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Odds rapidly Shorten on a different leader

Malcolm Farr

by Malcolm Farr

15 Feb 12:00pm

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Filed under: Bill Shorten, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Politics, Stephen Smith

252 comments

Labor MPs now feel condemned to an unhappy routine of Gillard Government advances crashing into the roadblock of the leadership standoff with Kevin Rudd.

Contender or pretender? Picture: Ray Strange

Many are also despairing over the prospect that the only way to end instability caused by Kevin Rudd’s ambitions is to gratify them.

For many, that reward for all the trouble caused is unacceptable. Which means the next leadership change—and the odds of one happening are growing stronger—is likely to be from Julia Gillard to Bill Shorten or Stephen Smith. Not Kevin Rudd.

That seems the increasingly discussed solution as the problems of Julia Gillard are stacked against her, and nobody can publicly pin her Labor rival with disloyalty.

In February 2007, Mr Rudd notoriously said about Prime Minister John Howard, “I think it will be fun to play with his mind for a while.”

Maybe he has stepped up that game with another Prime Minister.

Yesterday the Foreign Minister was conspicuous in a casual manner not seen for a while in Parliament House.

After dealing with his Liberal counterpart Julie Bishop’s question on the Maldives—bodgied up to be a cheeky shot at Labor tensions—Mr Rudd left Question Time to have coffee at Aussies cafe, arguably the most public spot in the building.

He sat down with five journalists and was spotted by many, including Liberal leader Tony Abbott who waved as he jogged past on his way to the gym.

Labor’s Chief Whip Joel Fitzgibbon was called from the coffee queue to sit in as a witness to perhaps later confirm Mr Rudd didn’t talk about the leadership.

He was not entirely comfortable in being recruited as a shield against unwarranted gossip, and sat through a polite chat about Burma, the Maldives, and the Queensland election.

Later that evening Mr Rudd bumped into Resources Minister Martin Ferguson and they went to the Members’ Dining Room to eat, the first occasion in a long time many can remember Mr Rudd making an appearance. He enjoyed himself, according to one MP’s report.

One thing Mr Rudd did not do was use Twitter to make fun of Julia Gillard.

A fake Rudd tweet—it wasn’t his Twitter name—was cruel.

“Such a great day folks. Marcus just referred to a mistake in his geography homework as “doing a Julia”. Had a good chuckle.”

Marcus, Rudd’s youngest son, has left school and is currently in China, where he is not studying geography.

Most commented

431Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
336Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
266Who murdered the Arts degree?
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

252 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • SM says:

      12:11pm | 15/02/12

      Steve Smith is mightily impressive

      Reply

    • Justin of Earlwood says:

      12:27pm | 15/02/12

      The cricketer, or the son from American Dad?

    • Dan says:

      12:34pm | 15/02/12

      Damn fine all-rounder. Good in the field too.

    • Philosopher says:

      12:38pm | 15/02/12

      Stephen Smith has all the personality of a wet sock. Honestly, the guy is soooo boring and lacking in charisma that any hope of an electoral resurgence caused by new leadership under him is symptomatic of how delusional Labor has become.

    • Stephen Smith says:

      12:58pm | 15/02/12

      He is a rubbish Defence Minister who demands everything of the ADF but does not support them at all. Another sad Labour Minister whose only attention in public life is to further his own cause, not that of the Australian people. I will give him one thing - he isn’t yet another in a long line of Union Officials waiting for their turn at the top job.

    • Seriously... says:

      01:14pm | 15/02/12

      not sure I’d call him mightily impressive… though this article is right on the money… it will be Smith or Shorten though Rudd as deputy under either of them would unify the party.

    • GB says:

      01:31pm | 15/02/12

      I’ll preface this by saying I’m no expert in the machinations of the ALP, but in spite of Stephen Smith’s shortcomings, he is what they need at the moment IMO. He is at least palatable to the electorate and doesn’t seem beholden to the factions. Plus, and this is a big plus, he appears on the face of it, to be at least an honourable guy. He won big kudos from me when he refused to try and gain mileage out of Mark Riley’s hatchet job on Abbott, and actually defended him. I’m not saying he’ll make the best PM ever, but in the current politcial climate, as a voter from the other side of politics, he is at least somebody I respect.

    • Gloria says:

      01:38pm | 15/02/12

      Be it Steve Smith, Bill Shorten even Craig Thomson the Labor Party can kill 2 birds with one stone. They will not only be restoring credibility to the honourable position of PM of this land but to the Labor brand which cannot sink any further. While they are at it, might as well get rid of the clown that is in control of the Parliament.

      Come on Malcolm Farr do it for our sanity!

    • Bevan of Qld says:

      01:40pm | 15/02/12

      Smith is the only safe seeming, honest seeming, sincere seeming Labour minister out there, boring is ok as long as there is genuine commitment to the public before themselves, only Smith fits that criteria. I agree though that Rudd needs the job so the public can kick them all out properly.

    • Bevan of Qld says:

      01:41pm | 15/02/12

      Smith is the only safe seeming, honest seeming, sincere seeming Labour minister out there, boring is ok as long as there is genuine commitment to the public before themselves, only Smith fits that criteria. I agree though that Rudd needs the job so the public can kick them all out properly.

    • year of the dragon says:

      01:45pm | 15/02/12

      Seriously… says:02:14pm | 15/02/12

      “not sure I’d call him mightily impressive”

      In the context of the ALP, he is impressive by comparison.

    • L.Mountbatten says:

      01:47pm | 15/02/12

      Impressive? I think not. This is the guy who effectively sacked a decorated Naval Officer on rumor and speculation, mixed in with mis-reporting. Then to top it off when he found out, through one of the 6 investigations he commissioned that the Naval Officer had done nothing wrong, he withheld the report (for over 3 months now) as he understand that it will paint him in a bad light. Further info here http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/adfa-skype-inquiries-cost-12m/2456704.aspx

    • Mary Gill says:

      02:01pm | 15/02/12

      You surely must have meant “unimpressive”!  He has all the charisma of a wet blanket (or sock, as has also been said).  He would be an utter disaster, but perhaps not as much a disaster as either of the Unionists, Shorten or Combet.  In any event, Labor is gone for all money at the next election - just remains to be seen by how much.

    • TommyP says:

      02:10pm | 15/02/12

      @L.Mountbatten says:02:47pm | 15/02/12

      “Impressive? I think not. This is the guy who effectively sacked a decorated Naval Officer on rumor and speculation…...”   
      The media are doing that to Gillard right this minute, with all this daily rhetoric.  So what’s the difference?

    • SimonTigey says:

      02:35pm | 15/02/12

      I am thinking Smith or Shorten too, I did flirt with Crean for a moment but then I snapped out of it and came to my senses!!!

    • Jim J says:

      02:39pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten is the son in law of Bryce (Gov General). Odds on it will be him !

    • Botswana Bill says:

      02:42pm | 15/02/12

      I don’t know much about Smith, but he does impress. Shorten has a ticket on himself, is a big note self-promoter and will be seen in the electorate as Backstabber Bill. Which means given the way ALP factions work he will likely get the job. No mention is made of Combet, another person who impresses.

    • Tracker says:

      02:52pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten, Smith or Gillard.. all part of the same mafia so what’s the difference ? Same poison, different label.

    • Geoff Nichols says:

      03:01pm | 15/02/12

      Not sure that rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic is gonna work.
      Still having an honest leader would be nice. Julia is damaged goods now.

    • Ipod says:

      04:10pm | 15/02/12

      The Australian people decided the Leader was Kevin Rudd,not a group of union shitkickers

    • Say goodbye says:

      04:20pm | 15/02/12

      Mr. Grey,Bland, Ashen Face   -  Stephen Smith looks like he’s been exhumed.  Wears beautiful suits -  we’ve seen that before.
      Bill Shorten -  hyena.
      More affirmative action?  Nicola Roxon -  hahaha
      There’s always Kevin.

    • jam says:

      05:11pm | 15/02/12

      Bill Shorten!! the true colour coming out!

      HOPE that he really SHORTEN his career.

    • Paladin says:

      07:58pm | 15/02/12

      Are all the Smith boosters actually serious? A man who’s not only more than happy to hang individuals such as the erstwhile Commandant of ADFA out to dry to further his political ambitions, but also an entire department. Have you noticed how he refers to the Department’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and public servants as “they” when addressing any negative issue involving Defence?

    • thatmosis says:

      09:12pm | 15/02/12

      I honestly think you could put a dead dog in as PM and it would do a better job than the losers that are currently in the Labor Party. No talent, no morals ,no respect for the voter just about sums up the whole bunch.

    • acotrel says:

      04:28am | 16/02/12

      Julia is doing a s hocking job as PM.  Look at the health care rebate.  She must think that she is Robin Hood ?

    • Justin of Earlwood says:

      12:19pm | 15/02/12

      Another article with the “it’s not actually Gillard’s fault” overtones.

      No doubt there’s conniving & scheming going on, but that’s because Gillard keeps supplying the ammo.

      This quote from The Dish sums it all up:

      Prime Minister: You know, we’ve got a saying in the party. You don’t f*** up…
      Mayor Bob McIntyre: And?
      Prime Minister: That’s it.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      12:33pm | 15/02/12

      To be fair, the PM at the time was a Lib (John Gorton). The ALP clearly don’t follow that saying smile .

    • Jet says:

      01:19pm | 15/02/12

      Yes Justin “Many are also despairing over the prospect that the only way to end instability caused by Kevin Rudd’s ambitions is to gratify them.”

      If Gillard was doing a good job there would be no leadership quarrels and no instability but here they’re blaming it on Kevin Rudd’s ambitions.

    • luke09 says:

      12:22pm | 15/02/12

      PM Julia must be finished if Malcolm Farr an ardent supporter of hers is now tipping a change of leadership soon.

      Reply

    • Antman says:

      12:32pm | 15/02/12

      That’s right luke09. I think Mal just lost his window seat on Julia’s next overseas trip. He’s been such a loyal little boy too!!

    • Antman says:

      12:32pm | 15/02/12

      That’s right luke09. I think Mal just lost his window seat on Julia’s next overseas trip. He was such a loyal little boy too!!

    • Gregg says:

      12:40pm | 15/02/12

      Mal does like his thongs though, all that flip flopping along.

    • Gregg says:

      12:41pm | 15/02/12

      Mal does like his thongs though, all that flip flopping along.

    • theinsider says:

      12:46pm | 15/02/12

      It’s all but official Luke.  Gillard is finished.  Watch this space early next week for a new PM and a reversal of one or two unpopular policies.

