Both News Ltd and Fairfax are quoting unnamed senior Labor figures as saying Mr Crean is being pushed to offer himself as a candidate to replace the prime minister ahead of the September 14 election.

There is reportedly pressure to resolve the vexed leadership issue before Parliament rises on Thursday.
One source said a leadership ballot before the end of the week was possible.

But a spokesman for Mr Crean, who currently holds the position of Regional Development Minister, rejected the rumours as having "no substance".

The speculation comes after Nine News political editor Laurie Oakes reported last night that Kevin Rudd backers had raised the prospect of a leadership move with caucus colleagues as early as Friday.

Gillard's status as Labor leader has been plagued by bad polls and media reports of internal dissent.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Mental Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler were forced to make separate public comments stating their support for the PM after reports the pair had withdrawn their backing.
Sources: Sydney Morning Herald

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/03/20/06/54/crean-mooted-to-take-over-f...

From Laurie Oakes.

Nine's political editor Laurie Oakes reported on Tuesday that Rudd backers had raised the prospect of a leadership move with caucus colleagues.

The move could come within days, possibly Friday, it was reported.

Parliament rises on Thursday and won't sit again until the federal budget on May 14.

Meanwhile, senior Labor figures have pledged their support for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, despite internal criticism of the federal government's handling of two major policies.

The Labor caucus met for two hours on Tuesday for the last time before the May 14 budget.

While sources said the leadership issue wasn't raised, a number of MPs were critical of the prime minister's handling of changes to single-parent payments and media law changes.

Adding to tension was a Fairfax Media report saying two ministers, Bob Carr and Mark Butler, had withdrawn their support for Ms Gillard.

While Fairfax stood by its story, Senator Carr, who is in Washington, DC, denied it.

"The prime minister has my unqualified support," Senator Carr said.

"I think the media's in a frenzy of speculation."

Mr Butler used Twitter to clarify his position: "Still a proud member of Julia Gillard's team, contrary to latest media frenzy."

Former leader and senior minister Simon Crean also said the prime minister had his full support.

"There's never been a more loyal person in terms of the leadership of the Labor Party," he told reporters in Canberra.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/03/19/18/19/rudd-backers-may-move-frida...

I like this, Simon says that there has never been a more loyal supporter of the prime minister than him.  Reminds me of a certain redheaded Rudd supporter just before the knives went in... 

Carr owes his job to gillard..

but its hard to believe there is anything like loyalty left in the party..

they should all be ashamed of themselves..

Crean was never given a fair chance in the first place, he would probably have a better chance than Gillard. But the fact remains, the same polls that say phony tony will be PM say Rudd could beat him, so Labor are  morons not to go with Rudd, even though he's a knob.

Hello Mr Rudd, how are you?.    

skippy. wrote on Mar 20^th, 2013 at 8:26am:


the problem isnt the polls although they are wrong by a huge margin. the problem is that bringing back Rudd would require sacking half the front bench and beginning a civil war unlike anything since the 1950s. the polls are just on the simplistic notion of replacing gillard with rudd and ignoring the extraordinary events that would follow. the only saving option would be for Rudd to go to an immediate election before the civil ware destroyed everything. But Rudds ego would prevent him from doing that.

Nope, Rudd can never be leader again - not with the entire cabinet openly opposing him.

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 20^th, 2013 at 8:35am:


History is littered with government’s overcoming the same position.

Howard was very much hated among the Liberals when he took over - he was seen as a stop gap only meant to lose the election.

Abbott came from the bottom of the barrel when they were out of options as well, he wasn't well liked. All the problems he has faced his party knew all about first, women, assault, lacking competence and vision etc.

Political parties rally behind their best option whether they like it or not.