Fed: Phones running hot in Labour leadership stoush

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2006
Fed: Phones running hot in Labour leadership stoush

Phones are running hot this weekend .. as a new Labor leadership team tries oust KIM
BEAZLEY and JENNY MACKLIN .. in time to lead the opposition into next year's federal election.

Shadow foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD and health spokeswoman JULIA GILLARD are
seeking backing for Monday's Labor frontbench ballot .. saying the party can't afford
to lose this next election after three terms in the political wilderness.

It's federal Labor's third leadership spill in as many years.

Mr BEAZLEY called the ballot yesterday .. in a dramatic attempt to end damaging speculation
about his future.

He's stressed his experience .. with 25 years in federal parliament .. four terms in
government .. and three stints as opposition leader since 1996.







Mr RUDD is thought to have the numbers to win the leadership spill .. with majority
support from the left and some powerful right factions.

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KEYWORD: LABOR (CANBERRA)

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