WORKING IN KEVIN’S “DUNGEON”
Many of us can recall when Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister and jovially liked to refer to his office as “Stalag Kevin”.
He was being urged by his parliamentary colleagues to relax his workaholic ways.
I ran into then Labor MP, Maxine McKew at Parliament House and asked her what it was like to work for Mr. Rudd.
She grimaced. “It’s like being kept in a dungeon,” she replied.
I recall the fleeting exchange precisely, (but not the date, unfortunately) because it confirmed what others had told me.
I had found myself sitting next to Labor MPs at various functions during the Rudd regime and had heard pretty much the same thing – that he was a micro-manager who was loathe to give those he worked with responsibility. Many were forbidden to speak publicly about their own portfolios, and that this was leading to great dissatisfaction with the ranks.
I haven’t read Ms. McKew’s book Tales From the Political Trenches but I will be interested to see if she details her time working for PM Rudd and the frustration she felt back then.
A quick look back at stories from early PM Rudd days and you come up with many that detail his obsessive work ethic.
In 2008 Fairfax said he had “reportedly churned through half his staff since coming to power in November. He has lost six diary secretaries in as many months.”
“Federal government ministers, staff and unions have reportedly told Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to relax his workaholic attitudes and huge expectations or risk a political backlash.
“Mr Rudd’s biggest concern is a brewing public service revolt. The Commonwealth Public Sector Union (CPSU) – representing more than 60,000 federal employees and hundreds of political staff – is preparing for a showdown over conditions, including longer hours.”
It’s a distant echo of a quote from Ms. McKew’s book: ”Gillard exercises top-down control over her office. Her forensic attention to detail sets her apart and her careful planning of every career move is legendary.
“I remembered some of my own experiences working in her office. A speech I’d prepared for a Sydney Institute presentation in 2009 was vetted and parsed by three separate Gillard staffers before I was ‘allowed’ to deliver it. Nothing happened without Gillard’s say-so,” she writes.
Which makes me wonder whether this “top-down control” is something that is perhaps part and parcel of the whole job of being PM, or whether the ALP has been just unlucky enough to strike two control freaks in succession.
Ms. McKew was an ABC journalist before winning the seat of Bennelong for Labor at the 2007 election, defeating John Howard. Ms. McKew served as Parliamentary Secretary for Early Chilhood Education and Childcare and later as Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. She lost the seat at the 2010 election.
There is no doubt in my mind that we didn’t hear enough from the talented Ms.McKew during her time as an MP. There was many a story doing the rounds that she may have expected a more prominent role for her toppling of the then Prime Minister, John Howard.
For whatever reason, it wasn’t to be. Perhaps in her new book we shall find out why.
As a journalist, Ms. McKew wrote a regular column for the Bulletin in which she interviewed prominent and powerful Australians. The Australian Financial Review called her “one of the top ten exercisers of covert power in Australia.” She was skilled in eliciting details that perhaps some wished they hadn’t revealed.
She is quoted as saying: ”People have a nervous collapse when I’ve actually broken through and got someone to say something honest. It is either regarded as a gaffe, or people say they must have been drunk, or publicly musing aloud, or they didn’t realise the tape was running, or I must have had oral sex with them under the table. I find it absurd.”
So there is no doubt that there are revelations aplenty to come.
Many will ask of Ms.McKew’s assertion that Julia Gillard was a “disloyal deputy” and “conspirator” in the coup that brought her to power: “why now”?
Some will see the hand of Kevin Rudd at play here. But I always think of that exchange with Ms. McKew and wonder, if there is an alliance between them, how she got over her dissatisfaction of having him for a boss?
That’s politics, I guess.
More than that, I wonder whether Australians (those who are not in the Press Gallery) have an appetite for raking over the machinations of what transpired during those turbulent days when Ms. Gillard came to power?
Perhaps it will be just more evidence that most of us just don’t have the “ticker” for it all.
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*Cover image via News Ltd.
61 Responses to this article
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Sarah October 26, 2012
Just another attempt by Kevin and his phone booth full of supporters trying to destroy the PM.
Seems his need for revenge is more important than stopping Abbott and his Coalition of useless men from getting power.