    • scumbag says:

      12:55pm | 15/02/12

      Antman says, “That’s right luke09. I think Mal just lost his window seat on Julia’s next overseas trip. He’s been such a loyal little boy too!! ”

    • Gloria says:

      01:44pm | 15/02/12

      If that is the case it is celebrations time. Even a staunch Liberal supporter like myself will not only celebrate but will start listening to Australia’s 4th PM in the last 5 years. Please bring it on only if to restore some credibility into the highest most honourable job in the land.

    • RyaN says:

      12:23pm | 15/02/12

      Its like NSW Labor, just worse!

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      12:36pm | 15/02/12

      In NSW only we suffered whilst the rest of the country laughed at us.

      Now the whole country suffers. Huzzah.

    • GB says:

      01:23pm | 15/02/12

      Don’t worry guys. Us poor Queenslanders get the chance to have our say in 6 weeks time. Roll on 24th March. My guess is we’ll see something similar to what happened in NSW.

    • Gratuitous Adviser says:

      03:28pm | 15/02/12

      Nothing was/is as bad as NSW Labor. 

      This is a beat up.  No matter what the press and LNP intimates, the ALP will go to the next election with Julia Gillard as the PM. 

      Also, Shorten and Smith are much too intelligent to want or take the job as they would have learnt from the mistake of 2010.

    • sunny says:

      04:24pm | 15/02/12

      @TimB Seriously how does a few political shenanigans from some politicians cause suffering? I hope labor people don;t get this hysterical when we go into opposition in about 10 years time smile

    • TimB says:

      05:29pm | 15/02/12

      Inept government causes suffering Sunny wink

    • sunny says:

      08:16pm | 15/02/12

      well that is a matter of level-headed opinion. And I respect your opinion like I respect everyone;s opinion.

    • SteveKAG says:

      07:00am | 16/02/12

      Sunny please don/‘t capitalise your AND after a full stop….....never begin a sentance with an AND….......

    • Duh says:

      09:13am | 16/02/12

      @Steve How about a sentence?

    • AdamC says:

      12:24pm | 15/02/12

      The Labor Caucus have to get rid of Gillard and rebuff Rudd. As I mention in the open thread, the back to the future option is clearly a bust. It is time to move on from the ‘terrible two’ PMs. The caucus couldn’t stand terrible PM number 1, and the Australian public cannot stand terrible PM number 2!

      Stephen Smith is the obvious choice. Losing the next election could wreck Bill Shorten’s potential, so they should keep him in reserve.

      Note: As someone who hopes Labor is totally annihilated at the next election, I certainly hope they don’t take my advice!

      Reply

    • Nafe says:

      01:28pm | 15/02/12

      Andrew Bolt is tipping Simon Crean.. Rank outsider i believe.

    • Gregg says:

      01:50pm | 15/02/12

      @Nafe,
      Could be that Andrew saw Simon’s prepared acceptance speech, it appearing in Mal’s article yesterday about two thirds of the way down.
      ” I’ll have a go at writing the next PM’s speech

      He he he!, bet you that a week ago you lot did not expect to see me here talking to you as PM?
      Sometimes reality dawns and just like a fox with the hounds and riders out for blood and plenty of onlookers, a fox needs to rely on instinct.

      My instinct told me that the Australian public wanted more of the Labor Party and wanted to see good leadership, a leadership that was not to be confronted with personal character issues.
      I have possibly given you cause for a review of the Lazarus definition and that’s fine for I now have the privilege to serve this country and its people from a higher office.

      Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have done their utmost to serve well too and much legislation that is looming because of their efforts also needs continued effort and focus of the entire Labor team and it is to lead that focus I will strive to also do my best.

      Thankyou,

      Simon ”

    • Clem says:

      12:26pm | 15/02/12

      Or there’s the third option for Labor: Malcolm Turnbull. He’s more left wing than Labor’s right anyway.

      Reply

    • Justin of Earlwood says:

      12:45pm | 15/02/12

      They seriously should.

      It would throw all the polling numbers out the window & totally clear the air, they’d pretty much have a working majority in the House so they could stick it up the Greens, Mal’s never going to be PM for the other side anyway, he can come clean & support the NBN, it’s got all the elements.

      Simply offer him a parachute to a safe seat next election (goodbye Peter Garrett), & they could actually turn this around.

    • james says:

      01:37pm | 15/02/12

      Anything is possible, and would be an almighty shock.

    • Ryan says:

      06:57pm | 15/02/12

      A good suggestion. I don’t know why he wastes his time with the Noalition.

    • Mary says:

      08:50pm | 15/02/12

      I don’t know why you people keep harping on about getting Malcolm Turnbull to lead the liberal party now, you have obviously forgotten about the “Utegate Affair” and going to the Labor party is not an option for him as he is one of John Howard’s favoured sons.  Give him time to get his act together and he will one day in the not too distant future become Leader of the Liberal Party in Government, he has the acumen, he should be made Opposition Treasury spokesman much better than Hockey, banking background for starters and once he has that under his belt on and upwards he will go.  Just leave TA there to keep destroying the Labor party whilst they are in Government and prior to the next election MT should challenge for the leaders role and take the Coalition to a win.

    • Frank says:

      12:26pm | 15/02/12

      love your use of many people and many say instead of actually proving that you have any sources at all which you probably don’t unless they are ‘Senior Government Officials twice removed from the real source’s third cousins best friends dog’ baseless and annoying

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      12:58pm | 15/02/12

      Tell me Frank, is it hard to breathe with your head stuck in the sand?

    • wolf says:

      12:27pm | 15/02/12

      Malcolm you are the most blatantly partisan hack since Glenn Milne and his love affair with Peter Costello. It’s a fair call to speculate on alternatives to the leadership but your bias towards Gillard and her ‘faceless men’ in the ALP is more obvious every week.
      Sooner or later someone is going to blink - my tip is Rudd will be sold a dummy about his level of support and challenge. He wont get enough votes to win but he will get more than expected and fatally wound Gillards leadership.  Shorten will be sworn in by his mother in law and our PM after the next election will be known for his budgie smugglers.
      Gotta hand it to the current lot in charge of the ALP - I didn’t think it was possible to make Tony Abbott look like a credible option as prime minister but they proved me wrong.

      Reply

    • Dakingisdead says:

      02:20pm | 15/02/12

      I’m putting my money on Crean.

      He will take one for the party and the PMship will boost his super and then he can fall on his sword after the next election and give someone else (shorten?) time to build some crdibbility in oposition.

      Either that or Rudd because he is NOT going to go away until he loses the labor govtship as PM.

    • AJ says:

      12:29pm | 15/02/12

      I simply cannot belive that this mob are the best we, as a country, can muster as a governement. I am totally embarrassed as an Australian that my governement behaves like this. More interested in who is leader than the welfare of the country. Can they go any lower?

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      01:22pm | 15/02/12

      We are being lead by the best of the 1980’s student politicians (both lefts and rightists), well the ones who didn’t wise up and get a life after uni.

      Very smart people don’t go into politics - unless they have massive egos.

    • fairsfair says:

      01:38pm | 15/02/12

      Totally agree AJ. Its just pathetic and it has been pathetic for months and months.

    • Mark says:

      07:00pm | 15/02/12

      @AJ

      It’s not them who are more interested in who is leader than the welfare of the country. It’s us.

    • Your Welcome in Whale says:

      12:29pm | 15/02/12

      Prime Minister Bill Shorten would defeat Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the next federal election

      Reply

    • Rilivon says:

      12:50pm | 15/02/12

      Bill Shorten needs to learn how to speak, He finks, and foughts.
      He’s got no hope, then again they voted Julia in.

    • RED says:

      12:57pm | 15/02/12

      They’re both going to be Prime Minister’s going into the next election? I look forward to seeing how that comes about.

    • Peter D says:

      01:12pm | 15/02/12

      Your ambitions are biased Chloe.

    • Bruce says:

      02:18pm | 15/02/12

      And Bill Shorten’s mother in law is ??? Got a be a major conflict of interest ! Can not see it working or wanted by the majority of Australians.

    • AJ says:

      12:29pm | 15/02/12

      I simply cannot belive that this mob are the best we, as a country, can muster as a governement. I am totally embarrassed as an Australian that my governement behaves like this. More interested in who is leader than the welfare of the country. Can they go any lower?

      Reply

    • Henry says:

      12:29pm | 15/02/12

      More puff from the lazy MSM. Hey Mal, how about you earn your crust for a change on focus on the real issues effecting the country. U know, Greece, the economy, coalition costing failures etc.
      I give up with you bludgers.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      01:08pm | 15/02/12

      Explain to me how ‘coalition costing failures’ affect the country even though they aren’t in government,  yet issues directly bearing on the office of Prime Minister apparently *don’t* affect the country.

      Oh and it’s not clever to call people lazy if you insist on writing ‘you’ as ‘U’.

    • The Missus says:

      01:09pm | 15/02/12

      Agree 100%. All about a few individuals when there is a whole country needs looking after.

    • Jet says:

      01:42pm | 15/02/12

      Henry - coalition costing failures. Where? Did you not see Laurie Oakes’ article on the weekend debunking the costing myth?

    • AdamC says:

      01:43pm | 15/02/12

      You just gotta hope the likes of ‘Henry’ are paid ALP internet commenters.

      One cannot help but have a bit of a chuckle.

    • Elvis says:

      04:13pm | 15/02/12

      Ohhh well, If Laurie’s debunked it, That settles it!

    • Jason says:

      05:21pm | 15/02/12

      Well Hello TimB, If the Noalition can’t add up now how the hell will they when in Government.  Get real that is the real problem.  All this leadership rubbish is just a distraction.  I see Abbott is going to restore the Health Rebate.  Another addition to his already $70 Billion Black Hole.  This is the story that should be scrutinized by lazy journalists.

    • Labor is Toxic says:

      06:32am | 16/02/12

      @ Jason and Henry

      What should be scrutinised by journalists is the 2011-12 Budget as compared with the 2011-12 MYEFO

      1. Increase in spending by $11B instead of a decrease in spending as promised by Swan.
      2. Blow out in debt from $106B to $136B. This is a net increase in debt by over $175B!!!!
      3. Slashing of Natural Disaster Relief by $7B to only $700M over the next 4-Years
      4. Reducing the Contingency Fund over the next 4-Years.
      5. Point 4 and Point 5 are what actually generate the surpluses in 2012-13 and 2013-14 ...... surpluses that are budgeted to increase debt.

    • Anubis says:

      12:29pm | 15/02/12

      Here’s Malcolm Farr openly stating that Labor are looking for solutions to ” the problems of Julia Gillard “. As Nal is a a devout Labor Fanboy (as proven by yesterdays article about the 4 Corners interview) I am astounded that Mal now acknowledges that there may be a problem caused by J. Gillard.  This is nearly as shocking as having the Punch’s village idiot, Nossy, come and trumpet to all and sundry that T. Abbott deserves to be Prime Minister. Almost as shocking as the Labor Party propaganda arm (the ABC) actually doing something that shows the real Julia as a conniving, cheating, lying, two faced bit of fabianistic scum that she is.

