Australian PM Step Down

[Tim]

AN emotional Kevin Rudd declared today that he had "given it my all" and indicated he is interested in retaining a key position in the Gillard government.

 

Julia Gillard would be a “good PM”, Mr Rudd said, as he committed to working in “any manner in which I can be of assistance” and recontesting his Queensland seat of Griffith.

 

"I will be dedicating my every effort to ensure the re-election of this Australian Labor government. It is a good government with a good program,” he said.

 

“As for serving this government in the future, I will of course serve it in any manner in which I can be of assistance,” Mr Rudd said.

 

He deliberately and carefully repeated this phrase “any manner in which I can be of assistance,” in a clear indication he is interested in a key position.

 

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

 

Mr Rudd, flanked by wife Therese Rein and children Nicholas, Marcus and Jessica, took the unusual step of addressing a media conference before his successor Ms Gillard was scheduled to do so.

 

In an extraordinary and rare display of emotion, the outgoing Prime Minister fought back tears as he gave a thorough rundown of what he believed to be his key achievements.

 

"I have given it my absolute best; I have given it my all," he said.

 

"I am proud of the achievements that we have delivered to make this country fairer."

 

In a speech punctuated by long pauses, he listed keeping Australia out of the global financial crisis, getting rid of Work Choices, health reform, infrastructure delivery such as the national broadband network and education reform as his successes.

 

"What I am less proud of is the fact that I have now blubbered," he joked.

 

He appeared to be most emotional when speaking of his reforms in health and his own condition, referring to his aortic valve transplant.

 

However, as Mr Rudd gave his valedictory, Labor supporters were reacting furiously to today's leadership change, letting loose on the party's own website with their anger and warning aginst the power of the factional warlords.

 

Ms Gillard is to be sworn in as prime minister early this afternoon by Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/rudds-tears-as-loss-to-gillard-sinks-in/story-e6frgczf-1225883699195

 

 

I dont think ANY Australian was expecting this, including myself.

 

[hide=Summary]Australian Prime Minister steps down his role unexpectedly overnight and the first female Prime Minister is sworn in.[/hide]

[Sir_Squab]

I love how they say how people are "aginst" this move >.>

[i_love_burritos]

I don't like it. Gillard is a [bleep].

[jemathonical]

Good riddance Rudd. The Mining Rax was his downfall. Not really a fan of Gillard or any Labor party if they still want to pass the Mining Tax.

[i_love_burritos]

Good riddance Rudd. The Mining Rax was his downfall. Not really a fan of Gillard or any Labor party if they still want to pass the Mining Tax.

 

Why not a fan of the Henry tax ?

[Iamdan]

Didn't see this coming.. He was dropping in the polls and his party pretty much told him to pack his [cabbage] and get out.

 

This was caused directly by the mining companies and their ad campaign. The mining tax isn't unfair at all, they just want more money. They already get a lot of deductions and pay less tax as a percentage than everyone else.

 

The new PM has already decided to 'renegotiate' the mining tax, meaning she will pretty much give in to them.

[Dax]

I just read a late night Twitter debate with my friends. It disappoints me that I never stay up for them. Last time it was Rick Astley, the time before it was whether we should go republic or not. But I was there for those two.

 

Anyway. All I have to say about it is C-c-c-combo breaker. I have my opinions, as in, I think it's pretty cool. But otherwise, I don't really give a damn.

 

Also, all of these debates have been all differing opinions against one person. >_>

[jemathonical]

Good riddance Rudd. The Mining Rax was his downfall. Not really a fan of Gillard or any Labor party if they still want to pass the Mining Tax.

 

Why not a fan of the Henry tax ?

 

I work in the mines, it's pretty obvious why I don't like it. A lot of jobs have already been lost since Rudd announced the proposed tax. Companies have shelved plans and haulted drilling which has costed people their jobs.

[nine naked men]

There really wasn't much else he could've done. He would've lost even if he contested it, so I guess he got out with some dignity.

 

I'm not really inclined either way. It was hilarious reading the newspapers this morning, at least. They're embarrassing. D:

 

At least it was Gillard, and not Swan. ._o

 

EDIT - Though I'll always be fond of Kevin Rudd for getting rid of the Eyebrow Gnome.

[Furah]

If I was Kevin Rudd I would have walked in to the Governor General's office at 8am (an hour before Labor met) and called for an election. It would have meant that he stayed in power till after the election, as either way he's out and it would have helped screw Labor over even more. There's no chance of Labor winning the next election anyway, so it's just a matter of how long until they're out.

[Sy_Accursed]

Ah the Aussies get to enjoy what the Brits jsut had then.

 

Oh hai im quitting this dude who u dont reaslly like is gonna pm for several years before you can actually get a pm you democratically elected again.

[jemathonical]

Hopefully an election is called this year...Keen to put my boot into Labor

[magekillr]

More than that, Paw. Labor also did what the Labour Party in Britain did: trend to that Third Way economic nonsense which basically fuses corporations and government together (and also abandon a lot of civil liberties positions). The 1980's were like the worst time in world politics; nothing but right-wing nutjobs in power of the two most powerful countries (US and Britain) causing the left wing parties to trend to the right. Thatcher and Reagan led the way, with Blair and Hawke/Keating following after. Right now we're all paying the price of Thatcher and Reagan's deregulations of the banking sectors; at least Australia and Canada had the sense to keep their regulations in place unlike most other countries who followed their lead.

 

Anyway, best of luck to you, Australia. Rudd was really worrying me with his proposed internet wall filter thing, other internet censorship, and I also heard of a possible linking of the internet browsing history to your passports. Creepy. Sad you all rejected the climate change bill.

[Furah]

Anyway, best of luck to you, Australia. Rudd was really worrying me with his proposed internet wall filter thing, other internet censorship, and I also heard of a possible linking of the internet browsing history to your passports. Creepy. Sad you all rejected the climate change bill.

Those things won't disappear because Rudd has, as they are Labor's policies. The internet proposals are made by Stephen Conroy anyway. If we vote out Labor then Conroy won't be able to force his failures on to us. If we reject it it's because we don't see climate change as a viable threat or problem.

[Will H]

Ah the Aussies get to enjoy what the Brits jsut had then.

 

Oh hai im quitting this dude who u dont reaslly like is gonna pm for several years before you can actually get a pm you democratically elected again.

 

That was what I'm thinking. Be warned, when this happened to us we got a PM that was even more unpopular than the original.