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Thursday May 24, 2012

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Will Julia Gillard pull the trigger?

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 22 February, 2012 - 3:30 PM
Julia Gillard

HINCH: I said on the program yesterday that things had got so bad between Prime Minister Gillard and Foreign Minister Rudd that they hadn't talked to each other for yonks. Even on the phone.

According to one report, Gillard's people call Rudd 'that c---' and Rudd's people call the Prime Minister 'the Bitch'. Charming way to run a country.

And I said one of them had to call a showdown. One way or the other - get it over with.

Well, according to strong reports this afternoon it looks like the PM has decided to bring it on. The date, they say, is next Tuesday.

When the Ruddster returns from Mexico the PM will dare him to toss his sombrero into the ring.

The proof that something is on is the the Prime Minister's decision today not to comment on it at all.

Of course there are still several scenarios. She could call a spill and if she wins big sack her Foreign Minister and send him to the backbench.

Or she could sack him first and presumably he would then make a challenge.

Although what grounds she would use for a dismissal? In recent days Julia Gillard has been repeating how well her Foreign Minister has been doing his job.

The pressure for some sort of showdown was increased by Simon Crean this week urging the PM to carpet Rudd or sack him. And today Greg Combet told the National Press Club: "Enough is enough, It is time the matter was resolved."

There is the option of course that, if sacked, Kevin Rudd could resign his seat and push the Minority Government closer to the edge. But nobody is tipping that to happen.

He'd do a Keating and go to the backbench to plot and plan and wait for another day to bid for the crown he believes was illegitimately stolen.

PLAY: Tony Windsor says anything can happen from here

3AW NEWS: Senior government ministers are calling for the leadership issue to be resolved quickly, but it appears Julia Gillard may be shying away from calling a ballot next week.

Labor MPs are increasingly pledging their support to Ms Gillard.

But some admit the constant leadership speculation is destabilising the Government and something needs to be done to bring the crisis to a head.

Senior Minister Greg Combet says a leadership ballot is one option, but it may also be a simple conversation between Ms Gillard and Kevin Rudd

We've heard Mr Rudd realises he doesn't have the numbers to challenge Ms Gillard, and is trying to quell the talk among his supporters.

It's understood Mr Rudd will wait for more bad opinion polls to surface before mounting a fresh leadership attack.

The Prime Minister's office is playing down speculation she's planning to call for a spill next Tuesday.

'The filly's not looking good'

Julia Gillard's future as Prime Minister is shaky HINCH BLOG: "And when the PM unveiled the biggest projected $5 billion shakeup of our education system, the most-talked about question was: Will you be around next week, let alone next month or next year, to implement it?"

 

'Australia deserves better'

Kevin Rudd UPDATE: Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has jetted off to Mexico, but not before division in the ALP reached a fever-pitch over the weekend. A video was leaked on YouTube showing Kevin Rudd angrily swearing while he was Prime Minister.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Michael, why on earth should Tony Abbott resign. Other than you not liking him, what's he done that would require him to resign?

    What I want is someone to LEAD and govern the country. That's what they are supposed to be doing. The current lot of egocentric Labourites seem incapable of leading and governing.

    Perhaps the independents should withdraw support for Labour and then the GG can let Liberals have a go. They couldn't do any worse.

    All we want is a leader Thursday 23 February, 2012 - 11:43 AM

  • All politicians are the same. What all Rudd wants is power and money. Rudd had his opportunity, why didn't he do anything then? Stop acting like spoilt brats and get on in running the country.Forget about power, it won't last.

    Marie Thursday 23 February, 2012 - 8:21 AM

  • Neither are fit or proper people to lead our country.

    janet p Thursday 23 February, 2012 - 7:39 AM

  • @Michael. No way should Abbott resign. A third of the population will never vote for a catholic and 40% will never vote Liberal. It's a win/win situation. :p

    Mylene Wednesday 22 February, 2012 - 11:22 PM

  • Yes. I do think that now is the time for Julia Gillard to step aside as Prime Minister because her days as PM are over. I think that Kevin Rudd should be reinstated into the top job. Now is not the time to call a federal election. I now call for Tony Abbott to resign as Leader of the Coalition.

    Michael Wednesday 22 February, 2012 - 9:28 PM

  • flush the toilet please so that we can rid ourselves of this mess....

    Mark Wednesday 22 February, 2012 - 8:22 PM

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