      Mr Farr - does this mean that at some time in the future you may actually revert to being an unbiased journalist?  Will wonders never cease?

      Reply

    • Blind Freddy says:

      02:16pm | 15/02/12

      Seems to me that Malcom Farr IS one of the few unbiased journalists left. The fact that you “righties” disagree with him one day and then agree the next day is evidence.

      The fact that you haven’t noticed yourself doing so is a comment on your intelligence and not MF’s political impartiality.

    • PsychoHyena says:

      02:44pm | 15/02/12

      @Anubis despite what you might think, at least Julia faced and answered the questions rather than impersonating Tony when hit with unexpected questions.

      I have also found it interesting that during the Howard years, the ABC was accused of supporting the Liberals, hell the RBA was accused of supporting the Liberals. I have seen journalists on here abused and accused of supporting one party over the other one day and then they are abused and accused of supporting the other party the next day.

      My point is that people accuse journalists and organisations of being biased based on their own bias.

      If I say I support the NBN or the CPS then your response will be that I’m a socialist along with some latte sipping of course. If I say I don’t support them then you will cheer me and tell me that I’m a smart man.

      Honest question though: If Labor is so-named because they were formed by the unions and workers, then why is a conservative party called the Liberals?

    • Anubis says:

      03:11pm | 15/02/12

      @ Psycho Hyena - I support the NBN, it is an essential and necessary new infrastructure for Australia. Whether its construction (and subsequent business model) is right is always open to question, but it is necessary and the one right thing this Government has done.

    • Andrew says:

      07:01pm | 15/02/12

      She may appear but she certainly doesnt answer the questions. Your obviously watching a difference interview to most of us, its the same stock answer to every question.

    • Lol says:

      12:32pm | 15/02/12

      Smith or Shorten, they’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel now, why don’t we throw Swan into the mix to make it even more comical.

      Reply

    • glenm says:

      01:35pm | 15/02/12

      They haven’t hit the bottom of the barrel till they roll out Plibersek as a potential leader.

    • Chris says:

      03:06pm | 15/02/12

      I don’t know… I reckon Peter Garret might be a peg lower still

    • Joan says:

      07:04pm | 15/02/12

      You think that’s scary? Try Julie Bishop !

    • Matt says:

      12:32pm | 15/02/12

      Going to Shorten or even Smith (and Smith is more palatable than Shorten) is not really an option, it wont improve Labor’s chances because that isn’t what the people want. The people want Labor to right a wrong, and the only way you do that is by handing the leadership back to Rudd. If they’re considering going to anyone but Rudd, they might as well stick with Julia!

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      12:33pm | 15/02/12

      Going to Shorten or even Smith (and Smith is more palatable than Shorten) is not really an option, it wont improve Labor’s chances because that isn’t what the people want. The people want Labor to right a wrong, and the only way you do that is by handing the leadership back to Rudd. If they’re considering going to anyone but Rudd, they might as well stick with Julia!

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      12:35pm | 15/02/12

      Rudd is the one the ALPers want NOT Julia,
      Shorten is too linked with Julia as seen on Four Corners.
      Smith is decent enough but may not have enough to pull the party through the next election.
      Rudd is their best bet but they seem too arrogant (or scared) to except the reality of the situation they created!

      Reply

    • Your Welcome in Whale says:

      12:40pm | 15/02/12

      abbott is an extroverted giant in the mass media and an introverted midget in federal parliament.
      any labor leader could defeat tony abbott at the next federal election regardless of where the Labor Leader is Bill Shorten, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard . steve smith or even Bob Brown..

      Reply

    • sandra says:

      03:50pm | 15/02/12

      Abbott is decent, loyal, great family man, consistantly volunteers for many causes, writes his own very good speaches,  and is intelligent—you dont like those traits obviously so I understand why you love Gillard then-!!!!

    • neil says:

      12:42pm | 15/02/12

      I agree, but taking it to it’s logical conclusion, after the challenge Rudd will have to go to the back bench and he will promptly resign forcing a by-election that Labor will lose which will result in a no confidence vote and a general election.

      Reply

    • Your Welcome in Whale says:

      12:44pm | 15/02/12

      Any Labor leader could defeat Tony Abbott at the next federal election.
      Abbot is an extroverted giant in the mass media and an introverted midget in federal parliament.

      Reply

    • Aitch B says:

      01:11pm | 15/02/12

      Yeah…. we heard you the first time.

    • C1 says:

      02:28pm | 15/02/12

      And ignored him the first time too!!

    • Martin says:

      12:45pm | 15/02/12

      If Rudd was happy and jovial, this can mean only one thing, he has or is very close to having the numbers to roll Gillard.

      Reply

    • Aitch B says:

      01:13pm | 15/02/12

      @Martin

      I think it’s a little less convoluted than that….. he’s smiling simply because Gillard’s going to get rolled.

    • GK says:

      12:46pm | 15/02/12

      Dear Labor Party, 

      I suggest you guys try Kim Beasley again.

      Only trying to help.

      GK

      Reply

    • Timmy says:

      01:45pm | 15/02/12

      LMAO… Don’t forget Mark Latham… he would probably be more popular than Julia Gillard.

    • SimonTigey says:

      03:05pm | 15/02/12

      hahaa thats funny GK, maybe they could even wheel out their old saviour Bob Hawke!!!

    • Little Joe says:

      07:44am | 16/02/12

      At least Mark Latham was an honest imbecile

    • The Machiavellian says:

      12:47pm | 15/02/12

      Farr canal or journalistic river? You guys are supposed to have the inside news on what’s happening in politics but your gossip and innuendo is wearing thin! The first we will know if a change happens will be the teary interview and announcement in the corridor of The House.
      A defeat on the floor of the house now seems more likely than the chooks and emasculated men of the Labor Party making up there minds as to “which gang of thieves constitutes the Government of this country”

      Reply

    • Philosopher says:

      12:48pm | 15/02/12

      I hate to break it to you, Mal, but its Rudd or bust.

      I was in Sunnybank on saturday, having my mid-morning yum cha, and Kevin Rudd was there. You should have seen the public outpouring of positive emotion. He is loved by the people. LOVED. Do you understand what that means? They will vote for Tony Abbott before they vote for anyone other than Rudd, and that’s a fact.

      Shorten is charismatic but divisive. He is a unionist through and through, and unionism is not as popular as it was in Hawke’s day. Situation’s like the outrageously generous pay deal at Holden which unionists described as “the best ever”, while simultaenously the company is begging us the taxpayers for massive handouts to stay afloat, are examples of why the average voting public are being put off unionism totally… But Shorten supports it to the hilt, which is why he is divisive.

      Stephen Smith is a wet sock. He honestly has no charisma at all. Under the first term government I thought he did a good job as Foreign Minister, but actually, in hindsight, when you consider how ineffective he has been as Defence Minister (all he’s done is bow to feminist pressure to let women fight in the frontline infantry and over-react to the ADFA skype sex scandal, in comparison Greg Combet was a much better Defence Minister), and when you consider how much of a Foreign Policy virtuoso Kevin Rudd is, it becomes clear that Kevin Rudd PM was basically doing all the Foreing Policy himself as PM and making Stephen Smith look good in the process.

      No, Kevin Rudd is Labor’s only hope of survival, and it hurts them. But the people love him, and there’s nothing Labor can do about it.

      Reply

    • Your name:brenton says:

      01:30pm | 15/02/12

      LOL.  I’m also pretty popular in my local pub, Philosopher!  Just because Mr. Rudd is popular in his own electorate (and surrounding areas of southern metro Brisbane), doesn’t make him popular everywhere.  In fact, I’s be very surprised if he wasn’t popular in Sunnybank!!  The polls of Gillard v Rudd are effectively a “who do you like less” poll.  They are BOTH unpopular.  I can ensure you that Rudd is not popular is greater Sydney.  Labor’s problem is their leaders cannot communicate effectively with the media/public.  Rudd spoke over our heads “in tongues/riddles” and Gillard took it too much in the other direction (dumbed things down to explain complicated legislation).  Labor is shot.

    • Mary Gill says:

      01:34pm | 15/02/12

      I think that while there may be many who love Rudd now (particularly in Qld), it’s only because they hate Julia so much.  IF Rudd does regain the PM position, it won’t be all that long before everyone will remember just how bad he was.  Plus his enemies within the Labor Party are firmly entrenched, and there are many, many of them to boot.

    • Karen from Qld says:

      01:35pm | 15/02/12

      He will be popular unti the 24 hours news cycle reminds everyone why they were turning against him in the first place.

    • Christo says:

      02:32pm | 15/02/12

      Rudd is only popular with the public because of what was done to him by Gillard. At the time it happened his popularity was about the same as Gillard’s is now. If he were to return as Prime Minister it wouldn’t take long before the people realised why he was unpopular with them. Labor really have no one that can lift them out of the hole that has been dug for them, a hole that is getting deeper each day Gillard stays as PM as she jumps from one disaster to another.

    • David says:

      03:02pm | 15/02/12

      What a short memory we all have. Rudd’s unpopularity and terrible standing as PM was what essentially started the whole debacle. Going back to Rudd would be a joke. We could get all ALP members to wear clown shoes in Parliament. Maybe issue some rubber noses and plastic flowers that squirted water out of them. Knifing Rudd in the back was a mistake. But he was a hopeless PM. Where will we find some quality politicians genuinely trying to look after the best interests of the country?

    • Malcolm says:

      07:09pm | 15/02/12

      @David You do have a very short memory. After Bob Hawke, Kevin Rudd is the most popular PM in Australian history.

    • kraka says:

      08:53pm | 15/02/12

      Malcolm-Howard is the second longest serving PM in history. Rudd WAS popular but falling when he (rightly) got knifed. Abbott will smash him at he next election but you dummies think because the Canberra press gallery agree then so do most Australians. The trouble is the opposite is true. Keep defending him though-it just proves what a deceitful moron you are

    • james says:

      04:09am | 16/02/12

      Kevin Rudd in Sunnybank is like Tom Cruise at a Scientology conference.

    • colin says:

      12:49pm | 15/02/12

      Call an election she is a major problem/ embrassment to fair minded Australias.
      She has no mandate.
      Major unemployment, carbon tax killing business, lies to the people.
      And now wants to screw up the health system because they are unable to manage the Australian budget.
      Call an Election.

