March 12, 2013
LEADERSHIP ALTERNATIVES
KEVIN RUDD
Former prime minister replaced by Julia Gillard in the 2010 coup. Regarded by many as the only candidate capable of saving Labor's bacon. However, the 55-year-old has ruled out a challenge. Whatever slim chance he would have of reversing Labor's nosedive would be obliterated by an open contest for the position or by any post-change division such as he has visited on Gillard.
BILL SHORTEN
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The 45-year-old is oft-touted as a future leader and holds significant institutional sway as a former head of one of the country's most powerful unions, the AWU. But he is also a strong backer of Julia Gillard and has rejected requests to switch back to Rudd. Cannot be ruled out but is more likely to play the decisive king-maker role in any Rudd/Gillard showdown.
GREG COMBET
The dark horse from the Left. The 54-year-old is a good parliamentary performer, and is seen by some as a no-nonsense Labor loyalist capable of taking the fight directly to Tony Abbott. But he lacks the numbers on his own. Potentially most important in terms of his own preference between Rudd and Gillard. At this stage he remains firmly in the latter camp.
IMPORTANT PLAYERS
MARK BUTLER
Young and talented and regarded as one of the most important ministers in the new guard. A Gillard backer to now, he hails from the Left and carries some influence. Is close to Anthony Albanese who backed Rudd in 2012.
ANTHONY ALBANESE
Julia Gillard's chief protector in the Parliament was actually a Rudd vote in the last contest. Respected across the party, he is loyal to Gillard as a senior minister but would likely back Rudd again.
BOB CARR
Julia Gillard's hand-picked foreign affairs minister has already defied her once on Palestinian representation at the UN. His departure from the Gillard camp could be a mortal blow.
DON FARRELL
One of the three faceless men from the 2010 coup. The understated South Australian senator is no fan of Rudd but regarded as sufficiently hard-headed to read the writing on the wall. Is seen as pivotal to any move to dump Gillard.
TONY BURKE
Strong Gillard backer who has made no secret of his views about dysfunction under Rudd as PM. Thought unlikely to change but would be a big ''get'' for the Rudd camp if he decided Gillard's goose was cooked.
SIMON CREAN
The former Labor leader has been outspoken in his critique of Rudd but is known to be also disappointed in a succession of errors emanating from the Gillard operation.
PENNY WONG
Gillard's respected finance minister remains firmly on her side. However, the flinty left-winger is also a party loyalist inclined to focus on its longer-term interests. Could be crucial in a psychological sense.
