Australian Labor Party leadership election, 2010
Encyclopedia
A leadership election of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) was held on 2010. The Prime Minister of Australia
, Kevin Rudd
, was challenged by the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
, Julia Gillard
, for the leadership of the party, and therefore the prime ministership, since the ALP has held a majority in the House of Representatives since 2007. Gillard won unopposed, and was appointed as Prime Minister by Governor-General
Quentin Bryce
early on the afternoon of at Government House
where she was also sworn in, becoming Australia's first female Prime Minister.
Gillard had been Deputy Prime Minister of Australia since the 2007 federal election, and deputy leader of the Labor Party since December 2006. She had been the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
and the Minister for Social Inclusion
since Labor's election win in 2007.
and announced that Gillard had asked for him to resign or hold a leadership ballot in the 115 member party room caucus
the following day to determine the leadership of the Labor Party and hence the Prime Ministership of Australia.
The ballot followed declining ratings for the Labor Party and Prime Minister after numerous policy decisions, including problems with the Home Insulation Program
, a significant delay to a planned carbon emissions reduction scheme
, a move to introduce mandatory Internet filtering
, and the proposed introduction of the Resource Super Profits Tax
. Senior Labor MPs conceded that the ALP's primary vote had dropped below 30 per cent in some key marginal seats.
The leadership challenge was sparked after the influential Australian Workers' Union
(AWU) switched its support from Rudd to Gillard. AWU national secretary Paul Howes
told the Australian Associated Press
and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
's program Lateline
that he and AWU president Bill Ludwig
had moved their support to Gillard after making an assessment that a change in leadership was in the best interest of their membership.
On the morning of 23 June, NSW senator and Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib
, Victorians Bill Shorten
and David Feeney
, and South Australian Don Farrell
visited Gillard to tell her they had lost confidence in the prime minister, setting the challenge in motion. At midday, Mark Arbib and David Feeney told Gillard that they could guarantee her the support of the majority of right wing (faction)
Caucus members in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Mark Arbib
and David Feeney
told Gillard that the party would lose the election if Rudd continued to lead it. They said they believe the party will win under Gillard. Party sources told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
that Gillard agreed that the party faced electoral annihilation with Rudd at the helm.
and the Senate
were eligible to vote in the ballot. A total of 58 votes was required to secure a majority of the caucus and ultimately win the leadership ballot.
In the special caucus meeting, Rudd declined to contest the Labor Party leadership as it became clear he did not have the numbers to overcome Gillard in a leadership ballot. Hence, Gillard was elected unopposed as leader of the Labor Party. Treasurer
Wayne Swan
was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader. Gillard was sworn in as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia in the early afternoon.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
(ALP) was held on 2010. The Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
, was challenged by the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
, Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
, for the leadership of the party, and therefore the prime ministership, since the ALP has held a majority in the House of Representatives since 2007. Gillard won unopposed, and was appointed as Prime Minister by Governor-General
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
early on the afternoon of at Government House
Government House, Canberra
Government House, Canberra, commonly known as Yarralumla, is the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Yarralumla, in the City of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory....
where she was also sworn in, becoming Australia's first female Prime Minister.
Gillard had been Deputy Prime Minister of Australia since the 2007 federal election, and deputy leader of the Labor Party since December 2006. She had been the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations is currently the Hon Senator Chris Evans.The Minister administers this portfolio, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations....
and the Minister for Social Inclusion
Minister for Social Inclusion (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Social Inclusion is the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP. The portfolio is part of the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio.-List of Social Inclusion Ministers:...
since Labor's election win in 2007.
Background
On 23 June 2010, after meetings throughout the evening Rudd addressed the awaiting media at AESTTime in Australia
Australia uses Standard time, i.e: the same well defined time for a region. The proper names of Australia's time zones are Australian Western Standard Time , Australian Central Standard Time , and Australian Eastern Standard Time...
and announced that Gillard had asked for him to resign or hold a leadership ballot in the 115 member party room caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
the following day to determine the leadership of the Labor Party and hence the Prime Ministership of Australia.
The ballot followed declining ratings for the Labor Party and Prime Minister after numerous policy decisions, including problems with the Home Insulation Program
Energy Efficient Homes Package
The Energy Efficient Homes Package was an Australian government program implemented by the Rudd Government and was administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts...
, a significant delay to a planned carbon emissions reduction scheme
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was a proposed cap-and-trade system of emissions trading for anthropogenic greenhouse gases, due to be introduced in Australia in 2010 by the Rudd government, as part of its climate change policy. It marked a major change in the energy policy of Australia...
, a move to introduce mandatory Internet filtering
Internet censorship in Australia
Internet censorship in Australia currently consists of a regulatory regime under which the Australian Communications and Media Authority has the power to enforce content restrictions on Internet content hosted within Australia, and maintain a "black-list" of overseas websites which is then...
, and the proposed introduction of the Resource Super Profits Tax
Resource Super Profits Tax
The Minerals Resource Rent Tax is a proposed tax on profits generated from the exploitation of non-renewable resources in Australia. It is the replacement for the proposed Resource Super Profit Tax ....