      Reply

    • Martin says:

      07:16pm | 15/02/12

      @colon

      The Prime Minister did call an election. In just August, 2010. You lot lost, remember? What is a “mandate”? “Major unemployment” is a lie. Australia has record employment. “Carbon tax killing businesses” is another lie. Name one. If you want to call people liars it helps if you don’t base your namecalling on lies.

    • Jason says:

      08:08pm | 15/02/12

      She is the PM because she was able to gain the support of the independents while Abbott was not able to, but he did say he would offer his bum if necessary.  As for your assertion that this Government is providing MAJOR Unemployment !  Wait for Abbott he will give you the unemployment you talk about in spades, starting with the sacking of 10,000 public service followed by the Car Manufactures sacking workers because Abbott will withdraw support to the Car Manufactures.  Then you can think about paying more tax to support his hair brained parent support scheme, his direct action carbon plan which means you will pay $ 1300 to the polluters to stop polluting instead of the polluters paying the Government.  You have to ask how dumb can you be?

    • Borderer says:

      11:00am | 16/02/12

      Martin,
      Please explain to the thousands of bank workers, those at Hienz, the car manufacturers, Bluescope steel and now the Qantas employees how thousands of job cuts is not major? Our percentage of unemployed workers per our last series of stats was good compared to other nations but this is now sliding. When I say say sliding I’m talking about sliding in the populated areas away from mining, it’s great to say we have 6% unemployment nationally but how about locally? For example when I finished high school in the middle of the 90’s recession, there was 80% youth unemployment though the national figures were much lower.

    • Martin says:

      03:47pm | 16/02/12

      @border

      The fact is that Australia continues to have record employment.

      You can ask those companies why they’re laying people off at the same time as they’re making billions in profits yourself.

    • Tim says:

      12:50pm | 15/02/12

      Rudd is the person the public want, not the party. There’s nothing greater than a second coming. I really don’t know what the party want as its hard to understand what they stand for any more.

      Reply

    • Space Ghost says:

      12:52pm | 15/02/12

      Looking forward to the leadership change because that will be end of the just as unpopular idea void that is Abbott. Bring on Turnbull v Shorten or Smith.

      Reply

    • HARRY HK says:

      12:52pm | 15/02/12

      WE WANT KEAN OUT!!!  KEAN HAS GOT TO GO!!! #Roverspride

      Reply

    • abcd says:

      12:52pm | 15/02/12

      It won’t be Bill too many people know his personal kryptonite!

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      12:54pm | 15/02/12

      Bill Shorten has time and again praised Julia for her strength, she being one tough lady etc. getting all this legislation through with a minority government, doing the right thing for Australia etc. or what she and her cohort hope is good for their idea of Australia, adjusted to also account for some desires of the Greens in order to have their support.

      He is also on record as stating he has no leadership ambition, though he’d not be the first politician to lie about that.
      All up, he does have very limited parliamentary experience and that could make for interesting times and decisions by the independents, some of whom are allegedly betrothed to Julia and only Julia.

      Somehow, I doubt that Smithy would want the leadership in the current state of play, he being a bit too much a softie I suspect anyway.

      Labor have been digging something of a hole for themselves for a few years now, dragged all of Australia into it and there’s enough of us in there to smother them, sequest them as a cheaper trial for carbon burial.

      Reply

    • Dash says:

      12:55pm | 15/02/12

      Different leader, same old farked up Labor party. After this latest private health lie, they can all go to hell!

      Reply

    • James D says:

      12:56pm | 15/02/12

      There is a light at the end of this tunnel. Shorten or Smith (doesn’t really matter which) will draw support away from Abbott and frighten the Libs into returning Turnbull to the leadership. He’s the only person in the current parliament worthy of the position of PM of this great country.

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      01:15pm | 15/02/12

      I’m thinking that Penny Wong may be suitable as a future Prime Minister. She is intelligent, articulate and seems to have her head screwed on right. The only problem is whether the electorate is grown up enough to see past her homosexuality and Asian background, There are still people who get hung up on Gillard being unmarried and childless so I’m thinking that maybe too many people focus on the less important characteristics of the candidates.

    • Tracker says:

      03:23pm | 15/02/12

      I would rather vote Labor than vote for Turnbull which is effectively the same thing.

    • I hate pies says:

      03:44pm | 15/02/12

      Rose, I don’t think Penny Wong can see past her homosexuality and asian background. She’s a nasty piece of work with a chip on her shoulder. Plus, she’s straight out of the lefty stereotype minority group - she could never bring her self to govern for all Australians.

    • Trev says:

      03:55pm | 16/02/12

      @ihatepies

      It’s obviously you who can’t see past Penny Wong’s sexuality and racial background, not her. So who is it that really has a chip on their shoulder?

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      12:56pm | 15/02/12

      He may be the “Pretty Boy” of the ALP but Shorten has yet to prove himself. Given his record of what appears tobe a very short fuse in the Temper Department he would be totally unsuitable. Just watch him when he is confronted with something he doesn’t like & you can see the Tinder-box flash. oh-so-close to the Big Bertha Cannon. he would not do at all.
      Maybe Greg Combet could be considered for, unlke so many, he seems competent, intelligent, level-headed and a person who actually thinks before he opens his mouth

      Reply

    • Tracey says:

      03:50pm | 15/02/12

      Yes Combet would be great!  Who wouldn’t want a Prime Minister once famously captured on film trashing Parliament House with fellow unionist ferals.

    • GetOut! says:

      12:56pm | 15/02/12

      Bill Shorten has his hands all over the assassination of Rudd.  Why would anyone trust him.  He helped install an incompetent PM as a stop-gap measure until the time was right for him to reward himself with the top job that was always his goal.

      Reply

    • GetOut! says:

      12:58pm | 15/02/12

      Bill Shorten has his hands all over the assassination of Rudd.  Why would anyone trust him.  He helped install an incompetent PM as a stop-gap measure until the time was right for him to reward himself with the top job that was always his goal.

      Reply

    • Jacket says:

      12:57pm | 15/02/12

      If someone was to replace Gillard it would be the second PM since Rudd in which the voter had no say. Sure, we never technically elect a PM but it might be an appropriate gesture on the part of the pollies that the voter is given a go at indicating their preference. Things are hardly running smoothly.
      Changing the driver on this bus of fools will do little to improve governance quality - and will also put us through a new round of ‘negotiations’ by the misfit Indies, along with the associated downtime.

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      04:25pm | 15/02/12

      The voter never gets a say on who will lead the party at any other time than at the election. Labor replaced their leader (unceremoniously) but the Libs wanted it to happen to them but they didn’t have the balls to do it. How many times did we hear that Howard should make way for Costello?
      On your other point, for the most part things are running smoothly. We are blessed with a system that provides secure and stable government pretty much regardless of who’s in the Lodge. If you get right down to it there are few real battle-lines , it’s just that the political biffo is unusually ugly at the moment. As for the “Indies”, the Coalition are just peeved that they did in fact act independently. Whether you agree with them or not, I think it’s good that they didn’t automatically go with their ‘natural’ side, that they did negotiate and they did put serious thought into the decisions that they made. Whether their decisions were right or not will be seen in time, looking at it now is still only looking at the short game, politics should always be looking at the long term.

    • Gavin H says:

      12:58pm | 15/02/12

      The right is kidding itself a change to anyone but Rudd will be seen as another outbreak of NSW disease. No one else in the ALP has the popularity to win an election, at this stage. Though given Abbott’s popularity they may be willing to take a huge punt.

      Smith - nope defense has shown that he can’t do it, boring as hell.
      Shorten - Lies like Gillard (The Project last night) and needs to give himself space from Gillard otherwise he his just another disloyal underling.
      Crean - We know his popularity from the past.

      Rudd can make a story about his return the others lack the narrative apart from anybody but Rudd.

      Reply

    • scumbag says:

      12:58pm | 15/02/12

      Why are Punchers posting their opinion twice?

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      02:14pm | 15/02/12

      No idea.

    • scumbag says:

      01:00pm | 15/02/12

      Why are Punchers posting their opinions twice???

      Reply

    • C1 says:

      02:55pm | 15/02/12

      ha ha - I bet you do a great Maldives Joke

    • Astroboy says:

      01:02pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten? Oh dear lord no. We don’t need a new Napoleon in this country, things are bad enough as it is. Smith or Combet would be better, but I fear it is far too little, too late.

      Reply

    • Bomb78 says:

      01:02pm | 15/02/12

      Not sure what odds you are following Malcom. Sportsbet has Shorton at $9, behind Smith ($8), Crean ($4), and both Rudd & Gillard ($2.50) to lead the ALP at the next election. And Shorton as PM creates a constitutional problem with the GG - surely she would have to resign - but that’s as likely as Rudd letting go of his ambition.

      Reply

    • The Machiavellian says:

      01:19pm | 15/02/12

      The answer is there in the odds “Bomb78says “- a joint Rudd - Gillard ticket!

    • Alex W says:

      01:51pm | 15/02/12

      Install Rudd as GG!

    • Bomb78 says:

      04:07pm | 15/02/12

      Alex W - it worked for Hawke.

    • Q.Pham says:

      01:05pm | 15/02/12

      Wayne Swan must be singing “What about me ? It isn’t fair .....etc.”
      Even his own party knows he’s an imbecile, not even good enough to replace the current head-imbecile.

      Reply

    • ibast says:

      01:08pm | 15/02/12

      Can’t see it being Shorten.  Jones, Bolt and Murdock have already taken to tarnishing his image for fear he’ll be the next Bob hawk.  Maybe when he first came in, but not now.

      Swan?  None of the mud seems to have stuck to him.

      Agree it won’t be Rudd, because the independents have said they won’t support him and Labor need time to prove the sky won’t fall when the Carbon price comes in.

      Reply

    • Philosopher says:

      01:29pm | 15/02/12

      The Carbon Tax is already causing serious economic damage: Car industry on the ropes, aluminium smelters sacking workers, seriously, the Carbon Tax is already causing the sky to fall in and it hasn’t even started yet (because companies have to make plans for the future and they are taking the Carbon Tax into account). But how much worse will it be when the Tax actually hits? A lot worse, ibast, a lot worse.

    • Steve says:

      02:02pm | 15/02/12

      Really Philosopher really?

      So our high AUD, weak European and US economies (EU in recession), a slowing China is not the problem, but rather a price on Carbon which a) hasn’t been introduced, b) involves lots of compensation to many industries, including the aluminium smelter business.

      Oh and the sky is falling in? Really, while I see many people indebted (an individual problem because greedy people have overextended themselves), unemployment is still low, interest rates are fairly low, savings are high, consumption has dipped but not dramatically and GDP continues to grow.