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David October 26, 2012
Come 2013 when Julia finally wipes the floor with the Ruddites and wins Govt in a majority victory, the McKews and Tanners of this world will get their comeuppance. Their petulance and need to cleanse themselves already shows them as weak, narrow, forgettable has beens
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TraceyA October 26, 2012
Interesting read Wendy. Your last paragraph resonated with me. I can’t help thinking that Maxine McKew’s book will be met with an almightly shrug of indifference by all but a few fevered souls in the media.
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oma October 26, 2012
hi wendy,, the majority of the country i feel have
moved on,,
when things dont go how you plan in life, the path is open for you to move in a another direction make
negatives turn in to positives.well thats what i find any way, we have all been there
and moving on doing other things makes one feel happy and worth while in another area. -
nellae October 26, 2012
Having read and seen the biased reporting against PM Gillard in todays newspapers and on commercial television re this book, would love to see your article in mainstream media Wendy.
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Carole/m October 26, 2012
Hear, Hear, Sarah & David, well put.
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puffytmd October 26, 2012
I don’thave the ticker for raking over cold coals. Iam interested in what’s ahead, not what’s behind. The prospect of a Coalition Federal government, especially one with Anthony Abbott at its head, is frightening.
For women, workers and the lower income groups it will be a nightmare. I couldn’t care less what happened when Rudd lost his job. I am worried about ours.
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Jacqueline October 26, 2012
I see that Maxine has quoted The Anonymous Labor Party Source, so beloved of journalists these days, to bolster her claim that the PM was a disloyal deputy. If you can’t name him don’t use him . You lost your seat, Maxine. Suck it up and move on. Perhaps Tony Abbott will give you a job now.
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Steve October 26, 2012
What ? Control freaks get promoted into senior management positions – SHOCK! HORROR!
I always believed the meek would inherit the earth (if that’s OK with you) -
Girl99 October 26, 2012
Maxine’s beef seems to be that she didn’t get the recognition she deserved – she wanted a starring role in politics. Well, she was voted out quick smart, so her shining career was cut short. She blamed everyone else then. Maybe she coulda been a contender. But she wasn’t. She coulda been an independent but she hasn’t. Now she’s whingeing again. No one cares. Move on Maxine.
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Marnie October 26, 2012
An entire book has been written by Ms McKew. Is this one little snippet about the PM the best the media could come up with in their determination to undermine Julia Gillard? Do the publishers think that it is a big enough teaser to have people flocking to buy the book to see what else was said? It is one woman’s view of HISTORY. It may be an interesting read but we need to realise that someone is using the Ms McKew’s book to push a political agenda again.
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Lindy October 26, 2012
I agree move on, I have seen the salivation of the media about this “tell all” book and am sick of it already.I am glad that Julia Gillard is Prime Minister of this country and so is my 68 year old husband. We, like many, were happy to see Mr.Rudd as Prime Minister but became increasingly concerned about his ability to actually govern. I will always be proud of his speech to the stolen generation but could also see that he was increasingly trying to control everything… do you remember his long winded replies to Dorothy Dixes in Parliament. He is now popping up everywhere including on tv in England, a coordinated effort by McKew seems to be the game plan but the answer is no Kevin.
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Steve MacNeil October 26, 2012
The past is an indicator of the future. Both Rudd and Gillard are being exposed for what they are.
What did Richo say? “Whatever it takes”!-
Ella October 26, 2012
Steve Mac, do you mean like TA, who told the independents that he would “Do Whatever It Took” if they supported him?
They were so disgusted by him, they decided to support JG.
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Bev October 26, 2012
Steve – Wendy is right. Most of us have moved on but what Richo did say, this morning on SkyAgenda, was reality.
Richo said PM Gillard was brought in to it the day before Rudd was chucked by Caucus. There was no scheming or plotting by Gillard. McKew is doing Kevin’s dirty work and it drags her down.
McKew, a very new and inexperienced MP, would need to have had speeches vetted carefully to make sure they complied with Party policy and Govt. thinking. Gillard’s staff were right to protect their boss and the Govt.
