2006 Australian Labor Party leadership spill: Difference between revisions
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|vote_type = Caucus |
|vote_type = Caucus |
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|previous_election = Australian Labor Party leadership spill, |
|previous_election = Australian Labor Party leadership spill, 2003 |
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|previous_year = |
|previous_year = 2003 |
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|next_election = Australian Labor Party leadership spill, 2010 |
|next_election = Australian Labor Party leadership spill, 2010 |
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|next_year = 2010 |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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[[File:Australian opposition satisfaction 2005-2006.png|thumb|right|Beazley's [[Newspoll]] ratings for 2005-2006. Blue shows satisfaction, red shows dissatisfaction and green shows preferred PM rating.]] |
[[File:Australian opposition satisfaction 2005-2006.png|thumb|right|Beazley's [[Newspoll]] ratings for 2005-2006. Blue shows satisfaction, red shows dissatisfaction and green shows preferred PM rating.]] |
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Kim Beazley |
Kim Beazley returned as leader of the Labor Party and [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|opposition leader]] unopposed<ref>http://australianpolitics.com/2005/01/28/kim-beazley-returns-as-alp-leader.html</ref> at a leadership ballot on 28 January 2005 held to replace [[Mark Latham]], who had led Labor during the [[Australian federal election, 2004|2004 election]]. Beazley had previously led the opposition between the [[Australian federal election, 1996|1996]] and [[Australian federal election, 2001|2001 elections]]. |
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From June–July 2005 onwards, Beazley's opinion poll ratings as reported by Newspoll and AC Nielsen fell to a level between 30-35% and never recovered. By November 2006, media sources claimed that the polling demonstrated that Beazley did not have the "ability to cut through", and ''[[The Australian]]'''s editorial complained on 22 November that "after 10 years and 10 months of Kim Beazley, it is still virtually impossible to say what he stands for".<ref name=pc206>{{cite journal |last= Wanna |first= John |year= 2007 |month= June |title= Political Chronicles: July–December 2006 |journal= Australian Journal of Politics and History |volume= 52 |issue= 4 |pages= 288 |issn=0004-9522}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Party gets jitters about Beazley's ability to cut through|last=Lewis|first=Steve|work=[[The Australian]]|date=15 November 2006|page=1}}<br/>* {{cite news|title=Bomber needs help to hit the target (Editorial)|work=[[The Australian]]|date=22 November 2006|page=17}}</ref> In addition, a series of embarrassing media gaffes, including referring to TV presenter [[Rove McManus]] as [[Karl Rove]] when extending condolences to McManus over his wife's death, raised questions about his ability and capacity to lead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=NCH061118M215I695SBH|title=Beazley blunders on|last=Hawthorne|first=Maria|date=18 November 2006|work=[[Newcastle Herald]]|page=18|accessdate=15 July 2010}}</ref> |
From June–July 2005 onwards, Beazley's opinion poll ratings as reported by Newspoll and AC Nielsen fell to a level between 30-35% and never recovered. By November 2006, media sources claimed that the polling demonstrated that Beazley did not have the "ability to cut through", and ''[[The Australian]]'''s editorial complained on 22 November that "after 10 years and 10 months of Kim Beazley, it is still virtually impossible to say what he stands for".<ref name=pc206>{{cite journal |last= Wanna |first= John |year= 2007 |month= June |title= Political Chronicles: July–December 2006 |journal= Australian Journal of Politics and History |volume= 52 |issue= 4 |pages= 288 |issn=0004-9522}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Party gets jitters about Beazley's ability to cut through|last=Lewis|first=Steve|work=[[The Australian]]|date=15 November 2006|page=1}}<br/>* {{cite news|title=Bomber needs help to hit the target (Editorial)|work=[[The Australian]]|date=22 November 2006|page=17}}</ref> In addition, a series of embarrassing media gaffes, including referring to TV presenter [[Rove McManus]] as [[Karl Rove]] when extending condolences to McManus over his wife's death, raised questions about his ability and capacity to lead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=NCH061118M215I695SBH|title=Beazley blunders on|last=Hawthorne|first=Maria|date=18 November 2006|work=[[Newcastle Herald]]|page=18|accessdate=15 July 2010}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 06:14, 6 March 2012
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A leadership spill of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), the official opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 4 December 2006. The Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, was challenged by the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, while the position of Deputy Opposition Leader, held prior to the ballot by Jenny Macklin, was challenged by Julia Gillard. Rudd prevailed and won the ballot.
Background
Kim Beazley returned as leader of the Labor Party and opposition leader unopposed[1] at a leadership ballot on 28 January 2005 held to replace Mark Latham, who had led Labor during the 2004 election. Beazley had previously led the opposition between the 1996 and 2001 elections.
