Kevin Rudd Prime Minister Again

[Soldier of Macedon]

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/labor-leadership-live-kevin-rudd-returns-julia-gillard-loses-support-of-partyroom/story-fnho52ip-1226669921693

Labor leadership live: Kevin Rudd returns, Julia Gillard loses support of partyroom

KEVIN Rudd has become Australia's new Prime Minister after winning the Labor leadership ballot, three years after he lost it to Julia Gillard. He won the ballot 57- 45 votes and it is understood he will call an August election. Returning Officer Chris Hayes said there was no spill for the deputy position, but Treasurer Wayne Swan, Craig Emerson, Joe Ludwig and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy are thought to have quit. Penny Wong has been elected as the new Labor leader in the Senate, a position previously held by Mr Conroy. Mr Hayes said the meeting was quite sombre but people were glad the issue was resolved.

[George S.]

what will that mean for us macedonians nothing.They the australian govt still hold the same views as the greeks due to the greek vote in melbourne.

[Bill77]

Atleast we don't have to put up anymore with that bogan accent.
It's a shame though it wasn't Kim Beasley challenging, I would have just once, loved it to hear her say "kimeeeeee look at moyeeee"

[Risto the Great]

What a joke.
His mismanagement of the country was only just surpassed by Gillards.
Striving for mediocrity is all I can say.

[Vangelovski]

Just bring the election on. Anything will be better than the ALP fiasco.

[EgejskaMakedonia]

I'm just waiting until Bill Shorten takes over sometime after the election. He's someone that'd be an ideal leader for the ALP.

Hopefully with Rudd back, the potential damages can be mitigated to an extent. The dynamics of politics can change very quickly, and perhaps that gives Labor a chance at the next election.

I'm calling it now, Abbott will be a disaster for this country. If people are happy with voting for an extremist, then I fear for the future of Australia. Too many people in the public have no idea about politics, yet follow the line of the media, which is generally to criticise Labor at any opportunity. It seems that many people despise Gillard, yet when asked why, they have no idea what to say. I'm no fan of her or Rudd, but Gillard in particular has been crucified by the media over the last few years.

[George S.]

Didn't russ design the nbn on a plane on a scrap of tissue paper.No costing ,no nothing ,one giant white elephant costing multiple billions of dollars.

[George S.]

rudd is folowowing gillards as to the worst priminister australia ever had.The public are fed up with crap.You know how they referred to him kevin 007.He should stick to flying & make up policy on the run.Leave the priministership to someone like Abbott.

[lavce pelagonski]

How about Palmer United Party?

[Vangelovski]

As EM suggests, I'm quite sure many people don't know why they back on party over another or why they don't like certain politicians. However, I personally dislike the entire ALP, including both Rudd and Gillard because of their socialist ideoglogy and policies. Because of their ingrained socialism, the ALP (and even the Coalition to an extent) believe that they know whats best for inidividuals better than the individuals concerned do. Incompetence is another key problem for them, though it wasn't always. I think it will take a generation (or two) of change within ALP ranks to overcome the incompetence problem, but the socialism will die hard and thus they will never likely be fit for government in my view.

[Phoenix]

As EM suggests, I'm quite sure many people don't know why they back on party over another or why they don't like certain politicians. However, I personally dislike the entire ALP, including both Rudd and Gillard because of their socialist ideoglogy and policies. Because of their ingrained socialism, the ALP (and even the Coalition to an extent) believe that they know whats best for inidividuals better than the individuals concerned do. Incompetence is another key problem for them, though it wasn't always. I think it will take a generation (or two) of change within ALP ranks to overcome the incompetence problem, but the socialism will die hard and thus they will never likely be fit for government in my view.

I'd much rather live in a 'socialist' Australia under an ALP government than the right wing US models of governance or the extreme conservatism of the British system which are the inspirations for the "Mad Monk" and his vision for Australia.

Gillard was the unfortunate victim of the wider 'red-neckery' of the Australian electorate and the appalling lack of respect given to a woman PM by the general Australian electorate and specifically the disgusting 'shock-jock' antics of elements of the Australian media.

Gillard held together a minority government in very difficult circumstances, passing numerous pieces of legislation during her tenure for which she's had very little credit given to her.
Australia is still in an enviable economic position compared to the rest of the world with good access to education, health care and other social services for all.