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AnotherRob October 26, 2012
Maxine appears to be suffering from a terminal episode of Attention Defecit Disorder. Like Abbot she is incapable of accepting her own failure. She was a wholy unremarkable member for Bennalong, incapable of cementing her position there. Is now atempting to whitewash her lack of performance by blaming everyone else for her failure.
Move on Maxine, you failed and are no longer of interest.-
Ella October 26, 2012
Maxine could have, should have, would have but did not. Sour grapes – never attractive, move on and do something constractive Maxine.
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Carole/m October 26, 2012
One of the big differences between Rudd and Gillard would be Outcomes. No good working harder and longer if your not achieving good outcomes.
As far as top down control, why would
you have it any other way.If you’re the Boss the buck stops with you, you’re responsible for the success or failure of your company or in this case, your government.
As for the speech writing going through three people before getting to the Boss, I call that , Time Management.
Re Mckews book , if your going to write a book like this, at least have the guts to name names ,
anonymous source doesn’t cut it with me. -
Helen October 26, 2012
Spot on Wendy! Rudd was a complete disaster and Maxine sadly didn’t live up to the promise she showed in the Bennelong campaign. She and Lindsay Tanner and the rest of them that are no longer in Parliament shoudl find something else to do – how about typing up the neighborhood watch news for starters? Go Julia!
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Carole/m October 26, 2012
@ Steve MacNeil
” Whatever it takes”
Think you left out Tony Abbott and the LNP,
Sexism / Misogyny / Personal Abuse / Blatant Lies/ Vote against everything even when it’s In the best interests of the country / Talk down the Economy /. …….I could go on.
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sue October 26, 2012
No surprises who was the journalist from the Fairfax stable to have the “exclusive’ with Maxine, none other than Peter Hartcher. Talk about boring, just how many positive articles has Hartcher written on PM Gillard and how many articles has he written that without Rudd Labor will lose in 2013?
As to Maxine, lets wait and see how long it takes for the book to move to the sale tables. -
Sue October 26, 2012
Funny how high profile journalists such as Mckew and Mary Delahunty disappoint as politicians. Celebrity is good for winning preselection and a seat, but is no preparation for the hard work of being a local member.
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Hannah October 26, 2012
Not sure I’ll read the book or not yet. However, it seems to me that once Ms McKew toppled Howard, she felt perhaps a little more entitled than she was as a newby. I’m glad she toppled Howard, he deserved to be ousted, especially from a safe seat. However, toppling the ‘king’ doesn’t make you the next ‘king’ when you live in a supposedly egalitarian democracy.
Now, Ms McKew might have legitimate things to say, and publication dates are set by publishers, not authors, but upfront, it is hard to see it as anything but a long, festering dummy spit and a lack of limelight.
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Sandra October 26, 2012
Maxine…another bitter twisted Labor member who’s loyalty to the party couldn’t have been very strong at the beginning…the Labor Party can do without the likes of maxine…Latham…Tanner & Richardson…all has beens who will never be remembered for their loyalty to a great party. Gone and better forgotten.
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sally October 26, 2012
I had an acquaintance who had experience working on an aid project with Rudd when he was PM.
Her stories of his workaholism and the way the staff were driven, regardless of health and sleep requirements, were delivered with glowing admiration.
I remember thinking “Is that even legal??”.
It sounded horrendous to me. -
Kate October 26, 2012
I’ve had enough of both of them to be honest. Any good that Rudd or Maxine may have done is being undone by this game playing. Urghhh.
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Caroline B October 26, 2012
Great article Wendy. I thought Rudd was a fabulous PM & in the top job, you have to be on top of every detail, so I’m hardly surprised he would have been highly demanding & difficult to work with. Maybe he would have relaxed a bit more as he got more settled into the job & delegated more, allowed his ministers to speak more etc…… but this will be just one of history’s many unanswered questions.
I also agree that Maxine McKew was an amazing talent squandered – universally respected, smart, obvious high integrity & hard-working – & yet we saw so little of her while she was in parliament, which made her re-election much more difficult last time. More to the point was the collapse of her support among traditional Lib supporters from Chinese-background in her electorate who held Rudd in such high regard & went back to the Libs when he was knifed. So I empathise greatly with McKew & have little doubt that her seat would have been a lot easier to defend if Rudd was still leader at the last election – but politics is swings & roundabouts, Gillard’s leadership was a liability in McKew’s electorate but an asset to other seats. Very few leaders can be all things to all people. There will be people who love you, people who hate you & probably the majority in between who basically couldn’t care less.