From June–July 2005 onwards, Beazley's opinion poll ratings as reported by Newspoll and AC Nielsen fell to a level between 30-35% and never recovered. By November 2006, media sources claimed that the polling demonstrated that Beazley did not have the "ability to cut through", and The Australian's editorial complained on 22 November that "after 10 years and 10 months of Kim Beazley, it is still virtually impossible to say what he stands for".[2][3] In addition, a series of embarrassing media gaffes, including referring to TV presenter Rove McManus as Karl Rove when extending condolences to McManus over his wife's death, raised questions about his ability and capacity to lead.[4]
However, at the same time, Labor itself was doing reasonably well, consistently recording at or about 50% and sometimes higher in two-party preferred terms on account of public opposition to a series of interest rate rises, the AWB scandal, WorkChoices and other policies and decisions of the Howard Government.[5][6] However, the primary vote polling had remained below 40% and it was believed Labor could not win the expected 2007 election on present numbers.
For months, the Right faction (especially in New South Wales and Victoria) had been canvassing options to replace the Beazley-Macklin team with Kevin Rudd, loosely aligned with the Right, and Julia Gillard, a moderate left-winger. Labor insiders indicated that Rudd and Gillard had not actively undermined Beazley but had been drafted towards the end.[2] Rudd's public profile had increased considerably during 2006, with his persistent and effective attacks on the government and in particular Foreign Minister Alexander Downer with relation to the AWB scandal.[7] In addition, he had appeared on the Sunrise program weekly for seven years alongside Liberal frontbencher Joe Hockey, and in October 2006 had written an essay, "Faith in Politics", in national magazine The Monthly, seeking to prove that the conservative parties did not have a monopoly on the religious vote.[2][8] According to media reports, the New South Wales Right faction promised its support to Rudd for the leadership so long as he challenged Beazley before Christmas.[9] A Newspoll conducted on 24–26 November concluded that both Rudd and Gillard were more popular as potential Labor leaders than was Beazley;[10] the Age-AC Nielsen poll conducted on 30 November to 2 December came to the same conclusion.[11][12]
On 30 November 2006, Rudd met with Beazley and announced his intention to challenge for the leadership. On 1 December, Beazley announced not only a leadership spill but also that all frontbench positions within the Parliamentary Labor Party would be vacated.[13][14] Both sides claimed that they were in a winning position, with Rudd claiming his team had a "bucketload of energy", while Beazley claimed that he had more experience.
Results
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A ballot was held on Monday 4 December and Kevin Rudd was declared the winner, by a margin of 49 votes to 39.[15] After the leadership results were announced, Jenny Macklin withdrew from the contest for deputy leader, which allowed Gillard to be elected unopposed.
| Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Australian politics/party colours/Labor | | Kevin Rudd | 49 |
| Template:Australian politics/party colours/Labor | | Kim Beazley | 39 |
Aftermath
Following the ballot, Beazley said of his political future, "For me to do anything further in the Australian Labor Party I would say is Lazarus with a quadruple bypass. So the time has come for me to move on but when that gets properly formalised I will let you know."[16] It was also revealed that his brother David had died of a severe heart attack at age 53, shortly before the vote took place.[17]
Rudd and Gillard travelled around Australia on a "get-to-know-you" tour, and Rudd brought together a revamped frontbench.[2] Labor went on to win the federal election held on 24 November 2007, ending 11½ years of Coalition government.
See also
References
- ^ http://australianpolitics.com/2005/01/28/kim-beazley-returns-as-alp-leader.html
- ^ a b c d Wanna, John (2007). "Political Chronicles: July–December 2006". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 52 (4): 288. ISSN 0004-9522.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Lewis, Steve (15 November 2006). "Party gets jitters about Beazley's ability to cut through". The Australian. p. 1.
* "Bomber needs help to hit the target (Editorial)". The Australian. 22 November 2006. p. 17. - ^ Hawthorne, Maria (18 November 2006). "Beazley blunders on". Newcastle Herald. p. 18. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ Wanna, John (2006). "Political Chronicles: January–June 2006". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 52 (4): 641–643. ISSN 0004-9522.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Coorey, Phillip (6 November 2006). "Little changed despite anger over Iraq, global warming". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Farewell Kim, now for Kevin". Canberra Times. 5 December 2006. p. 10.
- ^ Karvelas, Patricia (2 December 2006). "And then there's Howard to face". The Australian. p. 5.
- ^ "Rudd, Beazley to lobby colleagues". ABC News. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
- ^ Newspoll (30 November 2006). "Newspoll: Best choice to lead Australian Labor Party" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Poll positives for Rudd, Beazley". The Age. 3 December 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "The polling says it straight: Rudd is the man for the job (Editorial)". The Age. 4 December 2006. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Beazley calls leadership ballot". ABC News. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
- ^ Coorey, Phillip (2 December 2006). "It's us or oblivion". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
- ^ Hudson, Phillip (4 December 2006). "Beazley's black Monday". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
- ^ This refers to John Howard's response to a journalist's question after his loss of the leadership of the Liberal Party to Andrew Peacock on 9 May 1989. The journalist asked, "Do you see yourself as having another chance at the leadership at some future time?" and Howard replied: "Oh, that'd be Lazarus with a triple bypass". From "Howard's Way". Sunday. Ninemsn. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
- ^ "Tearful Beazley bows out". The Age. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2006.