Rudd was a party boy, and not the political type. He will be no loss at the top. Can you imagine Tony as a high level diplomat, I recon we would get laughed at from every corner of the world, and that includes NZ.

I suggest that as a lecturer in law the writer read the Constitution Act,(Cth) 1901 and it might surprise him to find that nowhere is there a reference to a prime minister, let alone how that person is chosen.

Its an issue of constitutional convention Seneca. Maybe you should read the article again.

The Labor Party were very quick to appoint Kevin Rudd and then just as quick to get rid of him when the tide turned. The decision by Julia Gillard to go to the polls so quickly was a huge mistake given that apart from Victoria she wasn't all that well known. The clumsy handling of the BER, Pink batts, Boat refugees, dumping of the ETS and messy handling of the mining tax plus the growing displeasure with both the Queensland and NSW State governments were major factors in the poor showing by Labor. The campaign conducted by Tony Abbott moved the Coalition from a certain defeat to a winnable one demonstrated by his strong leadership.

Ray of sunshine

You have expressed the very sentiments of most middle-class, educated Aussies who voted Labour in the 2007 election. I am a swinging voter, having voted Liberals/Labour/Greens at various times in our election history. I (& my friends) was furious that the Australian PM was dumped in such an undignified manner. My earlier regard for Gillard vanished at the very moment of treachery. Never thought well of Swan from day one and so his part in the 'assassination' of Rudd was not a surprise. You are absolutely right when you say “Labor should be very grateful that neither Turnbull nor Costello was the opposition leader in the 2010 election". Costello is the great PM that Australia missed, no thanks to old Howard. Turnbull would have decimated Labour in this election after the treachery. Labour still is reluctant to freely acknowledge the cost they paid due to Rudd's dismissal. They are in denial or simply unable to face reality. People will remember this for a loooong time. I will certainly not vote Labour as long as Gillard and Swan remain in leadership. Democracy within the current Labour is dead. In its place we have the 'strong-arm' tactics of Arbib, Shorten, Bitar and their cronies. This Labour no more!!

“The ruling party can change its leader every 6 months if it wants to. There is nothing in the Constitution that says otherwise.”

Ho Hum you may be right BUT you are forgetting something important ... people's sense of 'fair-play' and their furry at the thought that their votes were disregarded by self-seeking individuals. You are forgetting the fact that voting is also about people's 'sentiments'and thus an emotive exercise. It is also true that PMs do not get elected but that we elect Parties to power. If this is the only truth, why did Labour have to dispose Rudd? Why the fuss about Gillard and her 'moving forward' theme? The truth is we elect the party knowing who its leader is. Rudd won the election for Labour in 2007. I voted for Labour because Rudd stood for Labour. The absence of Rudd in leadership cost Labour dearly. Now the Rudd-absent Labour (ie Judas Gillard leadership)is in a begging position for the vote of the Independents. Shame on Gillard and her co-assassins. Shame Labour, shame!