Having said that, Julia Gillard is PM now & doing a great job (in my opinion) but needs her party behind her to keep on track to the next election. Rudd (& his supporters) would benefit both his public legacy & his standing among his colleagues by accepting that he’s not PM now, he probably won’t be PM again & put his & their considerable energy behind unequivocally supporting Gillard leading the ALP to the next election.
Its either that or we end up with Abbott for PM.
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maveleanor October 26, 2012
Any good he did as PM has long been cancelled out by the problems he’s caused since he left. Used to be a fan………now soooo over him !! Ss for Ms McKew’s sense of entitlement…….
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chinda63 October 26, 2012
One part of this tale is interesting and, so far, not commented upon …
McKew is complaining that a speech she wrote in 2009 had to be vetted by Gillard’s office first and went through the wringer 3 times. What is not explained is in what capacity she was delivering a speech – as a former journalist, as Member for Bennelong or as proxy for a Minister who was unavailable to attend.
If it was the first or the second it makes no sense that her speech needed to be vetted by anyone. When I worked in politics, I wrote speeches for my member without needing to refer to Dear Leader – and we also had a renowned control freak. Besides, why would it be the Deputy whose office does the vetting? Surely, if you were a control freak leader with a reputation of NOT delegating, why would you give it to your Deputy’s office? You’d get your own staff to do it – or do it yourself.
I suspect the real story behind the speech is that the invitation was for Gillard, but she was unable to attend herself and McKew was chosen as proxy. In these circumstances it is usual for the Minister’s office to do the speech and for it to be then given to the proxy to deliver. McKew – as a former journalist – obviously thought she could do it herself, but that doesn’t mean it was going to just get a tick of approval without a thorough vetting. That is par for the course for any Minister when someone else is representing them.
Of all the issues for McKew to complain about, this is petty in the extreme – even if it is true.
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chinda63 October 26, 2012
Right: I just looked it up.
McKew’s speech to the Sydney Institute was entitled “Getting it Right in the Early Years”.
At the time, she was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education who, at the time, was Julia Gillard.
THIS is the reason Gillard’s office vetted the speech – she was the responsible Minister and the speech was about her portfolio.
But … take a look at the speech:
Half of it is about McKew herself and her defeat of Howard in Bennelong!
I reckon if I paid a sum of money to see the Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education talk about education and children’s services and she spent half the speech talking about herself and not the topic at hand then I reckon I might be a trifle miffed.
No wonder Gillard’s office wanted to work on it. It looks like they had to fight tooth and nail just to have ANY mention of early childhood education!
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JoanneH October 26, 2012
Maxine must be a bit disappointed to see Julia’s fortunes improving. When she wrote the book the strategy to get Rudd returned by the end of the Parliamentary year must have all looked so neat. I wish Rudd and his supporters would remember the leadership challenge back in February which he lost comprehensively. Books and stunts now just make them look petulant, and give Abbott a boost – especially in a Newspoll week.
Maxine should take note of what the very classy Tanya Plibersek said to Graham Richardson – “I hope when I retire I never make a buck trashing the Labor Party.”
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Annie Also October 26, 2012
Anti Rudd comments always always play into the hands of Abbott…cut out the divisiveness and support all prevuous Labor PM’s or Abbott will get a real run.
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Bronwyn October 26, 2012
It seems that Maxine has not recovered from the last election loss. ‘…..Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’.
Like others before me I say let’s move on. -
Belinda October 26, 2012
I have had enough of it too. Over it. Leave the past where it belongs. Maxine McHugh I am surprised at you. I am sorry that you did not go further with your political career but that is how life turns out. How can Gillard be loyal to an egomaniac, Maxine? He is a person not a party. My best friend, who is not prone to exaggeration, worked for Rudd for a long time and ended up getting quite sick because of his bullying ways. He was referred to by staff as Hitler. It was his way or the highway. I do not believe we voted for a dictatorship. One has to ask the question, who is Maxine’s partner ????? Oh that’s right former ALP National Secretary Bob Hogg.