    • scumbag says:

      01:09pm | 15/02/12

      Reliable sauces are reported to have inside knowledge that Sir Les Patterson, the erstwhile Australian Ambassador, will be making a tilt at the prime ministership, in a comminique encrypted as ‘TOMATO’ and stamped TOP SECRET, as shown here, in capital letters.  Obviously, that could be a tie, amongst others.

      Reply

    • Bek says:

      01:11pm | 15/02/12

      There’s even less chance of me voting for Shorten than there is Gillard

      Reply

    • Joe says:

      01:14pm | 15/02/12

      Your reap what you sow, as the saying goes. Gillard is naive to think that her treachary in deceiving the Australian voters and Labor supporters would not come back to haunt her. With all the distraction of the leadership, its Bob Brown who is governing this country! What a disaster!

      Reply

    • Jack says:

      04:02pm | 16/02/12

      @joe

      Exactly. The treachery and insults to the Independents from the Noalition and their supporters have ensured that they’ll never switch sides and join with them.

    • Disillusioned says:

      01:20pm | 15/02/12

      Whatever happened to the ‘Peoples elected PM’?  I really hate the fact the we elect our chosen leader and then the party can change them….what is the point in the first place of having an election if who we vote in can be changed anyway, we are losing our vote and power of choice….I appreciate we elect a specific party but they are headed at the time by the person we feel can lead and represent us not who we feel can be replaced in 6 months

      Reply

    • Peter T says:

      03:19pm | 15/02/12

      Disillusioned, We DON’T elect our chosen leader. There is NO SUCH THING as “People’s elected PM” in Australia. We vote for our preferred local member. If they belong to the major party that wins government, then they have ‘a chance” of becoming PM, as happened with Gillard. She won her seat of Lalor and was made Deputy PM by THE PARTY. The same party, of course, that decided to dump it’s incumbent (read previously party-appointed leader), Kevin Rudd.

    • Mark says:

      04:04pm | 16/02/12

      @disillusiond

      Whatever happened to Brendan Nelson? Whatever happened to Malcolm Turnbull?

    • Karen from Qld says:

      01:22pm | 15/02/12

      The ALP was doomed the day Rudd was elected as leader. Those who pushed for him to take over as leader of the party should have asked those who had to endure working with him whilst he was Chief of Staff in the Goss Govt. All the evidence was there as to what he was like and how vindictive he could be if crossed. But that is the price you pay when you opt for the fairy floss solution. It may look appealing but it is just spun sugar and no substance and leaves a sour after taste.

      Reply

    • LMAO says:

      04:06pm | 16/02/12

      @Karewn

      LMAO   “Doomed” to win the next 2 elections, you mean !

    • Debbie says:

      01:23pm | 15/02/12

      Wouldn’t there be an interesting conflict of interest as Shortens Mother in Law is the GG? What we would have to do about that - one of them would have to resign as don;t see that being above board at all

      Reply

    • Tracker says:

      03:41pm | 15/02/12

      I like your thinking grin On topic, Her Royal Highness and His Majesty will have the new Kingdom of Australia complete then.  Isn’t that their ultimate goal ?

    • I hate pies says:

      01:24pm | 15/02/12

      God help us all if Shorten ever becomes Prime Minister. His performance over the QANTAS affair proved he is incapable of putting his personal views aside for the greater good, and proved he is incapable of being anything more than an anti-business union hack. Shortens knowledge and skills are limited to those of a union rep. If Shorten was to become Prime Minister we would have massive job losses within two years, guaranteed.

      Reply

    • AdamC says:

      01:46pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten is not alone in this respect. The ALP has become extremely anti-business in recent times. The government should not take sides in industrial disputes as it is now doing as a matter of routine. The constant bank-bashing is pretty foolish too.

    • Don says:

      01:24pm | 15/02/12

      Dear ALP,

      Here is what you should do:

      1. Throw all the feminazis and socialists out of the party, and give them to the Greens.
      2. Install me as your leader.
      3. Go to an election, where everyone of the those new Greens will be turfed.
      4. I give back the leadership, with a party capable of leading the great nation of Australia.

      That is all.

      Reply

    • Danny B says:

      01:25pm | 15/02/12

      Given that Shorten’s mother-in-law is the G-G, wouldn’t that create a conflict of interest were he to become Prime Minister?

      Reply

    • Dann.C says:

      01:26pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten is responsible for this farce of Julia Gillard. he is one of the untrustworthy devious conspiritors who turfed out Kevin Rudd and he expects the voters to want him as PM???? This guy appears as shonky as Arbib and howes and Gillard and swan. Stephen smith may not have a charisma but like rudd has the appearance of a leader. Shorten has the appearance of a midget minor bird. Plus who wants to be reminded of gillard etc because shorten, who is short on trust,and took away our democracy when he instigated shafting rudd if he is PM. Labor is to full of EX union dudes to run this country which they have destroyed financially.

      Reply

    • Gavin H says:

      01:29pm | 15/02/12

      This is why from the dreaded 4 Corners

      BRUCE HAWKER: I was in the the front vestibule of the Parliament House, and members of the public were just standing there watching his speech on a monitor, and people were crying - and at that point I thought, “This is not a good sign for the Government - if there’s that public demonstration of grief, as it were, over the removal of a Prime Minister, then we’re in for some tough times ahead”

      Reply

    • chris says:

      01:32pm | 15/02/12

      If screwing up the country wasn’t such a serious probelm, the dysfunction of the Labor party would be quite funny

      Reply

    • Anna C says:

      01:34pm | 15/02/12

      If the ALP wants even a snowflake’s chance in hell of winning the next election then they have to bring back Rudd.  Poll figures show that Rudd’s popularity is double that of Julia’s, Bill’s and Steven’s figures combined.

      Reply

    • MarkS says:

      01:42pm | 15/02/12

      The people do not & never have elected the PM.

      Reply

    • Paul says:

      01:43pm | 15/02/12

      I think whoever takes over loses the next election.  Bill Shorten might want to consider leaving no skeletons in the closet regarding his roles and what he may have been aware of for the fall of Rudd.

      Reply

    • Anthony says:

      01:45pm | 15/02/12

      Sounds like a fun old time in Canberra, cannot possibly see how the publics taxes are being wasted. Coffee, dinner, laughs, chats, tweets excuse me as I get back to the real world. Slash 70 billion from the public service; yes please!

      Reply

    • Kitty says:

      02:44pm | 15/02/12

      What you don’t realise is that Rudd has probably been at work since 6am, and will finish work at midnight. A little time out for coffee and/or dinner seems allowable. And all of those are still work related. Coffee with the press - how is that not work for a Pollie?

      As someone that is friends and neighbours with many political staffers, that’s a pretty normal day for most of them.

    • Anthony says:

      03:21pm | 15/02/12

      Perhaps they could finish earlier if they had better time management skills and focused working for their constituents rather than entertaining journalists.

    • Andy1 says:

      01:48pm | 15/02/12

      Billl Shorten? You can’t be serious!
      What experience does he have to be Prime Minister of Australia?
      He has less experience than Gillard. The guys a dope.
      Stephen Smith always looks like he’s shaking inside, and appears about as exciting as a dead fish.
      Can you imagine him trying to rally up the troops with energy and inspiration?
      Nup, they should just stick with Gillard and she should sack Rudd.
      Doesn’t matter really if it causes a by election for Kev, they’re going to lose the next election anyhow.
      At least that way Gillard can maybe save some ?????? can’t think of a word here.

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      01:50pm | 15/02/12

      Their only chance is Rudd. Rudd didn’t listen to the power brokers when he was PM and thats why he got removed. They went with Puppet Juliar and look where that got them. I think Rudd and his supporters should threaten to walk out to force an Election. Then the muppets of the Labor party will have no choice, go with Rudd and win against Abbott or have a moron(Abbott) as PM. Let Rudd back in and let him run the country the way is should be - without the cancerous power brokers.

      Reply

    • St. Michael says:

      04:25pm | 15/02/12

      Rudd’s main problem was that he didn’t listen to the power brokers - or anybody else, whether it be Cabinet, the ALP, his own public service heads, or, for that matter, the electorate.

    • Michael says:

      01:50pm | 15/02/12

      Ugh, not Stephen Smith. Even when I was a Labor supporter, I could never stand the guy. There’s just something creepy about him, it’s unshakable.

      Reply

    • Michael says:

      04:16pm | 15/02/12

      When did you stop supporting Labor? must have been whilst i was on holidays recently.

    • John says:

      01:57pm | 15/02/12

      Oh no!  Please do not Shorten-change the Australian electorate again!  My bet is that even Crean the Unwanted will also throw his hat in the ring - he may decide that if the Slipper fits then he too might go out on a top paying job!

      Reply

    • Cienfuegos says:

      01:58pm | 15/02/12

      New Cabinet announced:

      Prime Minister: Bronwyn Bishop
      Minister for Early Childcare: Bob Collins
      Treasurer and Minister for Special Thai Massage : Craig Thomson
      Minister for Health and Obesity: Dick Adams
      Minister for Eye Rolling: Tanya Plibersek
      Minister for Sweating Profusely and Dick Smith Doppelgangers: Wayne Swan
      Minister for Beef Stroganov: John Murphy
      Minister for Greasy Hair: Nicola Roxon
      Minister for Tuckshop Ladies: Jenny Macklin

      Reply

    • PM Judas Billfart says:

      03:30pm | 15/02/12

      I dont want to guild the Lily on that comment but you forgot Minister for Hysteria and Chief Parlimentary Dominatrix Conroy

    • Dr Zogg says:

      04:00pm | 15/02/12

      Not a bad line-up, but I’d go with Dame Edna as PM in preference to Bron.

    • Mary says:

      09:10pm | 15/02/12

      Hilarious, but you can’t have Bronnie leading the Laborites, she is liberal through and through.

    • Speculator says:

      01:59pm | 15/02/12

      Combet is the dark horse - I think he is just trying to stay as clear of the stink as he can at the moment but has ambitions for the top job none-the-less.

      Reply

    • John says:

      02:00pm | 15/02/12

      Oh no!  Please do not Shorten-change the Australian electorate again!  My bet is that even Crean the Unwanted will also throw his hat in the ring - he may decide that if the Slipper fits then he too might go out on a top paying job!  They seem bound to make the Wong choice again!

      Reply

    • poa says:

      02:02pm | 15/02/12

      So the Governor general’s son-in -law is next in line for the ALP throne.
      gee…Wonder why the GG doesn’t call this farce dysfunctional and call fresh elections?
      One thing you neglec to mention…If not Rudd…then Rudd walks citing “health and family” reasons.Would our ALP get passed a by-election in Moreton if Rudd cracks it?
      I don’t think so either

      Reply

    • Peter T says:

      03:36pm | 15/02/12

      What’s Morton got to do with it? Rudd’s member for Griffith! At least you got the STATE right though!

