Dennis Shanahan, Political editor
From: The Australian September 22, 2011 12:00AM
TONY Abbott wants a Labor leadership change so badly he can taste it.
The Opposition Leader and his colleagues are doing everything they can to turn the longest, worst period of polling for any modern federal government into the end of Julia Gillard.
There are two reasons for Abbott's intensity and determination to turn Labor's desperation into a fatal panic on leadership: first, he wants an election; and, second, he fears Kevin Rudd.
As a result of the latest Newspoll - Labor's primary vote was a record low 26 per cent and has been under 30 per cent for three months, the same period that Abbott has been preferred prime minister - Liberals and some Labor MPs believe Gillard's leadership is terminal. The Labor leadership change thermometer isn't anywhere near boiling, but it's gone up a degree or two in the past three days.
Related Coverage
- Labor heading for wipeout without Rudd Perth Now, 10 days ago
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- Abbott's offer has a sinister motive The Daily Telegraph, 5 Sep 2011
- Only a miracle can save her now The Australian, 5 Sep 2011
- Labor MPs will dump Gillard, Abbott says The Australian, 20 Jul 2011
Abbott's attitude is to knock over an opponent whenever possible, but his main aim is to spark an election he would be certain to win on the current polling.
There is an added reason for Abbott's wish to act as soon as possible against Gillard, which includes the short-term opportunism of assisting the snuffing-out of offshore processing of asylum-seekers.
Abbott, like many Liberal MPs and more than the handful of Labor MPs who are die-hard Rudd supporters, believes Rudd is the only logical choice to replace Gillard, and the only one who can save once-safe Labor seats.
Rudd's continuing popularity, his previous preference as prime minister over Abbott, his Queensland connections and a sympathy vote all worry the Liberal leader.
But Abbott's biggest fear about Rudd is that the former prime minister will be held back as a last-minute change and go to an election before a second honeymoon wears off.
If Abbott has to face Rudd, he wants time to remind voters why they were turning off the former prime minister before he was dumped by his colleagues.
Tony Abbott aims to crush Julia Gillard while he can | The Australian
