Gillard to caucus: I want you all to stop the leaks

[IQS.RLOW]

...promptly leaked

[Rorschach]

PM has danger of challenge in mind
* by: Dennis Shanahan, Political editor
* From: The Australian
* February 05, 2013 12:00AM

JULIA Gillard is moving into a new phase of blaming her colleagues - especially, but not only, Kevin Rudd - for the dire position of her government.

The Prime Minister's mind is clearly on the danger of a challenge to her leadership and she appears distrustful and accusatory towards her cabinet and caucus colleagues.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion ... 6570332227" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rorschach]

Rudd 'not interested' in leadership
* by: Lanai Scarr
* From: The Australian
* February 17, 2013 12:05PM

KEVIN Rudd has declared he is "not interested" in a return to the Labor leadership, even if the position is made vacant and he is drafted by his colleagues.

Mr Rudd said he was a “creature of public policy” and would continue in political life for the long-term, but that the issue of leadership speculation should be “put in cryogenic storage”.

“I am not a candidate, the party and all its parliamentary members including myself, have expressed support for the Prime Minister and we will remain in that position until the next election,” Mr Rudd told Sky News’s Australian Agenda.

The former prime minister who was knifed by Julia Gillard over the mining tax and replaced as Labor leader in 2010 has repeatedly denied he would mount a future challenge following his failed bid last year.

But until now he has never clarified if he would accept a drafting into the leadership position should it be made vacant.

“I can say to you that the parliamentary party has expressed its confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership therefore the notion of a draft simply does not come into play,” Mr Rudd said.

Asked again what he said to colleagues who might ask him to return to the leadership he said: “not interested, go away”. I guess that's an example of all politicians are liars... (well at least Kevin is)

Union boss Paul Howes, who was instrumental in removing Mr Rudd from the prime ministership, today brushed off leadership speculation. Wasn't he going to resign if just 1 job was lost due to the carbon tax? (another liar)

"Whilst there may be some people around Canberra that want to navel gaze and speculate and create havoc, the reality is the Prime Minister has the support of her caucus,” Mr Howes told Network Ten’s Meet The Press.

“That’s been tested twice now, there’s no need to test it again and we need to get back on with the job of demonstrating what Labor and the entire movement can do for this country.”

Asked repeatedly if he would accept a Rudd challenge or drafting if it meant keeping Labor in power which is all it is about to them at the next election, the Australian Workers’ Union national secretary would not answer.

“It’s a ridiculous question there is no leadership challenge,” Mr Howes said.

On the mining tax, Mr Rudd said it was always his intention to be “utterly transparent” with the mining industry about the implementation and structure of the levy.

Asked why the resource giants were left feeling betrayed, ambushed and ill-consulted about the tax, Mr Rudd could not rule out Treasurer Wayne Swan deliberately misleading him on his own negotiations on the matter.

“I don’t think it’s productive in the current political debate to rake over the coals of what transpired or didn’t transpire in the internal discussions within the government at the time, or for that matter the Treasurer’s negotiations and discussions with the mining industry,” Mr Rudd said.

“I think history will be the judge of what actually transpired in those negotiations.”

Labor’s mining tax has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks after raising just $126m in its first six months of operation despite initial projections in the May budget of $3 billion in its first year.

Mr Rudd’s emphatic rejection of any future leadership position came amid reports he was due to attend an event in Adelaide this week at the same time Julia Gillard was due to host a community Cabinet in the southern state.

Speaking on Sky News’ Australian Agenda program the former prime minister said he had been invited by local Labor MP Tony Zappia to attend an inter-faith dialogue in Adelaide last year and had agreed on a date last November.

He said community Cabinet was decided on just last month and until last week he was unaware of the date clash.

News Limited Sunday papers today reported that angry Gillard supporters were disgusted that the “Rudd circus” would detract from Ms Gillard’s attempts to raise Labor’s profile in its most marginal seat of Boothby in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.

Mr Rudd has now cancelled the visit.

“I don’t know that anyone would have known that I was doing this and I don’t want any controversy for Tony Zappia,” Mr Rudd said.

“So I have spoken to Tony Zappia about rescheduling and that’s what we’re going to do.”

[Rorschach]

NO more leaks from KEVIN then... I suppose....