    • Mark From Maitland says:

      02:07pm | 15/02/12

      Won’t it be ironic if Gillard loses her job as Prime Minister before the Carbon Tax becomes law when she went back on her word not to introduce one for the sole reason that she considered keeping her job as more important than those whose job will be at risk with its introduction.

      Reply

    • Ex-Lab Non-Lib says:

      02:10pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten’s plan is coming along marvelously.

      Seriously when you become the PM, do you suddenly loose all the political nouse that got you there in the first place?

      Rudd is pretty much their only chance, put him back, let the Australian public decide whether to boot him or keep him and put this whole disgraceful chapter behind us.

      Reply

    • Steve on the coast says:

      02:12pm | 15/02/12

      The woman we loosely refer to as our Prime Minister must go, not only is she an embarrassment to this country, she is an embarrassment to the Labor party. As a Liberal voter this is how I see the action required by Labor to limit damage to the Labor brand. The Leadership must change now, preferably to someone other than Rudd. Immediately enter damage control with a view to calling an early election, an election they will obviously lose. The loss at this early election would be heavy, though, not as heavy as it could be if they wait until it is due in 2013 where it is possible they could end up like NSW state Labor.
      As a matter of interest would the appointment of Shorten create some form of conflict of interest as the mother-in-law is the Governor General. Perhaps there are other reasons not have mother-in-law and son-in-law holding the top two positions in the land at the same time. Doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.

      Reply

    • Steven says:

      02:16pm | 15/02/12

      It is insulting to the intelligence of Australians for this political party to assume that, to regain popularity, they can simply respray the car and flog it off as fixed.
      This is not a political system defined by its leader, but a system in which a political party as a whole is held responsible to its actions. In no way could any change in leadership shift the doubt raised by the ridiculous political ego battles occuring within the party.
      These ego charged contests allow a stranglehold on OUR system of government, from the way government departments perform and function, the acountability of members, to the ridiculous arm wrestle that such a negative opposition has been allowed to control in the wider political landscape.
      If only the backroom boys could read the polls for what they are; that Australians want a performing government that works together to capitilise on the perfect storm of resource revenue for the better of Australia. The Labor Party needs to realise that it doesnt matter what the car looks like, if it doesnt perform Australians get a new one.

      Reply

    • Robertson the valueless says:

      02:49pm | 15/02/12

      Robertson is trying hard with that tack in NSW & is gaining air time.  Appalling but done without any contrition or even recognition.
      AsArbib is one of the backroomers and shifted to safety before the ides of march, we can expect the same in Canberra

    • jg says:

      02:20pm | 15/02/12

      Whatever the case, the ALP haven’t got a snowflakes with Gillard.

      Reply

    • Jay says:

      02:20pm | 15/02/12

      Many are talking about Abbott and the Liberals in power. They will abolish the carbon tax, mining tax and reverse the Private Health Insurance rebate.
      Where will they get the money and what will the cut to achieve all of these targets? No doubt the rich will get everything they want, tax cuts, work choices, but the Liberals when in Govt were happy to sit on huge surpluses instead of spending that money on infrastructure which Australia desperately requires. Now every State Govt has no money and our infrastructure just gets worse.

      Reply

    • Joe says:

      02:48pm | 15/02/12

      Don’t care! Anything is bettter than Gillard.
      Abbott deserves a chance. If he fails we turf him out too.
      Unpopular Opposition Leaders often make good Prime Ministers they say.

    • Gavin H says:

      02:54pm | 15/02/12

      Jay, you do know that both the Carbon Tax and Mining Tax will cost money when first implemented? Ie by abolishing them you will save money at least for the first few years. The budget position will be made even worse if LNP in QLD puts up mining royalties once elected, which is a fairly high chance given that it has happened in NSW, VIC and WA?

    • I hate pies says:

      03:59pm | 15/02/12

      We seemed to do alright without the carbon and mining taxes. Do you realise we are better off when we support our businesses, not punish them?
      Plus, we’re bloody lucky we had that surplus. I’ll give you a very basic money management lesson - in the good times you put away what you don’t need, so you’ve got something for the bad times. By the way, what infrastructure that is the federal governments responsibility do we desparately need?
      Live within you means Jay, it’s not that difficult a concept. If we borrow money we have to pay it back with interest - there’s another simple money management lesson for you.

    • gazac says:

      04:57pm | 15/02/12

      What infrastructure has the ALP done, don’t say the NBN as I cant drive on that, lucky they did sit on huge surpluses instead of spending that money, it gave the ALP $$ to spent on all the waste

    • Jay says:

      07:31am | 17/02/12

      State Infrastructure i.e Victoria. New suburbs being created but there is no public transport which forces everyone to use cars. Rail tracks which are in desperate need of refurbishment. Boom gates at intersections like Springvale Road which results in bottle necks.Lack of hospitals in the outer suburbs to accomodate the sprawling suburbs.Ten years of State Labor did nothing to address this issue other than commit the tax payer to 30 years of debt thanks to the Desalination plant which has been underwater for most of the time. With respect to the Carbon Tax and Mining Tax all of the set up costs have been incurred as the system will be well and truly operating by the time the next election comes along. The income will be flowing through the Govts coffers. I have yet to see a Govt that will give up revenue.Get real, the Libs will keep it and make some excuse to keep it. Deep down they probably hope that the Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate.
      I am apolitical now as I do not trust any of these liars to do anything they promise. In fact the only Party that has stuck to their agenda are the Greens; but they are a bunch of nutters.

    • Rudd is their only hope says:

      02:27pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten? Labor are screwed. It will be seen as rewarding the plotters who ousted Rudd in the first place - and he will simply have the same issue to deal with that Gillard has had: “When is Rudd taking over?”

      Labor could keep Gillard but they’re going to be massacred at the next election. Some in Labor are holding out for the hope that Gillard will get “clear air” and everything will work out - but it won’t happen. For the modern example, take a look at Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland. Her polls dropped and her Government was on the nose, then they had the floods which Bligh dealt with in a fantastic manner. No-one had a bad word to say about her and for a while, sure, her polls went up. In fact, they were exceptional.

      ... but then the floods passed and everyone remembered how much they hated her. So even if Gillard has a stellar period (which by the way, is highly unlikely given the January Australia Day fiasco and now the February interview fiasco; what’s waiting for us in March?) her approval rating / polls will drop right back right to where they were.

      Labor could be smart and call an election now to get it over and done with, then hope PM Abbott does turn out to be a disaster and they return with someone else in 3 years. That won’t happen though, because politicians don’t give up power lightly.

      So a Leadership change has two choices:

      1. Rudd.

      2. Anyone but Rudd.

      Anyone but Rudd is either Shorten or Crean. As I said, Shorten will be seen as rewarding the plotters against Kevin and I doubt will go down well. There’s also another fundamental issue: What else is going to change? Shorten will be promoting the NBN (Rudd’s idea), the carbon tax (Rudd’s idea and Gillard’s “lie”) and crowing about how Labor saved Australia from the GFC (also the work of Rudd). This is the same problem Labor NSW had - change the leader but not the policy - and it will be seen through. The only policy they might change is their approach to asylum seekers… by going back to onshore processing in-line with the party paltform but this is also Rudd’s idea as well - and that’s one policy area that didn’t actually work out so well.

      Crean has a better chance than Shorten but he’s just a slightly bigger snowball in hell that will still get melted. He might be able to pull it off as an “Elder Statesmen” if he sets about reforming the Labor party from the inside-out but those sorts of things are best done in Opposition (and would be better started when Gillard resigns on election day after being defeated). He’ll have the same Rudd problem as Shorten and Gillard though. He’ll merely be seen as the “anyone but Kevin” option and resented for it by the public.

      Besides, the other issue is that a leadership change must assuredly trigger an election. Anything else will be seen as disingenuous - and of coruse, Labor will be denying Australian voters the chance to kick Gillard up the bum themselves. They may just resent Labor for that.

      There is simply /no other choice/ than Rudd if Labor want a shot at winning the next election (and it’s their best chance to avoid being massacred). The only problem here is that Rudd was dumped for a reason (Kevin O’Lemon anyone? Glass-jaw? Micro-manager? Programatic specificity?) If those problems are still there, we will very quickly remember and turn off Rudd just as quickly. However, Rudd would be able to campaign on his platform (NBN, GFC, Carbon Tax, Saying “Sorry”). His only issue will be whether we believe Labor are going to stick with him this time. After all, he didn’t even survive the first term the first time around - and if there’s one thing Labor don’t have right now, it’s trust.

      But at least Labor would have gone through the process, given him a chance and they would be able to reform themselves if they lost.

      But if they won… Well, who knows how long that would last this time around.

      Reply

    • Queen B says:

      02:30pm | 15/02/12

      Short Bill? Shudder! Swanny ... double shudder!!
      Shouldn’t the bet be on Bob Brown, he is more in the Labour Party’s pants than the Labour Party smile

      Reply

    • Doug says:

      02:42pm | 15/02/12

      The way the ALP are going they’ll be backing Chris Bowen as the leader next!

      Reply

    • Saddened Butnot Insane says:

      02:44pm | 15/02/12

      For days we saw everywhere the posters who said this speculaton was a media beat up. Now we have leaks to the ABC no less which methodically dismbowelled the great lady negotiator.
      Shorten is Machiavelli in miniature; why would you take on the end of the term?
      We voted for the ‘dream team’ a union between non-union rudd & union to the Gills Gillard. Soon he union bashed so they set him up, plotted and knifed him.  No faceless one wanted the risk so they ante up the second of the dream team and put her in - the usual labor feminine fuse.
      They keep all the stuff of intrigue in their back pocket & now it comes out to put her away, bring the dream teamer back and let him get the axe quickly.
      Only other choice is the Rudd mimic & clone Penny not so wrong. But she has one or two preferences which put her beyond the pale.
      Such fun as a farce in many act.
      So very disturbing as the country is rubbished by this power struggle and runined by the on-the run policies

      Reply

    • Graeme says:

      02:48pm | 15/02/12

      K.Rudd (KRUD) as PM again. You have to be joking. He is not all that popular here in Queensland outside of his electorate. Before he was replaced by Juliar he was generally referred to up here as ‘Rudd the Dud’. People had no trust in him and didn’t like the way he was running Australia. Everyone hoped for better things from Juliar but that hasn’t worked out has it ?

      Reply

    • Longing Foralaugh says:

      03:04pm | 15/02/12

      Wonderful
      Who plays Pete to Kev’s Dud? shame he can’t play the piano but he is almost as funny as Dudley Moore

    • Esteban says:

      04:17pm | 15/02/12

      What is the point of sending your boy to Canberra if he can’t have a special deal for his fellow Queenslaaanders!

