http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_gillardJulia Gillard is to become Australia's first female prime minister after Kevin Rudd stood down as Labor leader at a caucus meeting this morning.
Ms Gillard, not Mr Rudd, will now decide when to lead her party into the next election.
Mr Rudd, who made "a very gracious speech", stood aside to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Treasurer Wayne Swan was elected deputy leader unopposed, Senator Michael Forshaw announced after the caucus meeting.
Senator Forshaw said it had been a very difficult time for Mr Rudd and the party.
Just a year ago, Mr Rudd rivalled Bob Hawke as Australia's most popular leader. But he now joins Mr Hawke as the only other Labor prime minister dumped by his party.
Mr Rudd had decided to fight to the death after refusing to step aside last night for Ms Gillard.
Ms Gillard, however, was believed to have to the numbers before going into this morning's ballot, which was not held. She also had the backing of the powerful Australian Workers Union.
Wayne Swan and Julia Gillard during house of representatives question time in March 2010. Click for more photos
The many faces of Julia Gillard
A series of policy failures, poor polls and the decision to go to war with the mining industry have all contributed to Mr Rudd's plunging fortunes among his colleagues.
The Coalition fears a change to Ms Gillard. Although she bears responsibility for many of the government's poor decisions, including shelving the emissions trading scheme and the school buildings program, she would be harder to beat than Mr Rudd.
The push to oust Mr Rudd was driven by the Right faction in Victoria and South Australia.
The entire national Right, including the NSW Right and its kingmaker Mark Arbib, had last night swung behind Ms Gillard, as had the Victorian Left, led by Kim Carr, who installed Mr Rudd.
The hard Left was left doing the numbers for Mr Rudd.
After a three-hour crisis meeting in his office last night with Ms Gillard and the veteran fixer John Faulkner, Mr Rudd held a media conference and said he would fight.
"I was elected by the people of Australia as the Prime Minister of Australia," he said.
"I was elected to do a job and I intend doing that job."
But he had acknowledged that he was abandoned by most of the factional powerbrokers.
Mr Rudd had attempted to salvage votes by promising to bring a speedy conclusion to the mining tax saga and initiate a timetable to implement an emissions trading scheme.
After being pressured to take a hard line against asylum seekers, he baulked, saying he would not engage in a race to the right.
The push to oust Mr Rudd was led by the Victorian senator David Feeney, the Victorian MP Bill Shorten, and the South Australian senator Don Farrell, all right-wing heavyweights.
Sources said they met Ms Gillard yesterday afternoon in an attempt to persuade her to stand.
She was reluctant.
But the Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, and Senator Arbib met Ms Gillard separately to urge her to move.
Senator Arbib and Ms Gillard were instrumental in forcing the government to abandon the emissions trading scheme, which was the catalyst for the government's slide in the polls.
The move against Mr Rudd was sparked by a report in yesterday's Herald that Mr Rudd had used his chief of staff, Alister Jordan, to sound out the backbench over the past month on the level of support for him. This followed a Herald/Nielsen poll which showed the government would lose if an election were held then.
But Mr Rudd's action was regarded as a sign that he did not trust the repeated assurances by Ms Gillard that she would not stand.
"It was offensive and disloyal," said a Gillard supporter.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillard- ... utostart=1
Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Holy fuck, was that as sudden as it appears from overseas?
Talk about going right for the jugular.
Talk about going right for the jugular.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
I had no idea he was in such serious trouble...
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
It's been brewing for a while, but yes it was sudden.
He's made some glaring errors, some poor policy decisons, some flip flops, and some back-peddles, and his standing has plummeted.
A shame, as I quite respected him.
Never turn your back on a Welsh woman...
He's made some glaring errors, some poor policy decisons, some flip flops, and some back-peddles, and his standing has plummeted.
A shame, as I quite respected him.
Never turn your back on a Welsh woman...
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Well from the article you posted, it appears that she's more of a centrist than Rudd, which should indeed make her more difficult to beat...
Plus with the departure of Mr. Rudd, the opposition loses "the dork factor".....
She certainly doesn't look like a woman to be trifled with....
Plus with the departure of Mr. Rudd, the opposition loses "the dork factor".....
She certainly doesn't look like a woman to be trifled with....
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Isn't Hen welsh? Does that mean you spend you life backing out of rooms?Gob wrote:It's been brewing for a while, but yes it was sudden.
He's made some glaring errors, some poor policy decisons, some flip flops, and some back-peddles, and his standing has plummeted.
A shame, as I quite respected him.
Never turn your back on a Welsh woman...
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
The Tin Tin factorLord Jim wrote:Well from the article you posted, it appears that she's more of a centrist than Rudd, which should indeed make her more difficult to beat...
Plus with the departure of Mr. Rudd, the opposition loses "the dork factor".....
oh, I don't know.. depends what trifling you had in mind...She certainly doesn't look like a woman to be trifled with....
I've had reversing mirrors fitted.Crackpot wrote:
Isn't Hen welsh? Does that mean you spend you life backing out of rooms?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Yes, this was a fucking quick as it seemed to everyone.
The media started it last week. It was finalised yesterday as the Unions backed her to all Labor Reps.
