25.4 C
Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Rudd needs to go: Roxon

Latest News

Blue skies for Bluesfest day 1

If yesterday at Bluesfest was anything to go by, it's going to be an incredible event and with the weather holding, (so far) the Easter weekend's future is looking bright.

Other News

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

Bay FM community radio celebrates digital upgrade

Volunteers from Byron and across the Northern Rivers celebrated nearly $100,000 worth of new studio equipment at Bay FM Community Radio station on the weekend.

Casuarina cricketers too strong for Mullumbimby Brunswick in grand final

Mullumbimby Brunswick Cricket Club (MBCC) had a very successful season finishing second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season with 13 wins and 4 losses, but fell short of winning the grand final against the Casuarina Crocs.

Superbowls

Superbowls is your go-to spot for a burst of woodfired flavour! Nestled in Byron Arts and Industry Estate, the...

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

Victoria Cosford Oh to be a cow with a four-chambered stomach system! Farmers’ market, Bluesfest long weekend, a spot of...

Roxon
When emergency management minister, Nicola Roxon, centre, with deputy mayor of Wagga Wagga, Yvonne Braid, visited the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. Photo by Bidgee http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Photographs_by_Bidgee

Kevin Rudd is a ‘bastard’ who will always be a destabilising influence and should leave parliament for the good of Labor, former senior minister Nicola Roxon says.

In a scathing attack on the former prime minister, Ms Roxon said he had a vicious tongue and temper and treated brilliant people terribly.

‘As long as Kevin remains in Parliament, irrespective of how he behaves, pollsters will run comparisons with him and any other leader,’ Ms Roxon said in delivering the John Button memorial lecture in Melbourne on Wednesday.

‘For the good of the federal parliamentary Labor party … Kevin Rudd should leave the parliament.’

She acknowledged that removing Mr Rudd from the prime ministership in 2010 was ‘an act of political bastardry’.

But she said it was only possible ‘because Kevin had been such a bastard himself’.

She said the party erred in not explaining that at the time.

‘At the time it seemed unimaginable to contemplate being so publicly rude to your own PM, with the benefit of hindsight, some of us should’ve spoken out – if not before, at least immediately after.’

Mr Rudd was relentlessly disorganised, lacked strategy, overwhelmingly focused on the minutiae to avoid hard decisions, Ms Roxon told the annual lecture to Labor members.

She told of being called at last minute to all-day Sunday meetings at the Lodge where senior staff were required to be present but not allowed in the room.

‘More than one relationship was destroyed by this relentless disorganisation,’ she said.

‘I did … see how terribly he treated some brilliant staff and public servants. Good people were burnt through like wildfire.’

But his bad behaviour didn’t end after Julia Gillard took over the top job, she said.

‘Although his removal was dramatic and brutal, it was his refusal to recover with dignity, to rise above the treatment he was meted out … and failure to claim his place as a constructive elder statesman that, in my view, showed his true nature,’ Ms Roxon said.

‘Nothing excuses persistently destabilising and leaking against your own team during an election, or as a senior minister or as a backbencher.’

Mr Rudd was not the entire focus of her speech, she told members she hoped the party would learn the lessons of the past six years, including the need to explain policy as it was developed, the importance of organisation, and the ‘corrosive effect’ of opinion polls.

‘We should never, ever as a party be ashamed of our past,’ she said.

‘We should celebrate it, learn from it, and use it to improve our nation’s future.’

Ms Roxon described new leader Bill Shorten and his deputy Tanya Plibersek as being as close to ‘the dream team” as you can get.

Read the full lecture http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-16/roxon-ten-tips/5026972


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Retired local professor launches book on grief

A leading international thinker and researcher in the development of innovative sport coaching and physical education teaching has returned home to Byron Bay and is launching his first non-academic book, 'Grief and Growth', on April 4 at The Book Room in Byron. 

Resilient Lismore’s ‘Repair to Return’ funding

On the eve of the second anniversary of the second devastating flood in 2022, Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.

Editorial – Joyous propaganda! 

The NSW Labor government marked its one year in office this week with a jubilant statement of achievements issued from Macquarie Street HQ.

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.