      Even fellow Queenslaander Swanny hasn’t found a way to favour his home state.

      Queensland and Rudd were not strangers in 2007 he already had form with Goss Govt.  was it 10 seats that swung to ALP in 2007? Queensland gave us the Rudd problem in 2007 now how about fixing it at the next election.

    • Justa comment says:

      02:50pm | 15/02/12

      In my view, Shorten has the same DNA as Gillard and he was a key player in the knifing of Rudd so it appears, loyalty does not rank very highly with him. Shorten will follow in Gillard’s footsteps without a miss.  Same judgement, same Green policy ideas, same IR regressive policies, same waste, lack of fiscal and prudent management, same incompetant team.  From reading and hearing him speak, I believe he struggles to articluate even the simplest of points.  Nope, not good enough for Australia.

      Reply

    • Stuart says:

      02:51pm | 15/02/12

      Labor polititions would be stark raving mad and suicidal to stay with Gillard or pick anybody from Labors ministry to replace her,A clean skin is needed for Labor to have any hope or support.

      Reply

    • sunny says:

      04:18pm | 15/02/12

      I don’t know about clean skin, I think they need someone with a very thick skin. So they should stick with Gillard. She is very rarely unsettled, and what surprises me the most is she remains polite to everyone - even those who look into their tea cup and get hysterical.

    • Old Chook says:

      02:55pm | 15/02/12

      I’m confused about everything relating to this, simply because on one is confirming or denying anything. It seems the media has all the answers

      Reply

    • Stuart says:

      03:17pm | 15/02/12

      Shorten.Smith,Swan or anyone from Labors distrusted senior ministry would not be tolerated by the general Australian voter.These guys have continuied to support the deceitful and despised liar Julia Gillard as leader of their now tainted Labor allianced government.

      Reply

    • onlooker says:

      03:18pm | 15/02/12

      I would never vote for Shorten, he would have to be king of the rats, along with the other faceless men who knifed Rudd. I just don’t trust them, if they were so willing to sell a popular PM (Rudd) down the river ..what will they do to us? I don’t like Crean either, he bought that bitching about Rudd into the public arena, I don’t think he has much common sense. They should just bring back Kevin or keep the dragon queen and lose. I am getting sick of it all, we seem to run in circles chasing our tails. They need to settle down and get on with the job. I spoke to many today, who incidentally are Labor voters and not one person liked Gillard!!

      Reply

    • Esteban says:

      04:06pm | 15/02/12

      Recall Keating. All is forgiven Paul. come back please.

    • Andrew says:

      07:13pm | 15/02/12

      BS it is Esteban.

    • captain crunchy says:

      03:27pm | 15/02/12

      Doesn’t matter who it is there’s bound be be a tax associated with him/her/it.  Perhaps we’ll get stung with a “a political leader failure tax”.  We can add it the carbon tax, incompetent qld govt flood tax and private health care tax.  yippeeee!

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      03:32pm | 15/02/12

      Where oh where is Sir Acotrel? No comment?

      Gillard’s really done it this time if even the faithful have given up wink

      Reply

    • MKR says:

      03:47pm | 15/02/12

      All Labor Trolls are at a BBQ for Craig Thompson,its a Byo prostitute

    • Against the Man says:

      04:17pm | 15/02/12

      Yeah except the taxpayer is paying for it somehow…..........

    • Use to vote Labor says:

      03:33pm | 15/02/12

      Don’t just stop at Gillard, kick out all the back stabbing traitors and liers! Cannot believe anything any of them say now!

      Reply

    • Brad says:

      03:50pm | 15/02/12

      Ms Gillard is doing a brilliant job under the circum… I can’t do it. Ms Gillard has no political timing at all. She is in a hole and keeps digging herself deeper. How many more embarrassing moments is she going to have to go through before someone saves her? If it was a boxing match and I was her trainer… I’d throw in the biggest towel I could find. Game over already…

      Reply

    • Alex says:

      03:57pm | 15/02/12

      Kevin Rudd wasn’t a popular man towards the end of his leadership. With his party and with the Australian people, the leadship change should not be a big surprise. I think the point here is the constant bull that keeps coming out of Gillards mouth. She cannot tell the truth if her life depended on it. And at this point it’s her job that depends. The whole nation knows she stabbed him, but she is still lying through her teeth in interviews trying to play innocent as if she didnt want it and didnt know. Maybe if she just stops lying for a change (and I can see its extremely hard espeically with a background in law). Maybe then people would be more accepting.
      But she just keeps adding to the list of lies, and it has now I blieve destroyed any reputation this woman has, and the party that is backing up these lies has lost any credibility with the nation.
      So no matter who the next stooge from ALP to / or not to take the lead it’s a lost cause.

      Reply

    • Alex says:

      03:58pm | 15/02/12

      Kevin Rudd wasn’t a popular man towards the end of his leadership. With his party and with the Australian people, the leadship change should not be a big surprise. I think the point here is the constant bull that keeps coming out of Gillards mouth. She cannot tell the truth if her life depended on it. And at this point it’s her job that depends. The whole nation knows she stabbed him, but she is still lying through her teeth in interviews trying to play innocent as if she didnt want it and didnt know. Maybe if she just stops lying for a change (and I can see its extremely hard espeically with a background in law). Maybe then people would be more accepting.
      But she just keeps adding to the list of lies, and it has now I blieve destroyed any reputation this woman has, and the party that is backing up these lies has lost any credibility with the nation.
      So no matter who the next stooge from ALP to / or not to take the lead it’s a lost cause.

      Reply

    • Wauker says:

      04:01pm | 15/02/12

      Sorry but none of the current ministers under Gillard will ever do.  They have learnt that lying and cheating is the way to go.  Poor Gillard was never reminded by her mum that one lie ends up with countless more lies to cover the previous ones.  Its just a habit now - can never, never, trust this evil one again!

      Reply

    • Wauker says:

      04:07pm | 15/02/12

      If its Bill Shorten its going to end up like the previous NSW Labor government.  Unadultered nepotism; notice how they all keep their maiden names so no one can’t decipher who is in bed with who.

      With Billy boy we end up with Ma-in-Law as GG.  How can that be ethical or moral?

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      04:07pm | 15/02/12

      On Q&A this week it was said by a panelist that Rudd has a special connection to the Australian people, that he knew us and we knew him, and I reckon that’s rubbish.
      Rudd does nothing like we do. He does not consult, he is neurotic about the fineness of his objectives, so much so that he does not realize that other personality types within government may enbolden themselves to get their own things done, and with great success.
      He is almost an anti-democrat.
      And as far as I know, no-one in SE Asia likes him.
      (Oh, there is one bloke, who got off from a sodomy charge.)
      Rudd’s personality is too defined by a linear force of will : he wants a result but has no sense of irony or misadventure. Everything must be ship-shaped.
      Un Australian mate.
      Actually, I’ve just remembered the bloke was from The Monthly, who said it.

      ps Drip.

      Reply

    • Richo says:

      04:02am | 16/02/12

      Good old Q+A, ABC ‘impartiality’ at it’s finest. If it’s a pro Labor question, cue the ten minute response from the panel. If it’s an anti-Labor question, ‘I’m going to take that as a statement, not a question’.

    • Ania K. says:

      04:14pm | 15/02/12

      New PM - Tony Abott not Rudd/Shorten or Smith as the Labor in Govt is always wasting lots of Tax payer $$$.  Bring it on. I can’t wait for the new Election & a new PM of our Australia not the PM that we have now as She is a liar of the century. She doesn’t know what she’s doing only listen to the Green leader Bob Brown.

      Reply

    • Old John says:

      04:54pm | 15/02/12

      The Canberra media brains trust still don’t get the message. Gillard was certainly a huge mistake but it is the POLICIES forced on us all, often by deception, by Rudd, then Gillard & their bunch of Socialist Crazies that have turned off the majority of thinking loyal Australians. Most of their policies either stink, were unnecessary, always wasteful and have takien Australia back years. The few worthwhile changes (probably by the Public Service & not pollies)  have not been opposed by the Opposition but are minor & few people could even name any. The error ridden & disgracefully dishonest Julia must go but at the hands of the electorate. Not even a seemingly modest but totally uninspiring Smith would get rid of their lousy policies & though-bubble Socialist theories as the harm & debt are already installed. Let the people have their say now that much of the lies & broken undertakings are out there to be fairly judged.this time!  The electorate now recognises that Julia & a few independants duped us last time, & the same applies to Bligh in Qld.

      Reply

    • gazac says:

      05:02pm | 15/02/12

      Slipper for MP (we all get a new dress)
      no
      Bob Brown for MP (all Australians to become gay)
      no
      Craig Thomson for MP (free porn)
      no
      Wayne Swan (well he did save us from ????)
      no
      Nicola Roxon (cwe had a woman & it did not work)
      no
      Crean (no old been there & now is sour)
      no
      Combet (no he would be to busy down at the docks)
      the young may not know about Combet passed
      no
      Shorten (no he is to short on brains)

      Reply

    • Nobleone says:

      05:02pm | 15/02/12

      The Australian people should be the only ones who change Gillard. Do the ALP think they are still in opposition

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      05:20pm | 15/02/12

      Wow just reading these comments looks like Gillard/ALP are as popular as mouldy bread laced with shit! The ALP got a chance after 11 years and they f@#ked it up beyond expectations! Same old Labor, Same old Corruption and incompetence! How these morons live with themselves and face up to their families on a daily basis is mind boggling!

      Reply

    • Mary says:

      09:22pm | 15/02/12

      @ATM yep you are right did it back in the 70s and still have not learnt from that lesson, I thought Whitlam’s govt was corrupt but this lot really have taken the cake, icing, strawberries & cream.  Listening to the Labor members on AM Agenda on Fox is like listening the a scratched record going over and over the same line and the worst of them is Craig Emerson.  You know what I would vote for Barnaby Joyce more than this lot, even though I don’t live in his electorate, says it how he sees it.

    • AB says:

      07:54pm | 15/02/12

      Surprised at all the people from the bolt blog who have flocked to ThePunch.

      Excellent work you rednecks.

      Reply

    • Bob says:

      08:17pm | 15/02/12

      Nobleone: They might. They still behave like an opposition. If they didn’t, then they’d focus attention on what they’ve done or are doing rather than answering every question with “But Tony Abbott”

      Reply

    • Cranky Pants says:

      08:45pm | 15/02/12

      I would like to know if with each change of prime minister within the one government do the tax payers fund the generous entitlements that a PM is entitled too for the PM that has been replaced? So first Kevin, then Julia then?? So in effect taxpayers brunt the cost of 3PMs lifelong entitlements for a position that is usually held by 1 till they are elected out of office. Hope that makes sense and someone can answer.

