Anthony Albanese says he will not resign his Ministry and he wouldn't have been deputy PM anyway, Simon Crean had that commitment
Monday, 25 March 2013
Tragically, Julia Gillard's Cabinet is a reflection of Gillard's broader life.
Broken relationships, unstable relationships of convenience, mutual distrust, expectations of vengeance and all the while Julia Gillard's interests front and centre as the relationship's major priority.
It's hard to imagine why Anthony Albanese wants to continue working for her but that, apparently, is what he says he wants. Be careful what you wish for Minister!
The Australian reports thus this morning:
No last-minute retreat or deputy deal: Albanese
- BY:DAVID CROWE, NATIONAL AFFAIRS EDITOR
- From:The Australian
- March 25, 2013 12:00AM
ANTHONY Albanese has denied striking a deal to become Kevin Rudd's deputy in a spill of the Labor leadership, as he fought off accusations that he had been deeply involved in last week's bid to dislodge Julia Gillard.
The government leader in the lower house also insisted he had not called Labor colleagues to secure their votes for Mr Rudd in the hours before the leadership challenge collapsed last Thursday.
Mr Albanese has come under fire from some of his colleagues for not resigning alongside three senior ministers involved in last week's move against the Prime Minister -- Chris Bowen, Kim Carr and Martin Ferguson.
In his first chance to defend himself against his critics, Mr Albanese declared yesterday that he should not resign because he had the confidence of the Prime Minister and had kept to his word last week.
The Australian has been told by several caucus members that Mr Albanese continued his support for Mr Rudd until it became clear shortly before 4.30pm last Thursday that the numbers were not there to secure victory.
One of Mr Rudd's supporters said this was a long-running "understanding" and another said "everyone knew" Mr Albanese was working towards a leadership change.
You can read The Australian's complete story here.
When I say complete, I don't think that anyone but Anthony Albanese really knows the full story, just what was on his mind last week. What was the disconnect? Why did Mr Albanese suddenly cease to be the public no 2 to Mr Rudd after having been so publicly associated with the Rudd campaign for so long.
Here's a small extract from Anthony Albanese's appearance on Australian Agenda with Peter van Onselen, David Crowe and Paul Kelly on Sunday, 24 March 2013:
Paul Kelly:
Just on that point minister, you would have been a Deputy Prime Minister if Kevin Rudd had prevailed -
Anthony Albanese:
Not necessarily at all. The fact is that in terms of there was no vacancy, there is no vacancy, in terms of Simon Crean's declaration and the indication that he had a whole range of support was there publically, that's been debated. I never asked anyone to support me for a vacancy that didn't exist.
David Crowe:
But did you have an understanding with Kevin Rudd that you would or could become Deputy Prime Minister if he became leader?
Anthony Albanese:
No, in terms of any deal or arrangement, there was no such arrangement. Kevin Rudd has made it very clear that he's very supportive of me and it's no secret that we are friends and have been so for a long time.
Indeed, Kevin sounded me out about the deputy leadership way back, when in 2005 or 6, he was contemplating a tilt at the leadership.
So I never asked for support from Kevin and in terms of the only person who did, as my understanding is, was Simon Crean.
Paul Kelly:
Sure, you didn't ask for support but let's get real here. You were supporting the Rudd camp late on Thursday afternoon in the knowledge that success was likely to make you Deputy Prime Minister as well.
Anthony Albanese:
No, let me be very clear, Paul. I had two discussions with Kevin Rudd on Thursday. One in the morning where I went to him when rumours were swirling around Parliament House about something might happen with Simon Crean and I asked him "Has your position changed?" He indicated that it hadn't and he indicated the text message that's now out there that he sent Simon Crean. I went about my business as Leader of the House during that period.
Paul Kelly:
Sure.
Anthony Albanese:
And then in the afternoon, I had another discussion with him where he confirmed that he would do, again, what he had always said which is that he would not challenge and that he would make the statement that he did.
Paul Kelly:
I understand all that. I guess the point I'm getting at is that it seems to me that two of the big winners from this challenge, if Kevin Rudd had been successful, were yourself and Chris Bowen. Chris Bowen would have been Treasurer and you, the way events would have worked out, would almost have certainly ended up Deputy Prime Minister. So you had a lot to gain from a Rudd victory.
Anthony Albanese:
Well, I don't think that is the case. People were making it clear that they had given commitments to Simon Crean.
Paul Kelly:
Sure. I meant the Rudd camp was divided about that. But Kevin Rudd wanted you, not Crean.
Anthony Albanese:
Well, Kevin Rudd had -
Paul Kelly:
I mean, he told people that.
Anthony Albanese:
Kevin Rudd did tell people that, yes.
Paul Kelly:
What, he told you presumably?
Anthony Albanese:
Yes, he did tell me that a long time ago but I never asked for support. I also indicated, very clearly, including to Wayne Swan very clearly, that Wayne Swan had my support as deputy. I had a discussion with Wayne, indeed, even last week.
So my position was very clear. Which was similar to yours, Paul, that you outlined at the beginning of the program.
Paul Kelly:
Sure. Sure.
Anthony Albanese:
Which was that. Which was that there was no vacancy, the circumstances and conditions that Kevin Rudd had put on a return to the leadership would not be met and therefore it would not occur. This is all an academic exercise based upon hypotheticals.
So Anthony Albanese was told that he would be Kevin's number 2 but it was a while ago.
And if Kevin had gotten up this time, Albanese wouldn't necessarily have been the deputy PM, Simon Crean was the only person who'd been given a commitment about being the deputy PM.
There's obviously more to come.