All these bitter ex Labor politicians are ensuring Tony Abbott becomes the next PM. And then God help us all.
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Margot October 26, 2012
Hit the nail on the head, @Belinda – and other comments above. Very disappointed with McHugh and her sour grapes recollections. I hope her book publicity campaign ends with the disinterest it deserves.
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Carole/m October 26, 2012
It does seem that K Rudd might be expecting to have another go at the leadership on the back of this book.
The last time he challenged , he asked everyone to telephone their local and support him.
I took him up on that, I rang :-
K Rudds local office / the PM’s Canberra office and my local members office – Jenny Macklin.
I told them all the same thing , ” If you put Kevin Rudd back in as Leader, I”ll vote Greens.
Rudds office seemed a bit surprised , they were only expecting supporters to ring.
I don’t really don’t think he’ll try again, he hasn’t got enough support but if he does , I’ve got my dialling finger ready.
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LORRAINE COLLOLOY October 26, 2012
can someone explain to me what is it with Labor Party leaders and ex pollies?are they actually being co-opted by the Libs’?
In our lovely state of W.A. “Col’s Country” or so he believes our new leader Mark McGowan has said The Prime Minister is not to come to the state to support him!! it appears he feels it would be contrary to his success!! as a loyal Labor voter and an admirer of Ms Gillard I have to have doubts about voting for Mr McGowan,if this is to be his future attitude I don’t want him as Leader,I would think other Labor voters would not appreciate this attitude,he obviously does not have The Courage of his Convictions WHAT TO DO!!!??? -
Benison O'Reilly October 26, 2012
I didn’t like the way Rudd was toppled. I thought it was poor form by the ALP. But that was then and this is now and Julia seems to be growing into the role and,dare I say, becoming more Prime Ministerial the longer she occupies the top job.
McKew’s interview at the 2010 election after she lost her seat reminded me of an earlier ‘star recruit’ Cheryl Kernot, who had a massive dummy spit at the 1998 election when she almost lost hers. A little grace under pressure wouldn’t have gone astray in either case.
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Loz October 26, 2012
Well observed and agree totally. I had high regard for Maxine but this is so disappointing. Rudd has his chance and he blew it. Not interested in what she or Rudd have to say on the matter.
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Jane October 26, 2012
Maxine McWho? She should have stayed in journalism.
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Jane October 26, 2012
Actually I take that back – I’m glad she toppled Howard, but how disloyal is she now being to her party leader? assuming she’s still in the ALP?
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Amanda October 27, 2012
Caroline B. agree entirely. I was really sad to see Maxine lose, she was a rare talent who won a liberal electorate on a huge swing to Rudd in 2007 and then went out with the tide- pity. I didn’t like the way Gillard came to power, but she is growing into the job and I’ll be supporting her at the next election, I hope she crushes Abbott, the libs need a leader who respects women and who belongs in this century, not the 19th. Personally I’ll be interested in what Maxine has to say, she has a sharp and observant intellect.
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Greg October 27, 2012
Maxine is moving on in the best way she knows how to. By writing & securing an income from it!
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mrs pops October 27, 2012
wendy i also heard senior ministers frm the left and right constantly saying how oppressve Rudd was to work with.
examples were taking over a ministers portfolio issues and not telling the rekevant minister what position would be taken to cabinet, keeping cabnet waitng so that the meetings were short and he rail roaded items through wihout input from Cabinet, over working the public service every night and weekendos uncessarily. etc.. all left out by Maxine who incidently at the time said Rudd was a horror and Julia as her senior Minister wouldnt let her make announcements. frustrating for her yes but also sour grapes? ho hum indeed. lets move on and discuss ideas. pleeeeeease! -
Rhoda October 27, 2012
Maxine toppled Howard because he’d had his day. No big deal. She is over reaching.
The Prime Minister is making headway and I’d prefer the Labor Party back her to the line then reinstate Rudd. Especially now that she has made her mark.
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Tony W October 28, 2012
“Maxine toppled Howard because he’d had his day.”
Exactly. And it happened in the context of a record swing nationally. It was always going to swing back and Maxine was only sitting on a 1.4% margin. She’s delusional if she thinks Labor would have held Bennelong under Rudd.