[Vangelovski]

Phoenix, we know you would rather live in a socialist dystopia in which Nanny knows best. You're posts over the years have had a clear socialist lean in them.

Gillard wasn't so unpopular because she was a woman - that's just socialist nonsense - she (and Rudd, who is a man by the way) were so unpopular because they are incompetent and the majority of Australians don't agree with their socialist agenda, which became very apparent to most AFTER the 2007 elections. Until then, Rudd was portraying himself as an economic conservative, which was absolute nonsense.

I'm not sure exactly to what "right wing" models of governance you're referring to, but are they anything like the kitchen cabinets under Rudd and Gillard? Do you know how many people were actually involved in the decision-making process under these two Prime Ministers? I can tell you exactly how many and their names. Its an open secret within the Federal Bureaucracy and anyone who moves within the relevant circles around Canberra. I'll give you a clue - between the two Prime Ministers, you could count the members of the decision-making teams on two hands. This is unprecedented in Australian political history, but very reminicient of the Stalinist governance that senior ALP Ministers admire.

In terms of Australia being in an enviable economic position, that's just a load of relativistic rubbish. Just because we're not as bad as others means nothing. We shouldn't even care what others are doing, we should be focused on what we're doing and being an estimated $273 billion in debt for rubbish we do not need is unacceptable. Who do you think is going to pay that bill? The magic money tree?

I'm interested in which legislation you believe Gillard did so well with? What exactly do you think she should have been given more credit for?

[Phoenix]

Phoenix, we know you would rather live in a socialist dystopia in which Nanny knows best. You're posts over the years have had a clear socialist lean in them.

...lol
Fark me...that’s blatant McCarthyism there Vangelovski.

I'm interested in which legislation you believe Gillard did so well with? What exactly do you think she should have been given more credit for? .

The passing of 500+ pieces of legislation in a hung parliament is a monumental feat of governance.

Other significant legislation includes the carbon pricing scheme.

Launching DisabilityCare Australia (NDIS)

The Murray-Darling agreement.

Gonski school reforms.

Legislation surrounding the issues of 457 visas

Increases to employer compulsory superannuation contributions

Dismantling of ‘Workchoices’ and the introduction of Fair Work Act

Improved dental services to school children

Securing $16.5 billion for school hall funding

National infrastructure projects, including the NBN and major road works.

New diplomatic agreements with China, unprecedented in Australian Foreign Affairs.

[Risto the Great]

Australia cannot thank Gillard for anything other than destroying the nations wealth. Australia is now only a few years behind the rest of them. It has squandered it's savings and has absolutely nothing to show for itself. It could have far better education with some decent policy. It could have had far better health care and social services if it didn't blow all our money on some of the the most rampant and stupid spending I have ever seen. Australia is now hoping to make a surplus after servicing its foreign debt. It never had it before the "GillaRudd" were in power.

If they felt compelled to hock the nation, they could have done it far more beneficially.

[Vangelovski]

...lol
Fark me...that’s blatant McCarthyism there Vangelovski.



The passing of 500+ pieces of legislation in a hung parliament is a monumental feat of governance.

Other significant legislation includes the carbon pricing scheme.

Launching DisabilityCare Australia (NDIS)

The Murray-Darling agreement.

Gonski school reforms.

Legislation surrounding the issues of 457 visas

Increases to employer compulsory superannuation contributions

Dismantling of ‘Workchoices’ and the introduction of Fair Work Act

Improved dental services to school children

Securing $16.5 billion for school hall funding

National infrastructure projects, including the NBN and major road works.

New diplomatic agreements with China, unprecedented in Australian Foreign Affairs.

How's passing legislation a feat in and of itself? Shouldn't you be asking what that legislation is and why we even need it? More state interference in our private lives is what it essentially amounts to.

The Carbon tax? Gonski? School halls? Come on Phoenix... Do you actually know anything about these and how they will work and what they will do and how much they will cost?

Visa's, workchoices and the NBN?

What exactly about these do you think is of benefit and how on earth would you justify the expense?

What about their system of governance? You seem to have gone quiet on that. Or does the end (more state power paid for by our private money) justify the means (a politburo system less democratic and with less input than Stalin's)?