Gillard wins 71 – 31
February 27th, 2012 at 1:25 pm by David FarrarGillard has won 71 votes to 31. I think this is the highest margin in any contested leadership ballot for the ALP leadership.
Kevin Rudd will never be leader again, and I suspect never be a Minister again.
However I don’t think Gillard is entirely safe. If her poll ratings do not improve, then one or more other challengers will arise. Towards the end of this year is a key time for possible change.
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February 27th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
The best of all possible worlds. Kevni humiliated, Julia stays to (mis)guide Labor for at least the next six months.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
lmao Rudd must be a real bastard
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Rudd seems to have been motivated by personal enmity towards Gillard rather a rational review of his support from his caucus colleagues and must raise serious questions about his judgement. Even if Gillard self destructs before the election, which must remain a distinct possibility Rudd has now burned his bridges as an alternative option for Labor.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
It was probably more effective for RUDD to have held off until after the election.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Kevin Rudd has immediately said (stuff) that he will now sit happily on the back benches. Lets just say that’s a statement from a politician.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Mark speaking with my sister in law she believes he did it for payback to Gillard, no matter if he lost he would make sure she will be replaced before the next election.
Vote:Of course one could argue that those voting for Gillard were Abbott supporters.
February 27th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Never say never in politics. He is still more popular with the public than Julia or the party and there is a very good chance Julia will lead Labour to a historic defeat and take a bunch of the current caucus with her.
The next time they have to do the numbers for leadership it may be a very different party in a very different situation….
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Kevin should now resign and force a by election…
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Ginga witch makes me proud to be an Anglo Saxon
Vote:That is not to mean shes a good witch.
February 27th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
1. Kevin Rudd (apart from in 07) was not a popular prime minister. His support was going down the gurgler bigtime by the time Gillard came along. It’s one of the reasons they rolled him, apart from the fact it is said he was an ass to work with.
2. While his resignation would force a byelection, his electoral division has been held by Labor since 1977 (apart from a couple of years in the mid-90s) so it would be safe to assume the seat would remain Labor-held. At any rate, the Government has a two-seat majority in the House of Representatives so I don’t see what your point is.
3. If, as many on here claim, Labor MPs are voting for certain electoral defeat by retaining Julia Gillard, I don’t want to hear the phrase “staying in power at any cost” ever again.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
If Rudd is never going to be Leader or even a Minister then what is the point of staying on, he may as well resign. Is that what Gillard wants. Though I imagine Peter Beattie could be drafted to save the seat for Labour.
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Has Rudd started making excuses yet?
Vote:February 27th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Who cares. It’s over now. Move along.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:06 am
Gillard’s win was the largest in the ALP’s 120-year history. But this sad saga has no winners, Australia has lost a most competent Foreign Minister.
Rudd’s main problem is his super ego = he wants to be everything. He is a micro manager with an explosive temper, according to some of his colleagues, the leaked clip of him losing his rag was mild by his standards.
Rejecting him was a brave move- the polls show Rudd to be immensely popular and capable of beating the Libs at the next election, But they still turned away from then, even many MPs in marginal seats.
Rudd is a great campaigner, clever, funny and personable, it is no wonder people flock to him.But he is no leader. Having leadership qualities is born into you, you can learn the skills of leadership, but leaders are born not made.
So the choice was really no choice at all. It was between a popular leader who can’t run the company, or a less popular leader who can.
I am sure we haven’t heard the last of KRudd. My suspicion is he will resign at the next election and be appointed an ambassador, China would be ideal as he has fluent Mandarin.
Strangely while all this was going on, a Newspoll showed Labor up five points!
A bbott remains Labor’s greatest hope for 2013. He is seen as slippery and untrustworthy – a man who once admitted that anything he said unless it was written down. nHe is a rabid Catholic and there are suspicions regarding his mental state.
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Now, of course, the rightwing journos in Australia (and that is practically everybody) will now have tio get off their bums and do some work…..
Vote:February 28th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
“Towards the end of this year is a key time for possible change”
Vote:DONT BLOODY TELL THEM THAT!!?!#$