Kevin Rudd has told his Labor colleagues to focus on Tony Abbott rather than Julia Gillard, as they despair over the prospect of a massive election defeat.
“I think it’s time everyone, and I mean everyone, just pulled their heads in,” the former prime minister told reporters on his way into Parliament House this morning.
Instead, they should get on with the business of making sure Abbott did not become prime minister.
Rudd’s advice was echoed by cabinet minister Stephen Conroy, one of Gillard’s staunchest allies, who warned Labor would be “marked down hard” if it continued to indulge in navel gazing.
Their comments came as outspoken Senator Doug Cameron became the latest government figure to offer advice to the prime minister, saying it was time to dump the spin merchants feeding her prepared lines.
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“She’s a talented, effective politician, she’s just got to be herself,” Cameron said.
Yet another bout of ill-discipline in Labor ranks was prompted on Tuesday by Rudd supporter and former cabinet minister Joel Fitzgibbon, who openly mocked “talking points” government MPs received from Gillard’s office (read Michelle Grattan in InDaily Opinion today).
Fitzgibbon sought to clarify his comments in an interview with Fairfax Media on Wednesday, saying his comments were a critique of politics generally in a “new era of spin”.
“I was making the point that for whatever reason, a very good government is not punching through on its message,” he said.
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Labor backbencher Richard Marles said the government had to keep its discipline and prosecute its message through to the September 14 election.
“We have a great story to sell,” he said, citing the government’s response to the global financial crisis, the national disability insurance scheme and health reforms.
Another backbencher, Rob Mitchell, quashed any talk of dumping Gillard.
“She’s been able to get us through two-and-a-half years of a minority government. No one else would be capable enough to do that,” he said.
The latest polls indicate Labor faces the prospect of being reduced to fewer than 40 MPs in the 150-seat House of Representatives after the election.
This has led to a feeling of despondency inside the government, independent senator Nick Xenophon says.
He cited a conversation he had with a government senator, in which he asked him whether the ALP was going to change its name to the Australian Lemmings Party.
“He just looked at me in the eye and said `mate, we already have’,” Xenophon said.
