October 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership election

Last updated

October 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership election
Australian-Labor-Party-stub.svg
←  June 2013 10–13 October 2013 2019  →
  Bill Shorten-crop.jpg 20201018 Albanese Council Flat (cropped).jpg
Candidate Bill Shorten Anthony Albanese
Percentage52.02%47.98%
Caucus55 (63.95%)31 (36.05%)
Members12,196 (40.08%)18,230 (59.91%)
Leader before election

Kevin Rudd

Elected Leader

Bill Shorten

A leadership election was held in October 2013 to select Kevin Rudd's replacement as leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition. [1] Bill Shorten was elected party leader, [2] and Tanya Plibersek was later confirmed as deputy leader. [3]

Contents

The declared candidates were Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese, who were both ministers in the outgoing Labor government. [4] Nominations closed on 20 September 2013. [5]

Under new rules, the new leader was elected by public members of the Australian Labor Party over a period of twenty days, followed by a ballot of the Labor parliamentary party. Each of these two voting blocs was weighted equally in determining the winner.

During the leadership election, Chris Bowen, former Treasurer of Australia and Member of Parliament for McMahon, was Interim Leader of the Labor Party and served as Leader of the Opposition. [6]

Tanya Plibersek was unopposed in succeeding Anthony Albanese as deputy leader.

Background

After three years of instability in the Labor leadership in which four leadership spills were held between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, this contest featured neither. Gillard retired from parliament at the election, while Rudd announced on election night that he would step down as Labor leader and return to the backbench in his concession speech at the Gabba in Brisbane following Labor's defeat.

Earlier in the year the ALP caucus approved changes to the way the federal parliamentary leader is chosen. The new rules make it more difficult to change leaders and require a ballot of the party membership on contested leadership spills. [7] [8] The new rules encourage the parliamentary party to only nominate one candidate, to avoid a month-long ballot of the general party membership. [9] The new rules are controversial, however, and have been publicly criticised by ALP Senator Stephen Conroy and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. [10] [11]

Nominations opened at a parliamentary party meeting on Friday 13 September 2013, and remained open for a week. Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten formally nominated. [6] [12] As there was more than one nomination, a ballot of the parliamentary party and another of the organisational party were required. [6] The ballot of the organisational party lasted for two weeks. [6]

Process

Under the new Labor rules, nominations were open for one week beginning 13 September 2013. To be a nominated candidate, a nominee must receive the support of 20% of caucus. [13] After the conclusion of nominations, ballots were sent to grassroots party members, who had two weeks to return their ballots. On 10 October 2013, the caucus cast their vote for leader and the grassroots ballots were counted. The two voting pools were weighted 50/50 (Caucus and grassroots each consisting 50% of the final count) and the leader declared elected accordingly. [14]

Historically, the ALP have determined the members of cabinet (or shadow cabinet) in caucus, with the leader assigning portfolios. [15] This is unchanged, and the parliamentary caucus of Labor elected the executive at the same time they cast voters for leader. Only the election for the parliamentary leader involved the votes of grassroots party members. [13]

Originally only members of two years' standing were eligible to vote, but this was later widened to all ALP party members who were financial[ clarification needed ] as of 7 September 2013. [16]

Aftermath

With the leadership decided, caucus elections (without general party membership involvement) were held to determine the shadow ministry. In a return to ALP tradition, the shadow ministry were elected by caucus, with portfolio responsibilities to be assigned by the leader. Anna Burke, Warren Snowdon and Laurie Ferguson complained publicly about the process. [17] [18] [19] [20]

Candidates

Declared

Declined

The following individuals ruled themselves out as candidates or were the subject of media speculation but did not stand:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Macklin</span> Australian politician

Jennifer Louise Macklin is an Australian former politician. She was elected to federal parliament at the 1996 federal election and served as the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2001 to 2006, under opposition leaders Simon Crean, Mark Latham and Kim Beazley. After the ALP won government at the 2007 election, she held ministerial office under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, serving as Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2007–2013) and Minister for Disability Reform (2011–2013). She retired from parliament at the 2019 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Albanese</span> Prime Minister of Australia since 2022

