Julia Gillard will be a better PM methinks. No-one is perfect but she brings a down-to-earth (uncontrived) persona, a consultative management style, desire for a more harmonious relationship with the public service and better grasp of program delivery. ie. not focussed on polls and image at the expense of policy, and who knows she might ensure there are enough resources to get the job done properly.

If you are going to commit to reform you cannot do it without appropriate resourcing. The people in the frontlines trained to provide those services or oversight roles. Otherwise it is just talk. This was Rudd's big mistake and I hope Terry Moran takes a lesson as well in reviewing a burgeoning SES, diverting funds to better support operational areas of public service - afterall that is what government is about - serving the public to the best of their ability.

As a fellow human being, I did feel a tad sorry for Mr Rudd at a personal level, however in the long run I believe Australia will be better off.

Wonder if Tanner will get the Treasurer's spot in a re-shuffle, that might be on the cards as well.

Julia will undoubtedly make a better leader but will she be a better PM and more importantly how does she weigh up agains't Abbott. These and many more questions to be answered in the coming months. Biggest concern is that though kevin couldn't sell airconditioning in a heat wave he was fairly independent of the factional influences while his popularity held. Julia though is a classic factional dealer and will be owing lot's for this lot.
Tanner is out didn't you hear pelican. Suppose he could do a Malcolm.
Remember as the plot thickens that the people wanted this, all the best.

I stated that Gillard had "balls" and I stand by that, do you understand what I mean by that? It is essentially "intestinal fortitude", her willingness to accept HER mistakes, to refuse to put the blame where others would have and then to stand on her principles?

That took balls, irrespective of gender.

I'm sorry, at least the AWU represents at least 5% of the eligible voters in this country. The Business Council of Australia doesn't represent 1% (actually the Unions represent far more than 5% of this Country, the AWU is the kernel from which the ALP was born). Rudd was elevated to Party Leader & then Prime Minister simply because he was endorsed by Caucus and elected by his electorate. Gillard can say the same, but at least she recognises that Her position is owed to the Unions, the Unions have always had that power (since the 1890's).

I personally am excited that the Unions are back in the drivers seat, that the irrelevant (like "Boat People", "WorkChoices" & "Work Visas" are no longer campaign issues, both major parties will address them the same way, ie.ignoring them). I am sick to death of politics in this Country being owned by "real" minorities, who have stacked enough inner-city branches to have a say far outweighing their real power. Politics in this Country just took a corner and the differences between the two parties will now lie in who they represent, the BCA & Mining Council or the Unions.

The fact the ALP has finally chosen Ms Gillard as our first Female PM, as tough and honest as Abbott, makes me happy. Now they have a real hope of retaining office. The fact the Labor Party now looks after workers, not grasping illegal immigrants, greens and wannabees, yes, it is way overdue. Let the Greens choose their own side, I guarantee they'll regret choosing the mining council if they choose wrong (ie.don't waste time "chasing" their vote).

Just remember one thing. This looser also had a huge role to play in much of the billions that they have wasted on our behalf.

For one pertrayed as 'so clever', I wonder why she didn't see the 'rip-offs' in the education building programe until, as usual, it was all to late.

Now as for Krud, having come to a 'thud' will he do the honnorable thing and forego his huge super and perks payouts to help fund the billions needed to fix his path of distruction. After all, he still has million of dollars that he didn't put at risk!

Finally, to my good friends belly and foxy. You didn't see that one comming did you. To busy getting tied up in your labor 'brain washing' I suspect.

Wake up and smell the roses guys. Labor stinks!

Well, well, well. What a day. Ok! you humans want to make money! Ok, so do I. In politics, the power hungry wins out. Cool! we will let you have command. But if this planet fails, the people of the world will point the fingers at you. Play your game. Its your neck on the block. ( capitalist ) I hope you know what you are doing. Labour( balance)and sorry for the rant, but this is an opinion site after all, and I give my best wishes too our First Woman Prime Australian World Leader and a great victory for Australia and for equal opportunity.

You girls have worked hard!

Lets see what you can do as a world as one.

Good luck.

TTM

Custard,
"OMFG, I have never seen a "Prime Minister" sob during a speech."

Some of us saw Malcolm Fraser weeping on election night when he lost to Bob Hawke.

Some of us have this all before and many more will see it again.