FED:Leaked Labor review is 'history': Smith

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2011
FED:Leaked Labor review is 'history': Smith

CANBERRA, Dec 5 AAP - Federal Labor figures have been keen to talk up improved voter
support for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, amid suggestions her 2010 election campaign
was derailed by Kevin Rudd and his supporters.

The last Newspoll of the year has Ms Gillard and her minority government at their highest
standing in six months.

At the same time voter backing for Tony Abbott has dropped to its lowest level since
he became opposition leader two years ago.

But the coalition maintains a big lead - 54-46 per cent - over Labor on a two-party
preferred basis.

Cabinet minister Stephen Smith was upbeat about the government's position going into
its second full year.

"I'd rather be us than them," he said of the two sides of politics.

But Mr Smith played down reports of a secret Labor Party report that criticised Mr
Rudd and his government.

The so-called sealed section of the 2010 election review also implied the former prime
minister and his supporters were behind leaks that derailed Julia Gillard's campaign.

The confidential report cites a period of drift and complacency for the Rudd government
which began in mid-2009 after the opposition was crippled by the Utegate affair.

Mr Smith admitted he had not seen the sealed section of the review, nor was he planning
to ask to see it.

The review was conducted in the aftermath of a "very tough and difficult" campaign
that ended in Labor forming minority government.

"It's part of history, let's move on," he said, adding he treated what was said in
the newspaper report as assertions.

The leaked report is likely to increase tensions between Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard and
follows her opening speech to the ALP national conference in which she mentioned every
Labor prime minister, other than her predecessor, in the past 70 years.

Cabinet minister Craig Emerson acknowledged Mr Rudd was not mentioned.

"But look, frankly, I think that in the great historic sweep of things that is not
of major importance," he said.

"What actually happened is that the PM has recognised Kevin's contribution before;
she will recognise it again."

AAP rl/afr/de

KEYWORD: LABOR WRAP

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