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Tuesday May 22, 2012

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Gillard 'will take it to the grave'

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 15 July, 2010 - 2:15 PM

ABOVE: Political journalist Laurie Oakes deals up some fast, reverse-swing deliveries at Julia Gillard which the Prime Minister lets go through to the 'keeper.

PLAYING NOW: Laurie Oakes and Neil Mitchell discuss the source of the apparent leak which led to the former's hardline questions directed at Julia Gillard at the National Press Club.

HINCH: A thunderbolt was thrown at the National Press Club today when Julia Gillard made her first appearance as Prime Minister.

It didn’t come in a prime ministerial answer. They were all delivered in that flat, slow, deliberate fashion we now expect. It came in a lengthy question from the dean of the Canberra press gallery Laurie Oakes. For the first time since that Wednesday night when Kevin Rudd was ‘Gillartined’ we got an insight into what happened in that room.

We didn’t get much of answer. Ms Gillard pleaded confidentiality and virtually said she would take the conversation to her grave. The only third party there that night, Senator John Faulkner, has virtually said the same thing.

So it must be someone in the vanquished Rudd camp that has leaked to the Nine Network veteran.

And, if true, it shows that Rudd and Gillard made a deal that night. Obviously it didn’t last.  Didn’t last ten minutes. Shades of the deal Hawke made with Keating. Howard made with Costello. The huge difference is that when Hawke and Howard reneged they were prime minister. Gillard was the challenger. The usurper of ther throne.

According to Oakes, and he is the best investigative political journo, with the best contacts, this country has seen, Gillard confronted Rudd – presumably with the party muse, John Faulkner, playing Henry Kissinger. Rudd acknowledged  the polls were bad. He offered a deal. He’d call an election in October. If his popularity was still bad he would step down and hand the job to his deputy.

Gillard supposedly agreed and said it was a sensible and responsible solution. They adjourned the meeting but when they returned for Round Two she had changed her mind. Told him he didn’t have the numbers and the challenge was on.

The Press Club was stunned by the question. The next questioner Laura Tingle almost forgot her own name and where she worked. Sadly, there was no barrage of  supplementary questions to force the issue. Maybe everybody realised they’d get the same answer.

But there’ll be more. The knifing and the transition wasn’t as clean as they’re trying to make out in the lead up to a federal election.

Blog comments Your Say

  • get rid of the "RANGA"

    ian Sunday 18 July, 2010 - 12:11 PM

  • How dumb did Laurie Oaks come out looking as a result of this.

    JOHN BUGEJA Friday 16 July, 2010 - 12:51 PM

  • Was interesting to hear the applause for Gillard by the so called un biased journos etc at the love in. It was an excellent question and had it been a Liberal up there the pack would have gone beserk after. just confirms the love affair that labor has in Canberra with the guardians of our democracy. What a joke you mealy mouthed pack of scavengers with your free lunch. Applause ? ONE journo had the guts to ask about the asassination of a prime Minister certainly an historic event in our history and what do you cowards do/ Applaud the asassin and not ask a single question. Hope you enjoyed your free lunch comrades.

    paul Thursday 15 July, 2010 - 9:47 PM

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