. Senior Labor MPs conceded that the ALP's primary vote had dropped below 30 per cent in some key marginal seats.
The leadership challenge was sparked after the influential Australian Workers' Union
Australian Workers' Union
The Australian Workers' Union is one of Australia's largest and oldest trade unions. It traces its origins to unions founded in the pastoral and mining industries in the 1880s, and currently has approximately 135,000 members...
(AWU) switched its support from Rudd to Gillard. AWU national secretary Paul Howes
Paul Howes
Paul Howes is the National Secretary of The Australian Workers' Union, a position he has held since the age of 26. He is also Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and serves on a number of Government boards....
told the Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press is Australia's national news agency. The organisation was established in 1935 by Fairfax and The Herald and Weekly Times.AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaux in all Australian states and territories...
and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's program Lateline
Lateline
Lateline is an Australian television news and current affairs program produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, airing weeknights at on ABC1. The program has developed a reputation for head-to-head debates on current issues and political interviews. Lateline is followed by its sister...
that he and AWU president Bill Ludwig
Bill Ludwig
William Patrick Ludwig OAM, Australian trade union official, is National President and Queensland state secretary of the Australian Workers' Union , one of Australia's oldest and largest unions....
had moved their support to Gillard after making an assessment that a change in leadership was in the best interest of their membership.
| About the same | Better leader | Worse leader | Uncommitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47% | 38% | 9% | 6% |
| http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads/100608%20Federal%20Voting%20Intention%20&%20Leaders%20Ratings.pdf conducted by Newspoll Newspoll Newspoll Market Research is an Australian company providing opinion polling and other market research services. Its chief executive is Martin O'Shannessy.Newspoll's surveys of voter opinion are published in The Australian.... and published in The Australian The Australian The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly.... . Polling (25-27 June 2010). |
|||
On the morning of 23 June, NSW senator and Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib
Mark Arbib
Mark Victor Arbib is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing the state of New South Wales. He was the Australian Labor Party State Secretary of the New South Wales branch from 2004 to 2007...
, Victorians Bill Shorten
Bill Shorten
William Richard "Bill" Shorten is an Australian politician, the Member for Maribyrnong in the Australian Parliament, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Superannuation and Financial Services. He was the Parliamentary Secretary for Disability and Children's Services in the Rudd/Gillard Government...
and David Feeney
David Feeney
David Ian Feeney is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008.Feeney was born in Adelaide. His father is a immigrant from Northern Ireland. Raised Catholic, he attended Mercedes College, Adelaide before moving to Melbourne, where he attended...
, and South Australian Don Farrell
Don Farrell
Donald Edward Farrell is an Australian politician and former trade union leader. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since 1 July 2008, representing the state of South Australia. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water on 14 September 2010...
visited Gillard to tell her they had lost confidence in the prime minister, setting the challenge in motion. At midday, Mark Arbib and David Feeney told Gillard that they could guarantee her the support of the majority of right wing (faction)
Labor Right
The Labor Right, or Labor Unity in some State branches, or Centre Unity in NSW, is the organised faction of the Australian Labor Party that tends to be more economically liberal and socially conservative than Labor Left....
Caucus members in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Mark Arbib
Mark Arbib
Mark Victor Arbib is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing the state of New South Wales. He was the Australian Labor Party State Secretary of the New South Wales branch from 2004 to 2007...
and David Feeney
David Feeney
David Ian Feeney is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008.Feeney was born in Adelaide. His father is a immigrant from Northern Ireland. Raised Catholic, he attended Mercedes College, Adelaide before moving to Melbourne, where he attended...
told Gillard that the party would lose the election if Rudd continued to lead it. They said they believe the party will win under Gillard. Party sources told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
that Gillard agreed that the party faced electoral annihilation with Rudd at the helm.
Results
All 115 Labor members in the House of RepresentativesAustralian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
and the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
were eligible to vote in the ballot. A total of 58 votes was required to secure a majority of the caucus and ultimately win the leadership ballot.
In the special caucus meeting, Rudd declined to contest the Labor Party leadership as it became clear he did not have the numbers to overcome Gillard in a leadership ballot. Hence, Gillard was elected unopposed as leader of the Labor Party. Treasurer
Treasurer of Australia
The Treasurer of Australia is the minister in the Government of Australia responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising. He is the head of the Department of the Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in the economic policy of the government...
Wayne Swan
Wayne Swan
Wayne Maxwell Swan is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996, and then re elected in 1998 till today , representing the Division of Lilley, QLD...
was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader. Gillard was sworn in as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia in the early afternoon.
See also
- Australian Labor Party leadership election, 2006Australian Labor Party leadership election, 2006A leadership election of the Australian Labor Party was held on 4 December 2006. The Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Kim Beazley, was challenged by the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, for the leadership of the party in the Australian House of Representatives...
- Liberal Party of Australia leadership election, 2009Liberal Party of Australia leadership election, 2009An election for the federal parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party of Australia was held on 1 December 2009. The incumbent, Malcolm Turnbull, was defeated by Tony Abbott in a three-way vote of Liberal Party Members of Parliament . Joe Hockey also stood as a candidate...