Kevin Rudd was welcomed back by Julia Gillard.
In a last ditch attempt to win back the voters ahead of the Australian general elections in two weeks time, Julia Gillard has been forced to welcome back the man she ousted – Kevin Rudd.
Just as Tony Blair was wheeled in to support an ailing Gordon Brown in the UK elections last May, Mr Rudd has been drafted in to warn voters off voting for Tony Abbott and to lend his support to his one-time colleague and partner.
It has been rumoured that Julia Gillard went back on a deal to support Mr Rudd after she saw his popularity plummet and realised she could make more of a success if she stepped out alone. The Australian media have reported that Mr Rudd was furious with the way he was treated.
But as they met yesterday they were all smiles as they sat side-by-side facing the country’s media.
Julia Gillard’s popularity in the polls has plummeted since it was leaked that she voiced doubts over paid parental leave and a pension rise. Some rumours put the blame of the leak squarely on Mr Rudd’s shoulders. Whoever was to blame, the leak couldn’t have come at a worse time and Ms Gillard has struggled to win the voters trust since.
Mr Rudd delivered however, launching a scathing attack on Mr Abbott: “I cannot for one sit idly by and watch Mr Abbott try to slide in to office,”
However Mr Abbott, just a few hours later, launched his own counter attack, with former Prime Minister John Howard by his side. “We have a great opportunity to turf out a thoroughly incompetent government.” Said Mr Howard.
With the campaigning reaching critical points and both parties determined to outfox the other, this could be the most interesting general election in Australia yet.
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