Rudd versus Gillard

The strangest week in recent Australian political history started with the leak of a video of the Foreign Minister four-letter-wording his way through the pre-taping of a video presentation. It ended with 102 elected Labor Party members going against the popular will of millions of voters and maintaining Julia Gillard’s grip on the premiership. Once the verdict was announced, politicians who were sworn enemies only minutes before showered praise on each other (see Rudd on Gillard, Gillard on Rudd) with tinny sincerity, more suited to the Oscars award ceremonies taking place on the other side of the world.

The simmering tensions between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd boiled over last Wednesday, when Rudd—deposed as Prime Minister by Gillard in 2010—resigned his post via a hasty, late night presser in Washington. Gillard quickly responded by calling for a caucus spill on the following Monday, the Monday just passed.

As expected, the poll overwhelmingly confirmed Gillard—who has achieved a great deal in a hung parliament, short of presenting a warm image that most Australians can readily embrace—in the top job and left Mr Rudd contemplating a far less glamorous existence from the government back-benches.

The real verdict on Gillard’s leadership, however, is yet to come, in 2013’s national elections. As both Gillard and her party hit historic lows in public opinion polls, the opposition (a Liberal-National party coalition) looks set to return after two terms in the wilderness.

Many are questioning how the Labor MPs and Senators who voted earlier this week can ignore the fact that Kevin Rudd is the party’s best chance of staying in power. With his his emotional, workaholic, one-of-the-guys persona, Rudd easily outstrips Gillard in popularity polls.

It seems unlikely that the last week will mark the end of this Shakespearian period in Australian politics. The leadership issue remains a festering gash on the Labor body politic. By the 2013 elections, expect more Bard-like twists as the character flaws and stresses of those in power are revealed. Big players such as the mining industry, and as well as powerful internal factions within the Labor party, are stirring the pot, adding ginger.

Julia Gillard, in the midst of the most recent leadership stoush, argued that the contest between her and Rudd “is not Celebrity Big Brother.” But the Prime Minister might be obliged to acknowledge that’s exactly what modern politics is. We’ve just reached the first commercial break.