      Reply

    • harris says:

      09:00pm | 15/02/12

      It’s media driven. Pay back.

      Reply

    • Josh Catalano says:

      09:08pm | 15/02/12

      I am a strong liberal supporter, but I would vote for Kevin Rudd in a heartbeat and I believe the majority of Australians would also.  No one wanted Julia and she has the hallmarks of being a backstabbing, lying social climber.  Peter Abbott doesn’t seem to have the support of most so if Labour has any sense of anything and if they want to win the next election they need to fix the wrong that was done and put Rudd back in the drivers seat!!!

      Reply

    • M C says:

      10:29pm | 15/02/12

      Liebor, Thrashed our borders , that will see these mongrels wiped out.

      Reply

    • splash says:

      10:29pm | 15/02/12

      There was movement at the station
      as the Labor Midnight Cowboys are starting to saddle up, to come a riding and a knocking on the red heads door.

                            Tune in for next weeks episode.

      Reply

    • Tell It Like It Is says:

      07:41am | 16/02/12

      Shorten would be almost as bad as Gillard or Krudd.  We don’t have to see the ‘First Bloke’ much anymore. And the only palatable feature of Rudd is his apparently normal, pleasant and balanced wife. But Shorten! We’d have to see that sanctmonious wannabe royal mother-in-law way too often. I’m sure Howes fancies himself the next PM but (VERY) best not go there! Not a good look at all. So Smith. He seems freakishly reasonable too. Might be the only answer for them. But then I wouldn’t vote for any of them.

      Reply

    • Seamus says:

      07:48am | 16/02/12

      Stephen Smith has shafted the defence force good and proper.  Apart from the compliant and politically placed Admirals, Generals and Air Vice Marshals the ALP wouldn’t score many votes from the ADF.

      Reply

    • FWG says:

      08:02am | 16/02/12

      I do not think there’s one decent leader in the Labor Party, how can you pick from a long line of ex union rifraf whose only qualification is bludging of the worker. and whith no experiance of running anything. The Lobor Party is paying the penalty of handing out safe seats to these idiots and not to people who can contribute something usefull to the party and the country

      Reply

    • 2thepoint says:

      08:10am | 16/02/12

      Stop farting around!  It ain’t gonna be Shorten, Smith or Plibersek…it’s Rudd or Abbott.  Wake up you s%$theads.

      Reply

    • John H says:

      09:10am | 16/02/12

      Shorten? You can’t be serious? Labor can’t be serious—or that stupid! A Shorten PM will only serve to disenfranchise what’s left of Labor’s voters.
      Although, given the machinations of the Uninionista’s and the Labor Right thugs, this may very well have been their long term strategy.
      Shaft Rudd (and maintain the status quo), replace with little lefty Julia marionetted by pro your mob, then bring in the rising star (Shorten) to save the day and firmly ensconce the status quo advacing into a bold and fabulous future.  Great strategy—pity that the voting dumbo’s (your view of voters) probably just won’t buy it anymore.
      You see, I’m still in a union, was once a union rep on a management committee, have represented union members in negotiations with a company and still believe that unions (that’s not self-interested one’s) are of great value in society.
      So, if Labor changes PM (very stupid), and doesn’t return to Rudd (the only real alternative to minimise massacre at the next polls), and places Shorten as PM—then I will be one of the disenfranchised that will be actively involved in ensuring that a Labor massacre occrs at the next poll. Because the only chance of a real return to Labor values will be to get rid of the rubbish and have Labor have a real hard look at itself.  Unfortunately that will probably mean at least 3 terms of the NO Coalition and Phoney Tony—if we have to go backwards to go forwards—so be it. But it will still be a tragedy nevertheless

      Reply

    • youdy beaudy says:

      09:58am | 16/02/12

      God, this just goes on and on and on. To me it seems that the Government has a few ticks in the right boxes and still people are not happy. Down to your last mercedes are you all?

      Now it seems that many commenters have already decided on who is to be PM. Who is going to be defeated in some overthrow of Ms Gillard. You are all very well informed. I don’t know where people get all of this so called information. Sour Grapes, that’s all i see it as.

      If we watch parliament in session it is obvious that Ms Gillard is under extreme pressure from the others. But who are they, the others. I would never vote for Abbott or his crew. They just go on with the same ole same ole rhetoric every day. They would say anything to get the job. But i remember the lies and deceit of the Howard government of whom T. Abbott was a key player. Just don’t trust the bloke. I trust Gillard more.

      If they do have the magical overthrow of a good person, then i think that Greg Combet would be good for the call. Or Simon Crean.

      If the Liberal ratpack showed me that they were really concerned about this country more than insulting and finding terrible faults with Ms Gillard then i may vote for them. But, i believe that it is just about getting in to run it all. They have no plans for the future of the country, none at all.

      The labor polices are more futuristic and the results of same will take at least five or so years to have effect. But, if the Government is changed then the Liberal no hopers will be able to ride along as they have done before on the coat tails of labor policies. Just the country going to solar will generate a whole new area of job creation, just for one futuristic policy. We have to make new jobs for the kids of the future. We don’t need to be taken back to the 50s style politics. The economy is running well, so what are people complaining about. We could be in the position of Europe but we are not, so something good must be coming from Government to keep us afloat in what is a very rough and violent sea of international economics.

      Sometimes, it’s better the devil you know than the one you don’t.

      Reply

    • prosperity says:

      10:15am | 16/02/12

      YOU DON’T LISTEN TO ME, DO YOU?  IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO IS PM!
      Liberal or Labor Prime Minister and Government are all from a similar pool of party hacks appointed to stand for one electorate or another by a similar bunch of party crooks, all of whom refer to us disdainfully as ‘the public’.

      The Americans call our politicians “coffee boys”. An American told someone I know how much they liked our Australian pollies - “They’re all happy to be on the take, and they’re all so goddam cheap”.

      Do you think Australia is a sovereign country?  If so, do you really think we can make a major decision relating to defence, foreign affairs or economic matters without referring it to our American masters?

      Our politicians from both of the major parties have sold us out and most Australians don’t seem to give a damn.  They just keep on electing the Lib/Labs, and it’s a toss-up which one wants to be more ingratiated with the Americans than the other.

      Reply

    • realitycheck says:

      01:45pm | 21/02/12

      What rubbish. The rantings of a child who cannot leave home. The US and UK guarantee our security with their nukes and forces. You will learn this when the Jews bomb Iran. We owe them loyalty and should be grateful. People like you are too juvenile to realise this. Australia is a country of 23m people all pulling in different directions. One day soon you will understand. Multiculturalism. Oi oi oi now go and get pissed.

    • The King says:

      10:40am | 16/02/12

      Kevin is a self serving, arrogant knob.
      But I’d love to see him roll Julia, just to see the sh!t sandwich that he’d serve up for Swanny!!!!

      Reply

    • Joel B1 says:

      12:05pm | 16/02/12

      Next ALP PM?

      Just ask who’s staffer is writing the “unexpected call, for the good of the nation” speech.

      Reply

    • youdy beaudy says:

      04:42pm | 16/02/12

      I don’t think that Mr Rudd would want the job back and i don’t think that they want to put him back in. Speculation is a wonderful thing!

      I don’t mind if he does but the only thing that is annoying with Kev are those silly quips he makes like, ” Fair suck of the sauce bottle “, and ” Happy little Vegemite “. Apart from that he’s ok by me.

      And I think the Lib/ Nats should think first before trying to scuttle the good ship Australia while it is sailing well. If they were coming up with the same decisions and ideas it would be a different story. Now, didn’t T Abbott go to Britian and tell them how great the Australian Economy was going. Talk about raining on Labors parade. Don’t ever fill your marble bag with him around, keep your eye on it otherwise he will steal the winnings. And you wan’t him to be PM.!!

      Reply

    • Ross says:

      04:53pm | 16/02/12

      For next PM. What about Peter Garret after all he led Midnight Oil.

      Reply

    • Youdy beaudy says:

      09:00am | 17/02/12

      @Ross. I wrote a comment re Peter Garrett and posted it last night but they did not print it. Probably a bit close to the bone, the comment that is.

      However i realize that this Punch is a forum for the Lib/Nats so one would expect that anything written in here that puts pay to the Lib/Nats or Abbott would not be looked at. I think that the Lib/Nat party members really had a whinge re this article.

      Unfortunately for Peter Garrett the Lib/Nats have put so much of lies and inuendo on him over the stupidity of others with the pink batts thingo, that he had his portfolio shifted. A waste of a good talent.

      He may have more of a chance later but i think for the moment it won’t happen. But good suggestion anyway.

    • G. Dann says:

      09:45pm | 16/02/12

      This problem is the fault of us all. We vote and it only encourages them !!,

      Reply

    • youdy beaudy says:

      09:22am | 17/02/12

      @G Dann. Well the problem with voting is that we are fined if we don’t. Such a great democracy it is here.

      Voting should be first past the post, no coalitions to double their chances. Two political parties against one, hardly fair. When we vote always watch where you throw away your preference. It’s there that elections are won or lost. John Howard got in on Pauline Hansons preferences and then turned around and disenfranchised her party. Good move, and that tells us all exactly what they are about. Trust Lib/Nats, never.! The funny thing about the Libs is that the bloke who should be their leader, Malcolm Turnbull, sits in the Parliament with his head down, says nothing, not even a question, and probably thinks, ” How did i get tied up with these morons.”

      Yes, he should be their leader, a more balanced man, not one who blocks everything that the government brings forth for the benefit of nation.

      They put him back in, then i would consider voting for them, but until that happens, no.

    • Smith, Shorten and co - NO NO NO says:

      06:07pm | 19/02/12

      It has always been my belief that when Shorten helped Gillard depose Rudd, he had one eye on the main chance but unfortunately he is just another self-serving, ambitious, power loving pollie from the same mould as Gillard. My vote will go to the Ruddster and only the Ruggster.  There isn’t a labour MP amongst the whole bloody lot of them that is worthy of the position.  And as for Smith it would take a hurricane to breath life into that poor man. Crean was dead in the water years ago. And the ambitious Bill who couldn’t give a stuff about Autralia or Australians from the same self-centered mould as Julia.

      Reply

    • boganpride says:

      01:34pm | 21/02/12

      The ALP used to be the cream of the working class - elevated on merit against the odds. It is now better represented by Punch types. Bolinger bolshevics, multiculturalists and people such as Penberthy, who seems to have lost his heart and soul inside Kate Ellis. Same. Shame.Shame. We trusted them. They have consigned our dreams to the dustbin for a decade or more.

      Reply
 
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