NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
It’s a decade since Australia’s only female prime minister Julia Gillard ascended to the ‘throne’ in a stunning coup to remove Kevin Rudd
THE end of Kevin Rudd’s first stint as Prime Minister came as a shock to the Gold Coast.
The Labor PM was in office less than three years before he was removed in a party room coup which saw the beginning of a decade of extreme political turmoil.
Wednesday next week will mark 10 years since the fateful night the then-Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard walked into Mr Rudd’s office and informed him she would challenge for the leadership.
The news went public on the evening of Wednesday June 23, 2010 and events moved quickly.
Despite a defiant late night press conference by Mr Rudd, it became immediately clear he had lost the support of factional bosses after a collapse in polling support.
Mr Rudd said he was elected by the people of Australia as Prime Minister of Australia.
‘‘I was elected to do a job,’’ he said. ‘‘I intend to continue doing that job.’’
Mr Rudd said he had lost support from key members of the party during the past few weeks.
‘‘It has become apparent to me in the course of the last period of time … that a number of factional leaders in the Labor Party no longer support my leadership,’’ he said.
‘‘That is why it is imperative this matter be resolved.’’
He said the ballot had been brought at Ms Gillard’s request.
While falling from the stratospheric approval ratings which marked his first two years in office, Mr Rudd was still ahead and appeared on track to win that year's election.
But that wasn’t good enough for the Right faction leaders Bill Shorten and Don Farrell who threw their support behind Ms Gillard.
Then-Gold Coast Bulletin Editor Dean Gould wrote an editorial on the evening of the coup revealing his thoughts on the event.
“There had not been any rumblings during caucus meetings, no call on the Prime Minister to lift his game. Nothing,” he wrote
“But the Right wasn’t happy with the way things were going in the run-up to an election.
“The conniving plan left Ms Gillard in an invidious position. Loyal to the Prime Minister she also knows if she does not take this action now, instability will continue to fracture the party.
“But it is an equally intriguing position for Liberal leader Tony Abbott. He has taunted Labor for months, using Ms Gillard’s obvious talents and intelligence to mock Mr Rudd. Now he may well face off against the woman he has tacitly endorsed.”
By the morning of June 24, Mr Rudd realised he could not win a party room ballot and resigned as Prime Minister, a role Ms Gillard was appointed to after being elected Labor leader.
That morning, the Bulletin spoke to voters on the street who said they were excited by the change.
“She’s still the same as Rudd. There’s no way it’ll change the way I vote, I’ve always voted Labor,” said Burleigh Heads resident Adam Clark, 21.
“We’re ready for a female Prime Minister but she might not be up to the challenge. I reckon she’ll do as well as Kevin. Hopefully she’ll wipe the mining tax.”
Southport resident Darren Pfeiffer said it wouldn’t change his vote.
“It’s exciting for Australia. She has a lot of charisma and will be a good leader. She will be very competent and do well,” he said.
“My vote won’t change. Australia’s ready for a female
Prime Minister. She relates to the public a bit better.”
While Ms Gillard initially surged ahead in the pools, a poor performance in the 2010 election campaign and dissatisfaction at Mr Rudd’s removal saw Labor govern in the minority for the following term.
Mr Rudd eventually rolled Ms Gillard in mid-2013 and went on to lose that year’s federal election to the Tony Abbott-led Coalition.