WEDNESDAY 26th OF JUNE
2013
7:00AM
Wake up. Have
great motivational chat with wife. Am determined to focus on positive. I WILL
have policy discussion with media.
7:30AM
Press
conference. Declare from outset that I am not interested in speaking about
leadership in any way shape or form, I’m talking policy.
Fairfax journo
says fine. Asks me if Gonski can go ahead with only two states.
Pass.
Asks how the surplus is going?
Ignore question.
Asks me how
we are going to stop the boats?
Declare
that I support PM and media needs to stop focusing on the leadership.
Storm off.
11:00AM
Fitzgibbon
in – hands me envelope. It’s an invitation to the “Future of Australia”.
Invitation is written on stained napkin.
Also
inside, petition to spill leadership. Throw it to one side of room. Run out of
room, should not even be in the same room as this. Realise Fitzgibbon is now
alone in my office. Run back in room.
Fitzgibbon
says Kevin’s got the numbers. We’ve got a meeting in half an hour – come hang
out – no pressure, no expectations.
11:45AM
At Camp
Rudd. Do not know half of these people. Apparently they are all backbenchers;
really should turn around in question time more often.
12:30PM
Now I know
why I never speak to backbenchers. Every conversation starts with “So, what’s
your margin?”
Ask
Fitzgibbon where Rudd is?
Fitzgibbon
says Rudd is busy recording a video message in Mandarin to a conference in
China on macro-economic policy on South-East Asia. Also has a phone hook-up
with Mal Meninga to discuss Queensland’s tactics before Origin II.
12:45PM
Bob Katter
is here.
12:50PM
Katter
pulls out guitar, bursts into own version of Slim Dusty’s “I’d love to have a
beer with Kevin”.
Escape.
4:30PM
Shorten in.
Tell
Shorten he looks terrible.
Shorten
says he feels terrible.
Ask if it’s
because he’s still struggling to make a decision.
Shorten
says it’s because he has made decision.
5:00PM
Whoaa, it
is totally on. Gillard calling spill for 7PM? Typical Victorian: State of Origin
ruined.
5:30PM
Discuss
issue with wife. Wife suggests I stay loyal to Gillard. Explain that means
electoral destruction.
Wife unwilling to explain to daughter why I brought down first female Prime Minister, if I want to that’s FINE.
6:00PM
Vote in
just one hour. Have got to make call. Walking packs will be gathering. Don’t
want to walk alone.
6:46PM
Shorten
doing presser. Praising Gillard as always!
6:48PM
Shorten
just backed Rudd. Holy crap.
7:00PM
Meeting
starts. Gillard speech okay, still not sure who to back.
7:15PM
Rudd
finishes speaking, Counted over 50 cliches in his speech. Ended saying we need
to “cook with gas”. That’s it: I’m backing Gillard.
7:20PM
Rudd has
won. Yes! Time for Origin.
7:21PM
No… time
for Gillard farewell speech.
8:00PM.
Richo
texts. Wants to know who has won. Text Richo will trade him details for regular
Origin scores.
8:05PM
Text from
Richo. Richo won’t be blackmailed. Richo will decide if my information is worth
Origin scores or not. Text Richo that Rudd is PM.
8:15PM
Richo texts
“I knew that at 7:30PM. To be fair I will give you the Origin score at 7:30PM –
Nil – Nil.”
8:30PM
S#!t we
have to vote on the deputy leadership, and the leader of the Senate, and the
deputy leader of the Senate.
8:35PM
Phew, Labor
factions have fixed up all positions. Quick vote. Definitely have a place in
Labor party, now for the second half of origin!
9:30PM
Gathering
in Gillard office with her camp; good times. Beers, conversation, not one
discussion of polls! Origin on in background – pity about the Blues.
Cavalcade
of Ministers are resigning. Don’t think I will – happy to be kicked out by
people.
11:30PM
Head to
office.
Rudd is
waiting. Wearing Maroons jersey. “Freshly signed by entire victorious Origin II
team” he tells me. How is this even possible!? The man truly is a machine.
Rudd thanks
me for supporting Gillard; was good she had someone.
Has knocked
up some notes on education policy. Wants to know what I think.
2:00AM
Rudd is
still here. We are discussing the lessons of Hong Kong’s kindergarten system.
Rudd feels
we’ve had a great chat, we’re really cooking with gas, but now, he’s gotta zip.
Wish the election was tomorrow!
Originally published at BigPond News.