Braking News: Australia politics Former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd’s supporters have started circulating a caucus petition to allow a challenge to current PM Ms Julia Gillard for the prime ministership. Mr Rudd’s forces have launched the process in the confident and expectation that he - Mr Rudd is prepared to stand again, and that he has a majority. To convene a meeting where the vote can take place, one-third of the caucus members need to sign a petition requesting a special caucus meeting. This will prove a formality. It is then at the discretion of the caucus secretary, Labor backbencher Chris Hayes, to decide the timing. However the parliament is expected to rise on Thursday night so the meeting is likely to be on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. It is the last ready opportunity for a leadership challenge before the scheduled September 14 election. Ms Gillard may choose to bring on the ballot by stepping aside for a vote – “spilling” the leadership as she did in March. Or the caucus can declare the position vacant to allow a ballot. The leader is traditionally chosen by a simple majority selected by a secret ballot of the caucus, which currently has 102 members. Several of Ms Gillard’s supporters in the past two days have demanded that if Mr Rudd wants the job, he should bring on a ballot. What a dramatic leadership tussle in Labor camp…
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 06:40:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015