News

MP wants Rudd to quit ruining it for everybody

Thu February 23, 2012 5:03am

TRADE Minister Craig Emerson has joined two cabinet colleagues in savaging Kevin Rudd for undermining the Labor government.

Meanwhile, Rudd backer senator Doug Cameron says it wouldn't be fair to hold a leadership ballot on Monday.

He called for the ballot to be held the following Friday, after the parliamentary sitting week, instead.

Mr Rudd resigned as foreign minister yesterday.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to call a leadership ballot on Monday to deal with an expected challenge from the Queenslander.

Dr Emerson said Mr Rudd had been undermining the Government for the past 18 months.

"He started it way back in the last election, it's been going on ever since," he told ABC TV.

"Some backers of Kevin Rudd have said this will go on and on until they get Kevin back in to the prime ministership.

"All they are doing is giving comfort to Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party and they ought to reflect very seriously on that."

This followed Treasurer Wayne Swan saying Mr Rudd did not hold any Labor values and had always put himself ahead of the government and country.

Environment Minister Tony Burke said it had been no secret Mr Rudd was campaigning to return to the leadership.

Dr Emerson criticised Mr Rudd for having scrapped proper cabinet processes and running a poll-driven government when he was in power.

"We need a decisive result (in the leadership ballot) and if that means explaining how things operated under Kevin ... I think that's something that is necessary," he said.

He believed Ms Gillard was the only person who could face up to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at the next election.

Viewing page: [ 1 2 ]