Review – Labor Leadership Spill
[Note: Heckler recommends the following playlist for this review.]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPoTGyWT0Cg&list=PLQIHME9Klez9tf1pMB3FHYOAOLqljEpCc&w=300&h=300]
The show began with a petition for a leadership change, followed by the calling of a secret ballot to set up the grandest showdown of two rivals and colleagues. In what would be her final interview as Prime Minister, leading lady Julia Gillard couldn’t help but take a swipe at her challenger, Kevin Rudd. She explained that back in the day, a coup d’état was initiated by a friendly challenge and a handshake. Not sure if this method was employed back in 2010, when Gillard defeated Rudd and stole the Championship, but those in the loop would have appreciated the in-joke. Gillard also issued a ‘put up or shut up’ ultimatum to give the contest some more zest. The winner would become Prime Minister, the loser would resign from politics for good. Sadly for Gillard, it proved a fatal step.
The hours passed as we waited for 7pm to arrive. We watched as the faceless men and women (who conspicuously appeared to have faces) began to arrive for Caucus. Media-whore and the famously faceless and baby-faced Bill Shorten announced the winner before the showdown, declaring his support to Rudd. Shorten reprised his role from the previous episode, this time beheading the leader he had helped put in place and installing her predecessor, Shorten’s previous victim. Gillard arrived at the end of act one surrounded by a dozen or so cronies as a show of strength. The self-assured Rudd followed soon after, riding solo with a confident swagger.
The doors closed on the caucus and we began act two. The first hour or so was a drawn out recap of the previous three years of supposed turmoil and infighting while we waited for votes to be cast and counted. A plethora of mentions to minority government, hung parliaments and internal leaks were proffered, yet commentators consistently failed to mention that the 43rd parliament passed more legislation than the previous Rudd and Howard sessions had managed. We were privy to scenes of ditsy journalists fumbling over their words and mobile phones, forgetting their lines and angles, and just generally looking quite unprepared to handle live TV. When the Labor bean-counter emerged to announce the result of 57-45 in Rudd’s favour, he was assaulted with ridiculous questions to which he could obviously not have known the answer, revealing further the absolute ineptitude of the Australian media.
Act two concluded with the resignations of around a third of the front bench, a number of whom will not be recontesting their seats at the next election. A sweeping out of the ministry was inevitable following a Rudd victory. It allows Rudd and his Labor MPs to distance themselves from the Coaltion’s coming anti-KRudd campaign, which shows footage of mostly now-defunct Labor ministers shitting all over KRudd during his ‘destabilisation campaign.’
Act three began with Gillard’s farewell address to the nation. Of particular note was Gillard’s pride in putting a price on carbon, a policy Rudd had tried to initiate himself but for which he was eventually dethroned. Arguably Gillard’s policy also resulted in her downfall. We still have, “There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead” ringing in our ears three years after the fact, thanks to the echo chamber Coalition. Gillard also ‘played the gender card’ quite well, noting that while her gender had played a role in her prime ministership, it had not defined it. This author found himself agreeing that the challenges she faced as our first female prime minister were not insignificant and it will become easier for following female PMs thanks to her trailblazing.
We were treated to a ‘kick ’em while they’re down’ speech from the opposition leader, Tony Abbott. He reiterated the apparent failures of the Gillard term, identifying that only under his watch could the government be trusted to abolish the carbon and mining taxes, bring the budget into balance and, of course, stop the boats. It was painful to watch Abbott hold back the urge to break out into cackling laughter, and props should go to him for resisting.
Finally we heard from the man of the hour, the new reigning champion, Mr Kevin Rudd – PM. Rudd demonstrated the delivery and finesse that brought him to power in 2007. According to Bob Carr, all of a sudden there’s hope within the Labor party, and it’s not hard to see why. Rudd is an eloquent speaker and proven winner on polling day. He reached out to the business community and young people in particular, two areas where internal polling must indicate room for improvement. Whether the leadership bout will see a turnaround in Labor’s fortunes, we can only wait and see.
The great shame of the entire debacle is that it distracted from the farewells of two shining lights. Earlier in the day Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor announced their retirements from politics. These two restored some humanity and reality to the parliament in a way only independents can. Their service will be missed not only in Lyne and New England but by those around the nation who have admired the earnest manner in which they undertook their work.
Overall: 3 out of 5 heckles.