Anthony Norman Albanese is an Australian politician serving as the 31st and current prime minister of Australia since 2022. He has been leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2019 and the member of parliament (MP) for Grayndler since 1996. Albanese previously served as the 15th deputy prime minister under the second Kevin Rudd government in 2013; he held various ministerial positions in the governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard from 2007 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan O'Connor (politician)</span> Australian politician

Brendan Patrick O'Connor is an Australian politician who has served as Minister for Skills and Training since 2022. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served in the House of Representatives since 2001. He held ministerial office in the governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard from 2007 to 2013, including as a member of cabinet from 2012. He has been a member of the shadow cabinet since the ALP's defeat at the 2013 federal election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Plibersek</span> Australian politician

Tanya Joan Plibersek is an Australian politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2013 to 2019. She has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sydney since 1998. A member of the Labor Party, Plibersek served as a Cabinet Minister in the Rudd, Gillard and Albanese governments. She is currently the Minister for the Environment and Water in the Albanese ministry since 2022, having previously served as the Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Women between 2019 and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Wong</span> Australian politician (born 1968), Minister for Foreign Affairs

Penelope Ying-Yen Wong is an Australian politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs since 23 May 2022. Wong has been Senator for South Australia since 1 July 2002 and has held a number of cabinet portfolios, including Minister for Climate Change (2007–2010), and Minister for Finance and Deregulation (2010–2013). She has been the Australian Labor Party (ALP) Senate leader since 2013, and was Leader of the Government in the Senate in 2013 and from 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Carr</span> Australian politician

Kim John Carr is an Australian former politician who served as a Senator for Victoria between 1993 and 2022. Representing the Labor Party, he was a minister in the Rudd and Gillard Governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Bowen</span> Australian politician

Christopher Eyles Guy Bowen is an Australian politician who has been Minister for Climate Change and Energy in the Albanese government since June 2022. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and was first elected to parliament at the 2004 federal election. He held ministerial office in the Rudd and Gillard Governments from 2007 to 2013.

There are Leaders of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) at the federal level as well as in each Australian state and territory. Australian Labor Party leaders are chosen from among the members of the respective parliamentary parties either by the members only or with an input from the ALP rank-and-file members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Shorten</span> Australian politician (born 1967)

William Richard Shorten is an Australian politician currently serving as Minister for Government Services and Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme since 2022. He previously served as leader of the opposition and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2013 to 2019. He has also served as a member of parliament (MP) for the division of Maribyrnong since 2007, and held several ministerial portfolios in the Gillard and Rudd governments from 2010 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Combet</span> Australian politician and trade unionist

Gregory Ivan Combet is a former Australian politician and trade unionist. He was Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions between 1999 and 2007. He was elected member for the New South Wales Federal seat of Charlton for the Australian Labor Party at the 2007 election and was immediately appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry on 3 December 2007. Combet was the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation in the Second Gillard Ministry before announcing his resignation from the ministry on 26 June 2013 following Julia Gillard's defeat in a leadership ballot. He previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, when Penny Wong was the Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Marles</span> Australian politician

Richard Donald Marles is an Australian politician serving as the 19th deputy prime minister of Australia and the Minister for Defence. He has been the deputy leader of the Labor Party since 2019 and previously served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Marles has served as a Member of the Australian Parliament for Corio in Victoria since the 2007 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Clare</span> Australian politician

Jason Dean Clare is an Australian politician serving as Minister for Education since 1 June 2022. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has represented the Division of Blaxland in Western Sydney since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span> Leadership spill

