Big Bill Ludwig are HERO'S.
Belly,
Would that be the Bill Ludwig who was a Union rep in Cairns in the early 70's ? If he was don't bother replying because I have my own assessment of this bloke.

Dear Belly,

I may be wrong - however I feel that the Greens
will eventually go the way of the Democrats.
I don't see them as any kind of a threat politically.
As for the Prime Minister? Well as I've stated in
the past you know more about Labor politics than I do.
However, as one reader wrote in The Saturday Age,
July 21, 2012:

"Why can't the Labor Party and the conservative media
simply allow Julia Gillard to get on with the job?
The woman has kept a hung Parliament going in troubled
times and has managed to see difficult legislation
passed - a tough call for any leader whether male or
female, Labor or Liberal."

"The public's perception of Julia Gillard is very much
in the hands of the media, which when it comes to
the PM seems unfairly biased against her. If the media
didn't jump at every whisper of leadership rumblings
among party members or Opposition innuendo, no doubt the
polls would change in Ms Gillard's favour."

"We may not like a lot of what's happening in Australia
at the moment, but compared with many other countries,
Australia is certainly the place to be."

Hear! Hear!

Perhaps as the election draws nearer - Mr Abbott and his
policies as well as those of the Greens -
will be held up to more scrutiny (especially
the costings), and people will begin to see that what's
being promised will not be feasible and will have very
serious repercussions for our standard of living and our
country in general.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/swan-a-repeat-offender-in-art-of-political-backflip/story-fn53lw5p-1226431097678

On June 16, 2010, Swan was asked a question about Kevin Rudd's leadership amid rumours that Julia Gillard might challenge the first-term prime minister: "Oh come on, let's not over-read all these sort of things." Seven days later Rudd was gone. Swan delivered the Australian Workers Union votes for Gillard. Swan is far from the only offender, it has to be said, but he is one of the worst.

With a Thatcherite tone Swan concluded the resource super-profits tax was too important a reform not to be embraced in its entirety. But he was committed to taxing the miners as Henry had outlined. Just days later he was party to junking the tax after leaving Rudd isolated.

For his lack of policy conviction Swan was rewarded with the deputy prime ministership when Rudd was cast aside.

It was Swan and Gillard (there is a pattern developing here when it comes to poor decision-making) who talked Rudd out of standing by the ETS when the going got tough. That was despite, on September 22, 2009, Swan saying: "It's vital - vital for our national economy that this (ETS) is passed as soon as we possibly can." A few months later, and Swan and Gillard were hard at it trying to convince Rudd to dump the ETS, a move that sparked Rudd's polling collapse, which in turn sparked Gillard's challenge.

Oh, the irony. And Team Gillard now wonders why voters find it so hard to understand how she can argue that pricing carbon is a matter of conviction for her.

The final and without a doubt most sickening example of Swan back-flipping is in relation to his attitude towards Rudd.

He spent 3 1/2 years telling Australians what an honourable, worthy and competent prime ministerial candidate Rudd was. In opposition and in government, with hand on heart, Swan fronted the media and argued for Rudd. Yet in February this year Swan released a statement describing Rudd as never having had "Labor values", and the Treasurer went on to say that his former prime minister had "great weaknesses" and was "dysfunctional".

Lexi I totally agree with your post, but be aware, in doing so claim your words saying I know more about ALP politics are true.
Complex issue, not Rudd vs the beast, beast being Gillards team.
Rudd, instantly as leader, would restore 5% of Labors lost polling, Gillard never could.
Hard to rebut some of Shadow Ministers comments, they are quite right.
COMPLEX? if my single wish was granted, that every member of every trade union, this day, was asked this question.
*Who would you prefer to lead the Labor party*
I have not a single doubt! that EVERY UNIONS FINAL RESULT WOULD SAY RUDD.
Think with me here, born out of my Union movement.
Out of the heart and blood of ordinary workers.
My party often strays from its base NSW QLD Federal Labor.
We came together UNDER THE ONLY MAN who could do it and won!
Went in to that election untrusted on economic management.
Have changed that view, but have lost more.
Supporting Gillard will not turn those unionist heads, power brokers who speak for them do not, and will not turn them.
Support Gillard is Murdering the ALP.
Leave her alone? and betray my party?
Unions will see members leave both if their thoughts are of no value.

In my posts in this thread, in every thread I ever posted in, I understand some disagree with me.
I can not get my head around Lexis comment.
The one asking why we can not just get off Gillards back, and let her do her job.
I understand the words came via a reported link, but have seen near the same ones from Lexi and others.
Can some one asure me we should support wrong always.
That every time we differ, with anyone, we should get off their back?
I damage myself with my life time peers.
But in my view,I would be a coward not to ask for the truth of them.
Truth? more Australians have switched off Gillard forever than support her.
Last Labor must now, fight for its survival not hers.

Labor must now, fight for its survival not hers.
The only avenue for Labor is become Labor again.