6.10pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said Minister for Regional Development Simon Crean is disappointed and hurt by today's result.
Mr McCormack just left Mr Crean's office, where he spoke to the man who put today's events in motion by calling for a spill.
"I wished him well and thanked him for what he's done for the Riverina," Mr McCormack said.
"I think he's hurt ... he was disappointed from his party's point of view.
"You feel for people when they make decisions for what they think is best for the party.
"The whole of today's events have really shown this government cannot stay, we do need an election."
Mr McCormack said Australia deserves better than the current government and that this "civil war" will continue until change is initiated.
He said one thing is clear from today - Kevin Rudd is not a supporter of the Prime Minister but he wanted to avoid being stabbed in the back again.
"I think if Rudd thought he would have had overwhelming support, he would have put his hand up," he said.
"It's obvious that the Prime Minister is not popular but I don't think it's the leadership that's under question, it's Labor's policies."
Mr McCormack believes the Australian public will look at today's events and ask "what on earth is going on there?"
"You feel a little sad that Australia is governed this way because we deserve better than this," he said.
4.50pm
The positions of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister were made available and only one nomination was received for each position. Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan were the only nominations for the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister positions, respectively. No change has been made. Julia Gillard retains her position as Prime Minister. She ran unopposed after Kevin Rudd announced he would keep his promise and not run against her.
3.40pm
Minister for Education and Member for Murrumbidgee Adrian Piccoli said this afternoon's leadership spill is an unnecessary distraction.
"These kind of distractions are not helpful," he said.
"The important work that the state's got to do with the Commonwealth gets disrupted ... when there's this kind of event, people get distracted from their jobs."
Mr Piccoli was worried about the affect this ballot would have on the current work he is doing in regards to education funding and reforms.
"It's just a matter of seeing what happens," he said.
Mr Piccoli in State Parliament in Sydney today and said the buzz surrounding the ballot was no different to anywhere else in the country, although he was reluctant to say who he would thrown his support behind.
"It's not a decision for me to make," he said.
"Whoever is the Prime Minister this afternoon, we will continue to work with them."
3.20pm
When Riverina MP Michael McCormack was speaking to Minister for Regional Development Simon Crean yesterday, he told the Labor MP he should put his hand up for the prime minister's job.
Though hesitant to speak before the ballot, Mr McCormack described Mr Crean as "a safer pair of hands on the wheel".
"I had a meeting with (Mr Crean) yesterday one-on-one, spent quite a bit of time with and I said to him yesterday, ‘you should run’ – at least he has an understanding of regional Australia," Mr McCormack said.
"There’s been speculation about a leadership spill obviously for many, many months and certainly last week it became apparent something was going to happen and if something was going to happen (it would have to be this week before the seven-week break).
"It would give the possibly new prime minister (time for the) budget and get a front bench together, or call an election."
Mr McCormack is adamant voters need to keep their eyes on policy rather than party figureheads.
Mr McCormack believes the failed, and what he described as extremely hasty, push for media bills was the final straw.
While acknowledging Mr Crean's efforts in his regional development role, Mr McCormack still slammed the government.
"It’s not about leadership it’s about policies. It really is Labor policy that needs to be looked at … Australia has switched off," Mr McCormack declared this afternoon.
"Overall Labor policy’s not good for the nation.
"Whilst I think Crean would be a safer pair of hands on the wheel, it’s still not going to solve the fact we have a debt crisis, stop the boats, fix livestock and cattle exporters who are still hurting. A leadership change is not going to cool the climate any more or roll out the NBN quicker."
2.10pm
Sitting in his office in Parliament House in Sydney, Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire watched this afternoon's leadership spill unfold.
"I think that was as obvious as your nose on your face what was going to happen," he said when contacted by The Daily Advertiser a short time ago.
The months of speculation of a leadership challenge within the shaky party was not what the country needed, Mr Maguire said, with the antics of the federal government distracting MPs from their responsibilities.
"They need to understand they've got responsibility for the country and months and months of speculation hasn't help," Mr Maguire said.
"The Labor Party is so focused on themselves that the affairs of the country was coming second place.
"Just yesterday afternoon four more boats arrived with 400 more people costing billions of dollars, (and) they’ve been so focused themselves."
The Riverina's federal member, Michael McCormack, has entered Question Time and will be unavailable for comment until later this afternoon, a spokesman for his office said.
Messages have been left for Murrumbidgee MP Adrian Piccoli.
The ballot for the ALP leadership will take place at 4.30pm.