Primordial

Gillard says challenge 'a tough decision' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

It is good we finally have a female Prime Minister but the way it was executed was wrong and undemocratic imho...

foreva_99

I agree with you,

I am really happy that we finally have a female Prime Minister but, I am really angry about the whole way that it happened.

I am getting really sick and tired of Labor (both federally and at a ste level) thinking that they have the right to come in and sack the leader of the party. Kevin Rudd's ratings had only slumped in the last few months and he wasn't even given a chance to try and redeem himself before the caucas got involved and installed someone else.

Primordial

I still prefer Labor over the Liberals - always have through thick and thin. But this was uncalled-for. I will be doing a donkey-vote at the coming election this time.

Tony Abbott is THE worst candidate for PM that I have seen in my 25 years of following politics... It is truly scary what he honestly said a few months ago that he doesn't mean anything he says in response to any random questions asked of him by any reporters or any one else for that matter. He must have processed the question and had time to write up a response otherwise 'gibberish' will come out that is meaningless and can not be taken at its word. That what he said and I still have the radio recording of his exact statement on my computer that I could transcode and upload for any interested parties to hear if they wish. It was funny when Abbott & Costello were in power though! 'Abbott & Costello'! (Famous comedy duo whom acted like they were a 'bit-slow'...)

sunnykerr

I think it's awesome that there is another female leader in politics.

I'm just hoping for you guys that it isn't another Kim Campbell, though that poor woman did get a bad rap in the end.

foreva_99

I was reading a few newspapers and they are all saying that she won't win the next election. I do like the fact that she has decided not to move into the Lodge until she has been elected by the people. Also gives Rudd and his family time to sort out what they are going to do. Has been an interesting few days.

Primordial

It is so funny and predictable how everyone can predict the future when they write for a news paper/news website.

They are at-least 50% wrong most of the time. I am not saying she will win, truth is no one will know until after the voting has happened between October - November at the latest i'd say. I have seen so many of these 'predictions' in Ozzie politics even with these sort of extreme circumstances (not exactly like this but equally as serious and groundbreaking in their own ways in that era) where the mostly predicted outcome did not happen. ...Much to my despair. Because I were hoping for the 'predicted' outcome that never eventuated.

I also hope that Julia will not follow that suit... But it is a real possibility that this could happen, I wouldn't be surprised for it was so sudden and so close to the planned election period of 2.5 - 3 years since the last federal election.

wanderer78

I found the news really interesting. We'll have to see what happens.

John, you're very right about newspapers, etc, trying to predict the future.

foreva_99

Haha. I agree with you about newspapers and their reports.

I just wish that Gillard had gone about it another way and that Rudd had a chance t make things right or at least have the chance to see the oarty through to the next election. Oh well. What's done is done. Guess we will have to wait and see what happens over the next few months and see when the election is called.

sunnykerr

Newspapers are totally bogus when it comes to predicting the results of any given election since they have to rely on so-called facts (like people's answers to surveys and polls) that are super subjective, especially depending on who it is you're polling and where those people live and so forth.

But now I'm confused. Does Australia have a female PM or has she not been elected yet?

-Kelly-

^ For now, she is the PM.

August election, bring it on. She's gone
Not getting my Vote.

I'm so mad and upset for Kevin, the way they acted is shameful, what a bunch of brats.
Because they couldn't get their way. oh please.

His speech, bring me to tears...I watched the whole thing he did alot for us Aussies.

foreva_99

We now have a female prime minister but, she was not voted in by the Australian people. When we vote here in Australia we vote for a party rather than an individual. The party decided that the old PM (Kevin Rudd) wasn't doing a good enough job and decided to replace him with someone else.

I read that this was the first time it had happened to a PM in their first term. Has happened on a few occasions before but, they were all in their second or third term as PM

Primordial

The last time I remember was with Keating removing Hawke in 1991/92ish. This was after several terms in office. That relationship they had was very-similar to the Howard/Costello thing. Howard promised Costello the 'big job of PM one-day' then that day never came. Keating took it from Hawke in years prior but Costello did not remove Howard... (unfortunately.) Then again, Costello was just as bad.

sunnykerr

Ah, thank you for explaining the whole female PM who wasn't actually elected thing.

It seems the Australian electoral system is very, very similar to the Canadian one. Here, too, the PM is the leader of whatever party gets the highest percentage at an election, barring extraordinary circumstances (such as when Paul Martin "retired" midway through his term) and non-confidence votes.

Whatever happens in August, I hope the result is a good one for Australians.

Wildfire Girl

Very well said.

sunnykerr

Why, thank you.