parliament, assuming there's a challenger.

It's interesting that while Team Gillard has tried to draw Kevin Rudd out, she's been drawn out herself.