General Chat

It will be interesting to see when we go to an election and listening to Graham Richardson it probably won't be until October but before Christmas.

Now my question is according to all the polls today most people won't vote for Julia anyway so how long will she remain as the leader after she loses the election.

Wonder if you can place money on Centrebet or the like for who will be the party's next leader.

I have been watching the share market since the 40% tax on mining was announced and the bottom fell out of the shares, will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days. I notice also that the mining tax is still a topic but will be discussed more with the companies. So still in the dark on that one.

Talk of this tax has had a huge impact on Rudd's removal. My OH has always been a Labour supporter, but this tax has changed his mind, why, because he is a miner as are most of his family and he will lose his job if the tax comes in. Another statistic for unemployment.

Plus the fact that Rudd was rarely in the country and Gillard has virtually been running the country, it has to make you think. Same carrot leading a different donkey I think.

Gail

Hi Gail.

A bit of a shock for most, i think.

Although, there was over the last month a slight hint ( Media ) that something ill was blowing in the wind. Think the new 40% "Mining Tax" proposal tipped the scales away from Kevin Rudd, and the fact that he had lost votes of confidents from his own party. ( Betrayal comes to mind )

Hi Liz. Julia is the new Prime Minister ( elect ) with Kevin Rudd standing down............ but will still needs the votes from the Australian public for her government to lead the country into the next election. A new Australian election will now take place, very shortly........i would hazard a guess.
Her popularity and proposals (as a leader ) will soon be put to the test by the public.


Tony.....:>)) *From one of the most over governed Countries in the world*.......lol

Hi my Ozzie friends, just reading about that.

Seems: Ms Gillard was born in Barry in 1961, the second daughter of a family who migrated to Adelaide, Australia, when she was a four-year-old child in search of a warmer climate for her lung complaint.
A former successful lawyer, she has been attacked by some opponents as unsuitable to lead because she is childless and therefore out of touch with most Australians.

Good luck, hope there aren't too many other changes ahead

Lizx

Major shock Tony. I have very mixed feeling and a bit confused as well. I guess that it happened so quickly.

Just watched the swearing in, a first for me.

Gail

Hi Gai.

Only in Australia ( as they say )..lol

Many Aussies would have gone to bed last night not knowing what was about to happen, then wake up with a brand new Prime Minister....lol

Welsh born...Julia Gillard, Aussie's first female leader.



Well done to the Socceroos.....A little dignity perhaps, put back into their characters.



Tony...:>))

Nice move with the world cup as a distraction.

We had no idea about the leadership vote as we all went to bed early to get up at 4am for the socceroos game. Turned over from SBS to Today show at 7am to see if they showed the German goal and couldn't believe what we were hearing and seeing.

Well done socceroos on a good win.

Australia's leadership battle:


Julia Gillard is set to oust Kevin Rudd in a Labor caucus vote across the Tasman this morning and become Australia's first woman prime minister.

Julia Gillard is inching closer to becoming Prime Minister, as number crunchers on both sides agree she will win this morning's leadership ballot against Kevin Rudd.

As the numbers are being frantically counted ahead of the ballot at 9:00am AEST, the ABC understands Ms Gillard has secured more than 70 votes, while Mr Rudd has just 30.

Supporters for Mr Rudd dispute the size of the margin, but have acknowledged that Ms Gillard will take over as Prime Minister.

This morning Ms Gillard's supporters told the ABC there was a push to get Mr Rudd not to contest the vote.

One supporter of Mr Rudd said: "You can't have a show where you have got to look over your shoulder all the time. It's clear where you end up. You end up as New South Wales."

A win for Ms Gillard would install her as Australia's 27th prime minister and its first female leader. She is expected to have Treasurer Wayne Swan as her Deputy Prime Minister.

Senior West Australian MP Gary Gray says he has no trouble supporting Ms Gillard. "From my own personal position, I'll be supporting Julia," he said. "I think Julia will win today."


5min ago.
Rudd stands down


Julia Gillard... now Prime Minister