Australian Labor Party Imploding - National Social/Political

Of course that bold initiative would require fortitude, courage and new, vital leadership -- things the Party has lacked for some time, O well!

Election needed to move beyond Gillard-Rudd war, says Opposition leader

LABOR'S internal war over the leadership has paralysed the federal government, made it totally dysfunctional and a fresh election is needed, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said today.

Mr Abbott seized on reports Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is preparing to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard for the Labor leadership.

The Australian today reported Mr Rudd has 40 of the 52 votes he needs to topple Ms Gillard, predicting he will have a tilt at the leadership ahead of the May federal budget.

It has also been reported the NSW Right faction will allow its members to vote for whoever they want.

Mr Abbott said the federal government was completely dysfunctional and the situation could not go on.

"Right now in Canberra, the government is at war with itself," he told reporters in Brisbane, while campaigning with LNP leader Campbell Newman.

"We've really got three Labor parties at the moment, we've got the Gillard Labor party, the Rudd Labor party and the neither Labor party."

The problem was not the Labor leader but the party's policies, and another election was needed, Mr Abbott said.

"We've got to change the policies of the government, not just change the leader of the government.

"And the way to change policies is to change the government and have an election.

"I think the government of Australia is too important to be paralysed while the faceless men try and decide who the leader should be."

Mr Rudd campaigned in Brisbane yesterday and Mr Abbott said that while he and Mr Newman had been talking to Queenslanders, the Foreign Minister had basically been talking about himself.

"If the problem is that we have a totally dysfunctional federal government, it cannot go on like this," Mr Abbott said.

"In the end, it's not just a question of changing leaders. I would like to see our country better governed.

"It won't be better governed until we've got better policies in place."

Finance Minister Penny Wong today reaffirmed her support for Ms Gillard when pressed on the leadership issue. "I've got a job to do," she told Sky News.

Senator Wong's response mirrored that of the Prime Minister, when was asked yesterday if it would be better to have a spill and clear the air once and for all.

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[It is clear neither Gillard nor Rudd put the Party's best interests before personal vendettas and ambitions. You would think the back benches and Labor caucus are familiar with the old adage; "a 'house' divided cannot stand!" Remove the toxic duo before they remove the entire Party from any viable contention.]

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