Fact is no one cares about Rudd’s knifing anymore, it’s ancient history to most people. This book will cause a brief stir in the media and soon be forgotten, just like Tanner’s book. People have a short attention span, even the Slipper affair is old news, completely subsumed by Julia’s speech. Next election is a whole year away, and it will be won or lost in the campaign. Abbott got lucky in 2010 when Labor was in policy disarray, and even sabotaged their own campaign, but no one gets that lucky twice. Julia is much surer of herself now, she’ll crucify him in the election debates. He’s just got no story to tell, “Stop the Boats” won’t cut it next time, and no one will want to hear about the carbon tax in a year’s time.
Anyway let Maxine get it off her chest and make a few bucks, I’m sure Julia won’t be losing any sleep over it.
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Lozza October 28, 2012
Everyone: why not read the entire book before making nasty comments about Maxine McKew (arising out of your feelings of love for the first female PM). Talk about shooting the messenger! McKew did say Kevin Rudd had plenty of faults and the book was not going to be a whitewash. Therefore Wendy Harmer’s “revelation” about a private conversation would probably not be denied by McKew. This isn’t a black and white issue people. Grow up.
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Tony W October 28, 2012
“Everyone: why not read the entire book before making nasty comments about Maxine McKew (arising out of your feelings of love for the first female PM).”
No, arising out of our disgust at seeing yet another former Labor MP betray the Party.
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Lozza October 28, 2012
Tony, “betray” is not a very appropriate word to use in view of the circumstances around Rudd’s removal.
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Cate October 28, 2012
Anyone who goes to the trouble of writing a book, seriously wants to still have a public life.
Perhaps Maxine hasn’t forgiven Gillard for the election where she lost her seat. Who knows.
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Tony W October 28, 2012
Lozza – Rudd’s removal was outrageous, but let’s not forget he had lost the support of the Party. So much so that he resigned rather than face a humiliating ballot defeat.
McKew is now trying to implicate Gillard in a well planned conspiracy, based on hearsay evidence from an unnamed source. She is handing Abbott a loaded gun and she doesn’t give a rats about the consequences for Labor. So yes, she has betrayed the Party.
The truth is she just can’t accept losing her seat and she hates being on the sidelines. No need to read the book, just watch this interview:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/the-lives-and-times-of-maxine-mckew-20121027-28cst.html
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Lozza October 28, 2012
Tony – let’s just ban the book, or even better, let’s burn all copies of it. In the meantime, we can say vicious things about the writer on every blog we can find even if we haven’t read the book. After all, THE PARTY is all that matters.
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sue bell October 28, 2012
we must never ever burn books even in jest, the implications are too Orwellian or perhaps too American right wing religious or too Talibanish to contemplate.
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Tony W October 28, 2012
How did we get to Fahrenheit 451? All I said is she betrayed Labor – the Party to which she professes allegiance.
betray:
To give aid or information to an enemy of;
To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance
To be false or disloyal to: betrayed their cause;
To divulge in a breach of confidence; -
Amanda October 29, 2012
I’ m halfway through the book. I agree with plenty that Maxine has to say, especially on the way Rudd was removed and the meticulous planning involved. Gillard was obviously in it up to her eyeballs. As a labour supporter I was and am still appalled that unelected labour nobodies like Paul Howe took it upon themselves to remove a sitting prime minister. The hand of the unions was very evident in this palace coup, and it was ugly when they really only represent 20% of workers at best to see how much control they have over the party and government. I have always thought that the so called mismanagement by Rudd was a fig leaf justification, his major problem was that he was unaligned and friendless. The labour party desperately needs to reform its structure to remove the power of the unions and the factions.the low polling Gillard has experienced is partially as a result of the way she came to power. The power to remove a prime minister should be solely that of the electorate.
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Michelle October 31, 2012
You hit the nail right on the head Amanda and it is refreshing to read an intelligent assessment of the facts . I have voted Labour all my life until the 2010 elections but I will not vote for them again while Gillard is the leader.
