Can Kevin Rudd Save the Australian Labor Party?

Last Friday I wrote a blog post on the speculation of a leadership change in the Australian Labor party and government, arguing that I think would be unwise for both the Labor party and the nation. I still stand to this argument, even as of last night Kevin Rudd returned to the leadership of the party and will become Prime Minister again.

At 7pm last night, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard seemed to have had enough on the months, if not years of speculation and criticism of her performance as the nations leader, and chose to call caucus vote to decide her future. To me, and I suspect many others that such a call would be risky, as Kevin Rudd seemed to have the numbers to regain power, and this was the case. Rudd won last nights ballet 57 votes to Gillard’s 45, ending a three year term as Prime Minister for Gillard, and her political career, which as promised she will retire after the next election.

I think that the events of last night were a shame for the labor party and the nation, as I think that Gillard as Prime Minister was doing an ok job. She might have introduced policies that many Australians were told (by Tony Abbott) not to like, for example the Carbon tax, but at least she was trying to improve education for future generations and help the disabled. Although she did lie on a few issues, every leader in politics has done and will do the same in the future, even john Howard would have lied, as to gain votes.

The reinstatement of Kevin Rudd as Labor leader and Prime Minister will not necessarily return the party to government. Even if some of the media speculation is true, that Rudd will reform some of the Gillard policies on the carbon tax, education reform and on boarder protection, the voters are now sick of the infighting taking place in the Labor party and may change their support. Rudd also has a hard task of rebuilding the party, as many senior Cabinet members have resigned as the result of last night's caucus, further destabilizing the party. This I think in the long term will affect the preferences for voters at the next election.

The next few weeks and months will be interesting, to see how Rudd’s return can turn around a 29 percent primary support, and lead a party to at least not a total wipe out as predicted. Hopefully Rudd can prevent a Liberal majority, but at this stage, this looks unlikely.