Plibersek votes for Gillard, praises Rudd

Federal Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek has strongly supported Prime Minister Kevin Rudd despite revealing she voted for Julia Gillard during last week’s leadership challenge.

Speaking to City News, Ms Plibersek admitted she had voted for Ms Gillard last Wednesday, after refusing to divulge her choice to other media outlets.

“I am not going to talk about our internals,” she had told the Seven Network and News Limited papers.

But unlike many of her colleagues, who have criticised one Labor leader while supporting the other, Ms Plibersek deftly walked a tightrope of praise for both.

“Kevin Rudd gave the apology to the Stolen Generations, commenced the National Broadband Network and steered Australia through the Global Financial Crisis,” said Ms Plibersek.

“As Labor leader, Julia Gillard helped build a better Australia, not least through DisabilityCare and the hope it represents of a better life for people with disability, their families and carers.”

With the Labor leadership issue now resolved, Ms Plibersek – whose position as Minister for Health and Medical Research has been confirmed by Mr Rudd – urged the electorate to focus on the real issues.

“There is a lot at stake at this election for Sydneysiders,” she said.

“This election will decide whether or not Australia completes the National Broadband Network or sticks to outdated copper wires; whether we fix our school funding system or continue to let the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students widen; whether we invest in jobs and growth or cut to the bone with broken models of austerity.

“In my own portfolio of health we need to widen access to dental care for kids and lower income earners,” she said.

Ms Plibersek’s comments come as the latest Galaxy Poll shows Labor clawing back significant ground, with a two-party preferred result of 49 per cent for the ALP against the Coalition’s 51 per cent.

But Sean O’Connor, the Liberal candidate for Sydney, sought to minimise the significance of the leadership change.

“Rudd’s back but the Labor Party is still chaotic and still divided,” he said.

“Whether its Rudd or whether it’s Gillard, it’s still dysfunctional.”

Mr O’Connor attempted to wring extra mileage out of Labor’s leadership woes, claiming that because Ms Plibersek was a senior member of Cabinet under both Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd “she owns the chaos and dysfunction as much as anyone”.

ABC psephologist and election commentator Antony Green said the leadership woes had never played strongly in Sydney.

“It’s had little to no effect on Plibsersek,” said Mr Green. “Sydney is a very safe Labor seat and Labor will hold it.”

Ms Plibersek garnered 43 per cent of the primary vote at the 2010 election – well ahead of her nearest rival, former Liberal candidate Gordon Weiss, who received 28 per cent.

At time of writing, the most likely date for the election remains Saturday, September 14, as previously announced by Ms Gillard. While Mr Rudd can change the date, the election must be held no later than Saturday, November 30.