In the first polling to be announced since Kevin Rudd’s return as PM, a Morgan poll shows Labor trailing the Coalition by just one point – 49.5 to 50.5 in two-party terms.
Mr Rudd faced off with Opposition leader Tony Abbott for the first time on Thursday during Prime Minister’s question time, just hours after being sworn in by Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Mr Rudd’s performance out of the blocks was warmly received from his backbench, many of who feel they now have a fighting chance of retaining their seat at the election; a forlorn hope just days ago.
The collective sigh of relief in federal Labor ranks could almost be heard from Canberra.
Maria Vamvakinou MP, a staunch supporter of Mr Rudd during the divisive leadership challenges told Neos Kosmos:
“These things are always difficult, but it’s the right decision in terms of going into the election.
“It’s about better articulating our policy to the electorate and focusing attention on the absence of policy from the Opposition.
“It’s now going to be a robust contest between two or three sets of ideas about the future, not about distractions.”
Despite her allegiance to Mr Rudd, the Labor member for Calwell said that she empathised with Julia Gillard.
“I’ve know her for many years and she achieved something incredible in being Australia’s first female Prime Minister,” said Ms Vamvakinou.
“A large number of the public never really moved on from what happened in 2010, it was always there in the background.”
Ms Vamvakinou, talking in an upbeat mood after question time on Thursday, said that Labor MPs were confident a robust challenge could now be made by the party at the election, which is likely to take place in August.
“I can tell you one thing about politics, nothing is impossible, nothing can ever be ruled out,” she said.
“I want to achieve a victory at the election for the Labor Party and for it to form a government in its own right.”
Asked if her loyalty to Mr Rudd might offer the chance of elevation to cabinet, Ms Vamvakinou said: “I’ve no idea what the Prime Minister’s view is on his front bench. I’ve not been made any promises, and I’ve never asked for promises to be made.”
Steve Georganas MP described Mr Rudd’s return as PM as a “game changer”.
“There’s now a competition on,” he said.
“Julia was a great Prime Minister in terms of getting legislation through, ensuring we had a stable parliament, but for whatever reason this didn’t reflect in the public’s view.”
Asked what Julia Gillard’s legacy would be, Mr Georganas, who had backed Australia’s first female PM in previous leadership counts but who switched his vote to Mr Rudd on Wednesday, said:
“Julia has a great track record. Look at the National Insurance Disability Scheme, the education reforms, and the 960,000 jobs that have been created since we’ve been in government. These are all big reforms made in difficult times because of the hung parliament.”
The Labor member for Hindmarsh added that the decision to oust Gillard was made partly as a result of the damage inflicted on the leader of a minority government.
“This is the nature of a hung parliament, from day one we had an Opposition in Tony Abbott who did all he could to tear parliament down, and he failed.
“The reality is that whatever happened is now in the past and we move on, and do everything we can to keep Abbott out of the Lodge because we know the future for Australia will be far worse under an Abbott government.”
At state level, two former ministers gave their verdict on this week’s dramatic events.
Kon Vatskalis MP, former Labor minister in the NT government, said that he welcomed Kevin Rudd’s return, not least because of Rudd’s support for and knowledge of Hellenic issues.
“Rudd has been a supporter of Greece and Greek Australians on issues like Cyprus and others; he’s someone who’ll stand by his mates.
He is a good communicator and it’s time to unite. The threat is not each other any more, the threat is Abbott and what he would do for Australia.”
In Victoria, John Pandazopoulos MP, a former state minister for employment and tourism said:
“Rudd has more resonance in the community that will give Labor a competitive chance.
“The risks of Abbott are too high and Rudd will focus on traditional Labor values of a fair go, jobs and quality services.”
Meanwhile the federal Opposition has poured cold water on Labor’s new found confidence.
“The return of Kevin Rudd highlights how dysfunctional Federal Labor is,” Senator Arthur Sinodinos told Neos Kosmos.
“Recycling a Prime Minister, based on polling and self-preservation is not good for democracy or running the country.
“In 2007 Kevin Rudd proclaimed himself an economic conservative, but he overreached in responding to the financial global crisis, [he] failed to manage the economy in his first term,” said the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.
“Nothing has changed with Federal Labor, except the faces. Under Rudd the economy will not be strengthened, the books will not be balanced and productivity will continue to decline. The Rudd Government is still the same old Labor.”
After a chapter of bloodletting that ranks as high as any chapter in Australian political history, one of the first requests Prime Minister Rudd conveyed was for MPs of all political persuasions to be a “little kinder and gentler with each other”. We shall see if it’s a call that’s heeded.