NSW: Rudd fails to make regular TV appearance

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
NSW: Rudd fails to make regular TV appearance

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd has failed to make
his regular weekly TV appearance amid mounting speculation he is set to replace Kim Beazley
as federal Labor leader.

Mr Rudd, who appears on the Seven Network on Friday mornings in a debate with federal
Human Services Minister Joe Hockey, was replaced by Labor environment and heritage spokesman
Anthony Albanese.

Mr Albanese said he had been asked to stand in for Mr Rudd because "as I understand
it, he had to be in Melbourne at a particular time - 9am - and therefore he's on a plane".

"He can't be in two places at once," Mr Albanese said.

He did not reply to suggestions by Seven Sunrise presenter David Koch that Mr Rudd
was visiting Labor health spokeswoman Julia Gillard, who lives in Melbourne.

Ms Gillard has been named as a possible deputy to Mr Rudd in the event of a leadership change.

Mr Albanese said he could "guarantee" Mr Beazley would not be replaced in coming days
and would still be leader after Christmas.

"I think there's a bit of a parallel universe," Mr Albanese said.

"There's one universe where I am in Canberra where everyone's sort of doing their job.

"Kim's doing his job as leader. Kevin's doing his job holding the government to account
on the AWB scandal.

"And there's another universe where there's all this stuff is allegedly happening,
and been going to happen every day, but as you know, nothing's happened."

Mr Albanese said Mr Beazley's job was secure and no one was challenging his leadership.

"We're ahead in the polls," Mr Albanese said.

"If the election is held tomorrow, we win - 51 beats 49."

Mr Albanese said Mr Beazley was in the same situation in which Prime Minister John
Howard and other leaders had found themselves in as opposition leaders.

He said his personal popularity rating did not detract from the fact that Labor would
win an election if it were to be held tomorrow.

Mr Albanese said he had not read an internal email from Labor backbencher Jill Hall,
which raised concerns that Labor could not win an election under Mr Beazley's leadership.

"I don't read Jill Hall's emails, I've got to say," Mr Albanese said.

"In terms of Kim's position, this is in fact a bizarre world in which Labor polls 51
and the government polls 49 and somehow, we've got a problem."

Mr Beazley is reportedly digging in against a bid by unnamed Labor figures to oust
him as early as next Tuesday amid rising fears in the party that it can't win next year's
election if he remains leader.

The Australian's Newspoll has shown support for Mr Beazley stuck in the low 30s for
months and dropping to 28 per cent last weekend, while his dissatisfaction rating has
been above 50 per cent for most of this year.

AAP was/jt/cdh

KEYWORD: LABOR ALBANESE

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.