Labor Removes Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister

The removal of Kevin Rudd from the Prime Ministership has changed the public face of the Government, but is unlikely to change its direction, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.

“All Australians want and expect a responsible Government. We want our leaders to succeed and do what is in the national interest,” Mr Hawke said.

“But the elevation of Julia Gillard seems to be motivated by Labor Party fears for its electoral prospects rather a genuine desire to change or atone for failures under Kevin Rudd’s Prime Ministership.

“We cannot forget that Julia Gillard was Deputy Prime Minister to Kevin Rudd, they were both instrumental in producing failed policies such as the Home Insulation Program, and the Green Loans scheme.

“We cannot forget that Julia Gillard was integral to the decision making of the Rudd Government’s spending— which has seen billions of dollars of debt run-up for future generations to repay.

“And we cannot forget that Julia Gillard, in her direct portfolio responsibility, was responsible for the $16 billion Building the Education Revolution, where potentially billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been wasted.”

Mr Hawke said that concerns about the industrial relations stance of Prime Minister Gillard had already been expressed to him by local residents and small business owners.

“Under the Labor Government the influence of trade unions in the workplace has increased,” Mr Hawke said.

“Ms Gillard’s track record and support for trade unions is of concern to many small business owners in our local community.

“The decision by the Federal Labor Party to dump Mr Rudd in favour of Ms Gillard was based on electoral prospects rather than a genuine desire to change course from the Government’s high debt and high spending ways.

“We cannot forget that Julia Gillard was integral to all the decisions, programs, and policies made since the Labor Government came to office in 2007,” Mr Hawke said.