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Kevin Rudd's campaign provokes mixed Labor reaction Kevin Rudd's campaign provokes mixed Labor reaction
(4 months later)
Kevin Rudd has hit the hustings in Geelong, continuing his high-profile intervention ahead of the September election, as Julia Gillard prepared to meet car industry representatives in Melbourne in the wake of Ford's decision to pull out of Australia.Kevin Rudd has hit the hustings in Geelong, continuing his high-profile intervention ahead of the September election, as Julia Gillard prepared to meet car industry representatives in Melbourne in the wake of Ford's decision to pull out of Australia.
The activity in Victoria came as workplace minister Bill Shorten declared that, based on the latest polls, Labor was heading for a thumping defeat in 99 days. "There is no doubt in my mind that if the polls are correct, Tony Abbott will win in a landslide," Shorten said on a morning radio program in response to a listener's question about whether the government should change leaders.The activity in Victoria came as workplace minister Bill Shorten declared that, based on the latest polls, Labor was heading for a thumping defeat in 99 days. "There is no doubt in my mind that if the polls are correct, Tony Abbott will win in a landslide," Shorten said on a morning radio program in response to a listener's question about whether the government should change leaders.
Rudd wouldn't be drawn at a lunchtime press conference on Shorten's "defeatism". He hadn't heard the remarks so he would not comment.Rudd wouldn't be drawn at a lunchtime press conference on Shorten's "defeatism". He hadn't heard the remarks so he would not comment.
The Rudd press conference, held in a Geelong shopping centre, was interrupted by shoppers shouting at the former prime minister. One man declared Abbott could win the election by 45 seats. "Find out why. Australians are worried," the man yelled. A woman called for Rudd to return to the leadership: "We want you back."The Rudd press conference, held in a Geelong shopping centre, was interrupted by shoppers shouting at the former prime minister. One man declared Abbott could win the election by 45 seats. "Find out why. Australians are worried," the man yelled. A woman called for Rudd to return to the leadership: "We want you back."
Rudd went on breakfast television before campaigning in marginal seats this morning just down the road from Gillard. On Thursday night, he told the ABC's 7.30 colleagues should not "haul up the white flag" before polling day.Rudd went on breakfast television before campaigning in marginal seats this morning just down the road from Gillard. On Thursday night, he told the ABC's 7.30 colleagues should not "haul up the white flag" before polling day.
On the Seven Network's Sunrise program, he voiced support for the prime minister, who was showing strong leadership in "difficult circumstances" after a parliamentary week which saw bad opinion polls and an outbreak of ill-discipline within Labor ranks, principally among Rudd's supporters in caucus.On the Seven Network's Sunrise program, he voiced support for the prime minister, who was showing strong leadership in "difficult circumstances" after a parliamentary week which saw bad opinion polls and an outbreak of ill-discipline within Labor ranks, principally among Rudd's supporters in caucus.
"What I'm saying very loud and clear to all those folks is that this is not the time to start constructing alibis for defeat. This is a time to implement a strategy for victory," Rudd said on Friday morning."What I'm saying very loud and clear to all those folks is that this is not the time to start constructing alibis for defeat. This is a time to implement a strategy for victory," Rudd said on Friday morning.
He said later he was not a candidate for the Labor leadership, nor could he see a set of circumstances in which he would return to the top job.He said later he was not a candidate for the Labor leadership, nor could he see a set of circumstances in which he would return to the top job.
Gillard and the industry minister, Greg Combet, met representatives from all the major car manufacturers in Melbourne this afternoon. Combet confirmed on ABC radio on Friday morning that the government was talking with the companies about "their future investment plans" in the wake of Ford's announcement.Gillard and the industry minister, Greg Combet, met representatives from all the major car manufacturers in Melbourne this afternoon. Combet confirmed on ABC radio on Friday morning that the government was talking with the companies about "their future investment plans" in the wake of Ford's announcement.
"We're in discussions with the motor vehicle manufacturers pretty regularly. I'm constantly in discussion with them about the policy settings for the industry in the years to come," Combet said."We're in discussions with the motor vehicle manufacturers pretty regularly. I'm constantly in discussion with them about the policy settings for the industry in the years to come," Combet said.