It is very simple as far as I am concerned. Labour was in the political wilderness for almost 12 years and the man who delivered them power was Kevin Rudd. He was a good PM who had barely taken office when the GFC hit. He was decisive and proactive with his 42 Billion dollar stimulus package which saved our economy when the rest of the world crashed. Gillard and her cronies were so greedy for power that they knifed Rudd for the sake of their own short sighted ambitions. Their achievements to date are turning a government with a 16 seat majority into one that can only govern with the permission of the Greens and Independents.
Gillard sold out onThe National Health Scheme and watered down the Mining Resources Tax to the point that it is useless. She has taken the Aust Parliament to an all time low in terms of ministerial behaviour and language and has condoned the most vicious and personal attacks on politicians that we have ever witnessed. I don’t celebrate Gillard as the first female PM because of her behaviour in getting the job and her willingness to use her genger as a political weapon to stifle reasonable debate. She is just another self serving political animal.
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Tony W October 29, 2012
“As a labour supporter I was and am still appalled that unelected labour nobodies like Paul Howe took it upon themselves to remove a sitting prime minister.”
Yes, it was undoubtedly one of the worst acts of bastardry in Australian political history, right up there with the Dismissal.
However both those events are history now, and if Maxine genuinely cared about Labor’s prospects, not to mention saving Australia from Abbott, she would have held off publication until after next election.
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jane October 29, 2012
I was also shocked that Rudd had been removed and I think it was a mistake not to have a ballot, but I had also become increasingly worried by Rudd’s seeming paralysis.
And let’s not forget, he wasn’t too loyal to his Ministers. His shafting of Peter Garrett in the face of the cowardly accusations of “industrial murder” by the Nohopeosition was in indicator of his personality.
And like a lot of others, i at first poo-pooed the stories about his bullying and appalling temper-remember the poor girl who was reduced to tears over a meal on a plane?
It was definitely not an act of bastardry, but the necessary removal of a CEO who no longer had the confidence of the majority of his colleagues.
This was amply demonstrated by the leadership ballot earlier this year and reinforced by the number of Ministers who said they would not and could not work with him.
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Tony W October 30, 2012
“It was definitely not an act of bastardry, but the necessary removal of a CEO”
FFS, Australia is a nation, not a corporation! This was a democratically elected Prime Minister in his first term – how is not an act of bastardry when a handful of union leaders undermine him in order to install their own man? Or woman in this case. If that’s not an attack on democracy I don’t know what is. That’s why I liken it to the Dismissal.
Furthermore, this was a coup, pulled off in the dead on night. Rudd was given no warning whatsoever. He was given no chance to mend his ways. He had less than 12 hours to consult with MPs and build support. When Menzies resigned in his first term he had 3 months to consult.
Note that a leadership ballot 2 years later does NOT mean he couldn’t have survived in 2010, had he been given the chance.
In years to come when the facts are all out, I have no doubt history will record this as an act of bastardry.
That said, I prefer JG as PM.
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lynda November 4, 2012
Dont know what you are all so worried about Rudd will not win the seat of Griffith at the next Election……We have a wonderful man to stand against him, a man of integrity, honesty, experience in business, an opthamologist who has been on the United Nations health advisory council…worked with the Fred Hollows foundation and been heavily involved in Aboriginal Health………AND what has Rud done??????? been a “professional” Public Servant!!!!!
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lucille March 19, 2013
I’m just a ‘simple’ woman, but I do find it hard to believe that speeches were vetted by so-called intelligent PMs. I can’t believe the stupid sound bites used by both parties. I can’t believe the “advisers” lack the obvious retorts. i.e. The high cost of energy due to the carbon tax supposedly closing down manufacturing plants. I thought our power bills had increased because of the cost of replacing old infrastructure – you know, poles and wires. Why when MPs are challenged do they forget this, and run for cover? Why do they not mention that the public servants in Treasury are paid to give economic advise, will be the same public servants used by both parties. Why is the fact that JG really had no choice to introduce a carbon tax, as she was held hostage by the Indies and the Greens, so had to go back on her word. Not really a lie, but damn, I’m sick of hearing it, and it go undefended. It is a ‘minority government” but you hardly hear that. I really think the ALP needs better advisers. I’ll do it for a mere half a mill a year, even though I am a Green voter. But I think I will have to leave the country if Mr. Rabbit becomes our leader.