To say my day went from busy to FUCKING BUSY is an understatement.
Though not as bad as the chap and chappess on the Hill, they have REALLY got their work cut out for them.
Rudd WAS going to the G20 summit at lunchtime today. I guess we won't have a rep there now.
I'll be back later ... when everything isn't so ... whatever it is when you get side-swiped like that in the middle of a Sitting Week.
The media started it last week. It was finalised yesterday as the Unions backed her to all Labor Reps.
To say my day went from busy to FUCKING BUSY is an understatement.
Though not as bad as the chap and chappess on the Hill, they have REALLY got their work cut out for them.
Rudd WAS going to the G20 summit at lunchtime today. I guess we won't have a rep there now.
I'll be back later ... when everything isn't so ... whatever it is when you get side-swiped like that in the middle of a Sitting Week.
Bah!
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Oh my Hen, what do you do and who do you do it to?
...employment-wise?
...employment-wise?
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Firstly, I work for little politicians. Just the my territory's local government. The Chief to be precise.
What I do, is get things done for him from a municipal perspective, (including domestic and native animals still), by ensuring that the department I represent delivers what he wants, or explains why they can't. Hopefully before he wants it but definitely by the time he wants it. (Though that doesn't happen all the time.)
But when there is movement from the big politicians, that is a whole new ball game.
With close alliances between some federal members and local members, it is important that certain people get certain positions when the big Cabinet is reshuffled from my Chief's perspective and from my department's. Life could either get a whole lot easier for my department (and therefore me), or not.
It has been a day of highs and lows. As well as an unexpected ice-pick through the brain when I was informed at 9:00 am that my Department had copped the "Matter of Public Importance" to be debated and the Chief needed three speeches by 12:30 that day. The Matter of Public Importance would be debated directly after question time and it was on buses. Deep joy.
Fuck me pink, it was touch and go as to whether the speeches would be there.
We delivered, but late.
I got two away by 1:45 pm and the third was delivered at 2:28 pm.
What I do, is get things done for him from a municipal perspective, (including domestic and native animals still), by ensuring that the department I represent delivers what he wants, or explains why they can't. Hopefully before he wants it but definitely by the time he wants it. (Though that doesn't happen all the time.)
But when there is movement from the big politicians, that is a whole new ball game.
With close alliances between some federal members and local members, it is important that certain people get certain positions when the big Cabinet is reshuffled from my Chief's perspective and from my department's. Life could either get a whole lot easier for my department (and therefore me), or not.
It has been a day of highs and lows. As well as an unexpected ice-pick through the brain when I was informed at 9:00 am that my Department had copped the "Matter of Public Importance" to be debated and the Chief needed three speeches by 12:30 that day. The Matter of Public Importance would be debated directly after question time and it was on buses. Deep joy.
Fuck me pink, it was touch and go as to whether the speeches would be there.
We delivered, but late.
I got two away by 1:45 pm and the third was delivered at 2:28 pm.
Bah!
-
@meric@nwom@n
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Congratulations! We could have had a woman but we got a black guy instead.
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Ours is a ranga (ginge).
They are also an abused minority.
They are also an abused minority.
Bah!
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
I'm becoming a big fan of the "Urban Dictionary":Ours is a ranga
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rangaranga
Derived from Orangutan or from the Latin “Orange Utan” meaning red pubic hair, commonly known as Fanta pants.
This creature is well known for its fiery temper and pale skin; hence its ability to spend long periods of time in the sun is limited. The female of the species is renowned for being good in bed, combining its natural aggression with its lack of appreciation for its looks.
My mate won’t fuck rangas; he said he would rather put his nuts in a rabbit trap.
My misses is a ranga but don’t call her that she will rip your fucking head off and shit down your throat
Last edited by Lord Jim on Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Yup. Them's ranga's alright.
My ex is a ranga. He was well pleased on the new PM.
My ex is a ranga. He was well pleased on the new PM.
Bah!
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Fanta pants!Lord Jim wrote:
I'm becoming a big fan of the "Urban Dictionary":
ranga
Derived from Orangutan or from the Latin “Orange Utan” meaning red pubic hair, commonly known as Fanta pants.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Fanta pants is a very dated term of endearment for rangas.
Bah!
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
I originally thought of the same thing Strop did...The orange soda...
But according to those good folks at the Urban Dictionary, (and I certainly wouldn't question them....they seem very authoritative....)
Either explanation for the expression is considered acceptable:
But according to those good folks at the Urban Dictionary, (and I certainly wouldn't question them....they seem very authoritative....)
Either explanation for the expression is considered acceptable:
1. fanta pants
origin: Scottish (from gaelic 'farnter' meaning flame-haired) fanta pants refers to a true ginger minge, natural orange collar and cuffs.
2. Fanta Pants
One who's Pubic Hair is a similar colour to that of the popular Coca-Cola Softdrink by the same name.
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
I use the urban dictionary all the time. It's hysterically funny and occasionally really really troubling.
Congrats on the new PM. Oz is more advanced than the US, who would have thought!
Congrats on the new PM. Oz is more advanced than the US, who would have thought!
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
Re: Meet Aus's first female (and Welsh) Prime Minister!!
Errrmmm... everybody?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”