Kevin Rudd says he’s doing all he can to stop Tony Abbott becoming the next prime minister but he won’t comment on chatter about the Labor leadership.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s position is under renewed pressure as MPs return to Canberra for the final fortnight of parliament before the September 14 election.
Labor has slipped in the latest Nielsen poll to trail the Coalition by 14 percentage points, just three months out from the vote. And support for Gillard as preferred prime minister is at its lowest level in a year.
Rudd was mobbed by reporters when he arrived at Canberra airport this morning but declined to comment on the poll results that suggest he could make Labor competitive again.
“I have nothing further to add on what I’ve said before,” the former prime minister told the scrum.
“My purpose in being here in Canberra this week, and my purpose in travelling around the country in support of Labor members and candidates, is very basic.
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“It is to do everything I physically can to stop Mr Abbott becoming the next prime minister of Australia because he’s the single most extreme right-wing political leader that the Liberal Party have ever thrown up in their history.”
Rudd has said he will not challenge Gillard for the leadership again. The PM says she will not step down.
One of Gillard’s key allies agreed today there was internal chatter – but no action so far – as the government faces the last two sitting weeks ahead of the September 14 election.
“I’m hearing talk and no action and that’s as it should be,” Cabinet minister Craig Emerson told ABC radio on Monday.
Earlier Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury, who holds the marginal western Sydney seat of Lindsay, dismissed the polling showing Labor had a better chance under Rudd.
“To some extent there’s a bit of grass is greener on the other side effect,” he told ABC radio.
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Retiring Labor backbencher Steve Gibbons says he will never support Mr Rudd’s return.
“He knows that. I’ve said that to his face,” he told ABC radio.
The MP also doubted claims by Rudd supporters that there was a growing mood for a leadership change.
“They’ve been saying that for 12 months and it hasn’t happened and I don’t think it will happen this time.”
Gillard’s parliamentary secretary Andrew Leigh says she will still be leader at the election.
Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said a leader change won’t solve Labor’s problems.
“You can put a lick of paint on a haunted house but it’ll still be the rat-infested, white-anted haunted house that it was before,” he said.
Fellow backbencher Deb O’Neill said she supported Gillard but the Labor caucus would ultimately decide on the party leadership “if an opportunity arises”.
She dismissed reports Ms Gillard was warning supporters her education funding reforms would be doomed if Mr Rudd returns to the leadership.
“That is not a conversation that I have had with anyone.”
Cabinet is due to meet tonight and a caucus meeting will be held on Tuesday morning.
