Another problem for Gillard..

[IQS.RLOW]

Nice cankles Gillard, you disrespectful bitch...

[Rorschach]

and another...

Crean reopens Labor wounds
April 13, 2013
Peter Hartcher
Sydney Morning Herald political and international editor

Ousted minister Simon Crean has given a scathing assessment of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's ability to lead the country, signalling that Labor's leadership crisis is far from over. remembering that Crean has been one of Gillards most faithful and strident supporters in the past.

Three weeks after his failed bid to force the leadership issue, Mr Crean described Ms Gillard as having a ''tin ear'' for sound political strategy and engaging in ''class warfare'' by playing off interest groups, echoing federal opposition criticisms of her position on removing payments to the middle class.

Defying the Prime Minister's demand for government unity, Mr Crean said he would continue to campaign for a return to the Labor traditions established by former leaders Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. Anyone with a brain would know this Labor the LW Progressives only Labor is not the traditional Labor of old. It is not... The People's Party.

He said Labor was deluding itself that it was in trouble in the polls solely because of destabilisation by Kevin Rudd. How often have we said that here?

Mr Crean said he had ''been through destabilisation" when he was Labor leader in 2001-03, "and we never went this low". And that... you only need look at some posts here to know how far Labor supporters are going right mantra.... arsie... JM.

In an interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Crean reopened wounds that were supposedly healing after his failed attempt to install Mr Rudd as prime minister in March.

At that time he said he had called for a leadership spill to draw a line in the sand and resolve issues eating at the party. He said the outcome, in which Ms Gillard retained the job after Mr Rudd backed out of a challenge, gave her the opportunity to act with more authority.

But Ms Gillard was not living up to the principles of consensus and inclusiveness established by Mr Hawke and Mr Keating.

"She's gone the class warfare,'' he said. ''The 457 visa debate was a good example of the message being taken out of context - because it looked like we'll put Australians before foreigners. Unequivocally, immigration has been good for this country.

"That's not the ethos of the Hawke-Keating model. How have we built the country? By cohesion. We are seen outside as the great success story of multiculturalism. Why don't we play to it? Play to strength.''

Asked why he thought Ms Gillard was pursuing divisions, Mr Crean said she had a political "tin ear", and that she was pursuing headlines.

He said Mr Rudd was ''just arrogant, but she's got a tin ear. She sits there - 'Mmm' - and listens but it doesn't translate.

"Because somewhere along the way she gets the word that here's the angle on how you get tomorrow's headline."

Mr Crean said Ms Gillard needed to do more work on her two biggest election promises, a national disability insurance scheme and the Gonski school reforms.

"How do you have a national disability insurance scheme that doesn't have people paying an insurance premium?" he said.

"Why not use the argument of one of the other great Labor legacies that's worked for this country - universal health cover - to justify it?" he said, referring to the Medicare levy paid by taxpayers.

The Gonski reforms needed to be better defined, he said. "You can't just say we're committed to Gonski, because no one knows what Gonski is."

Ms Gillard sacked Mr Crean from her cabinet and submitted herself for a party room ballot for the leadership in March. But Mr Rudd declined to contest the top job.

Mr Crean said that Mr Rudd was now "finished".

He gave examples where the government had fomented resentment, pitting the wealthy against workers, and foreign workers against local workers.

Ms Gillard has said the federal government scheme to bring workers brought into Australia on temporary work permits - 457 visas - was being rorted.

She has pledged to put "Aussie workers first".

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