Colleagues had mixed reactions to Rudd's intervention. The transport minister, Anthony Albanese, welcomed it, saying: "He's a great campaigner and a great asset for the Labor party."Colleagues had mixed reactions to Rudd's intervention. The transport minister, Anthony Albanese, welcomed it, saying: "He's a great campaigner and a great asset for the Labor party."
Combet declined to be drawn on what Rudd's motivations might be. "I've got no idea. You'd have to ask Kevin Rudd."Combet declined to be drawn on what Rudd's motivations might be. "I've got no idea. You'd have to ask Kevin Rudd."
Finance minister Penny Wong said she welcomed Rudd's clarification of his intention to campaign for the party. "I take Kevin at his word and I watched that interview and I thought it was great that he was out campaigning for Labor – that's what we all need to do," Wong told ABC News 24.Finance minister Penny Wong said she welcomed Rudd's clarification of his intention to campaign for the party. "I take Kevin at his word and I watched that interview and I thought it was great that he was out campaigning for Labor – that's what we all need to do," Wong told ABC News 24.
But former Labor leader Mark Latham unleashed a scathing character assessment, declaring Rudd a "once-in-a-century egomaniac".But former Labor leader Mark Latham unleashed a scathing character assessment, declaring Rudd a "once-in-a-century egomaniac".
"This is deliberate sabotage, an absolute replay, groundhog day, on 2010. Rudd knows that all of this is damaging the party. He is a lunatic," Latham declared."This is deliberate sabotage, an absolute replay, groundhog day, on 2010. Rudd knows that all of this is damaging the party. He is a lunatic," Latham declared.
He also attacked backbencher Joel Fitzgibbon, who openly defied the prime minister this week. "Clowns like Fitzgibbon, a giggling schoolkid effectively peeing on his foot thinking it's clever," Latham said. "Well look, at the end of the day, all he's doing is peeing on his own foot."He also attacked backbencher Joel Fitzgibbon, who openly defied the prime minister this week. "Clowns like Fitzgibbon, a giggling schoolkid effectively peeing on his foot thinking it's clever," Latham said. "Well look, at the end of the day, all he's doing is peeing on his own foot."
In the interview with ABC's 7.30, Rudd declined to repeat his recent pledge that there were "no circumstances" in which he would return to the Labor leadership, saying instead that he would "not be challenging" and that he accepted the decision of the caucus at the last leadership ballot in February 2012.In the interview with ABC's 7.30, Rudd declined to repeat his recent pledge that there were "no circumstances" in which he would return to the Labor leadership, saying instead that he would "not be challenging" and that he accepted the decision of the caucus at the last leadership ballot in February 2012.
Making his own case against Abbott, Rudd claimed the opposition leader's pitch to voters was based on "three core lies": that he could stop asylum seeker boats, that Australia had a "crisis" with its levels of debt and that Abbott himself had suddenly transformed into a policy moderate.Making his own case against Abbott, Rudd claimed the opposition leader's pitch to voters was based on "three core lies": that he could stop asylum seeker boats, that Australia had a "crisis" with its levels of debt and that Abbott himself had suddenly transformed into a policy moderate.
Rudd said that "after 20 years in parliament, 19 years as one of the most extreme rightwing politicians the conservative party has thrown up", Abbott was asking voters to believe that "in this 20th year he has suddenly become a policy moderate". Rudd added: "He can wear pale blue ties to assuage people to some point, but a leopard never changes his spots."Rudd said that "after 20 years in parliament, 19 years as one of the most extreme rightwing politicians the conservative party has thrown up", Abbott was asking voters to believe that "in this 20th year he has suddenly become a policy moderate". Rudd added: "He can wear pale blue ties to assuage people to some point, but a leopard never changes his spots."
This morning Rudd visited Labor's most marginal seat of Corangamite, held by Darren Cheeseman, who in February 2012 called on Gillard to resign because she could not take the party forward.This morning Rudd visited Labor's most marginal seat of Corangamite, held by Darren Cheeseman, who in February 2012 called on Gillard to resign because she could not take the party forward.
The other seat, Corio, is held by Richard Marles with a margin of 13.5%. Marles stood down from his job as a parliamentary secretary after the botched attempt to return Rudd to the leadership in March.The other seat, Corio, is held by Richard Marles with a margin of 13.5%. Marles stood down from his job as a parliamentary secretary after the botched attempt to return Rudd to the leadership in March.
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