A leadership spill occurred in the Australian Labor Party on 24 June 2010. Kevin Rudd, the prime minister of Australia, was challenged by Julia Gillard, the deputy prime minister of Australia, for the leadership of the Australian Labor Party. Gillard won the election unopposed after Rudd declined to contest, choosing instead to resign. Gillard was duly sworn in as prime minister by Quentin Bryce, the Governor-General, on 24 June 2010 at Government House, becoming Australia's first female prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillard government</span> Australian government led by Julia Gillard (2010–2013)

The Gillard government was the Government of Australia led by the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, of the Australian Labor Party. The Gillard government succeeded the first Rudd government by way of the Labor Party leadership spill, and began on 24 June 2010, with Gillard sworn in as Prime Minister by the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce. The Gillard government ended when Kevin Rudd won back the leadership of the Australian Labor Party on 26 June 2013 and commenced the second Rudd government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Gillard ministry</span> 66th ministry of government of Australia

The Second Gillard ministry (Labor) was the 66th ministry of the Australian Government, led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It succeeded the first Gillard ministry upon its swearing in by Governor-General Quentin Bryce on 14 September 2010 after the 2010 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 27 February 2012 at 10 am AEDT, followed by a ballot. The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced the spill at a press conference on 23 February 2012, following the resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, from his cabinet position after months of speculation that he intended to challenge Gillard for the leadership. Rudd announced his intention to seek the leadership at a press conference on 24 February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 21 March 2013. Prime Minister Julia Gillard called a ballot for the Leadership and Deputy Leadership of the Labor Party for 4.30pm, following a press conference by former Labor Leader and Regional Minister Simon Crean over persistent leadership tensions. At the caucus meeting, no alternative candidates nominated for the positions, and so Gillard and Wayne Swan were re-elected unopposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party then forming the Government of Australia, took place on 26 June 2013 at 7:00pm AEST. Prime Minister Julia Gillard called a ballot for Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party live on Sky News Australia at 4:00pm, following persistent leadership tensions. She stated that she would retire from politics if she lost the vote, while calling on any would-be challengers to pledge to do the same if they lost. In a press conference held shortly after Gillard's announcement, backbencher and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that he would challenge Gillard, whilst also pledging to step down if he did not win the vote. At the ALP caucus meeting, Rudd was elected Leader of the Labor Party, with the caucus voting 57–45 in his favour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudd government (2013)</span> 2nd Rudd government of Australia

The second Rudd government was the federal executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of the Australian Labor Party. It commenced on 27 June 2013 and ceased on 18 September 2013. Rudd had previously served a term as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 and been replaced by his deputy Julia Gillard, following an internal party spill. Rudd regained the Labor Party leadership by successfully re-challenging Gillard in a June 2013 party spill. On 5 August, Rudd called an election for 7 September 2013, which resulted in the defeat of his government by the Liberal/National Coalition led by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Australian Labor Party leadership election</span>

A leadership election was held in May 2019 to determine the successor to Bill Shorten as leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition. Shorten announced his pending resignation on 18 May, following Labor's surprise defeat in the 2019 federal election. The leadership was confirmed unopposed; Anthony Albanese was elected as Leader, with Richard Marles elected Deputy Leader.

References

  1. 1 2 Kenny, Mark (9 September 2013). "Now search begins for leader to guide lost in the wilderness". The Age. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Bill Shorten elected Labor leader over Anthony Albanese after month-long campaign". abc.net.au. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Packham, Ben (14 October 2013). "Tanya Plibersek endorsed by caucus to be deputy Labor leader". The Australian. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Anthony Albanese puts his hat into the ring for Labor leadership". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Anthony Albanese to run for Labor leadership against Bill Shorten". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Cullen, Simon (13 September 2013). "How do Labor's leadership voting rules work?". abc.net.au. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Scarr, Lanai (22 July 2013). "Kevin Rudd gets caucus support for changes to electing Labor leadership after rowdy protesters greet him". news.com.au. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Kevin Rudd wins Caucus support for Labor party reform at special meeting in Balmain". abc.net.au. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Kenny, Mark (10 September 2013). "Craig Emerson attacks Kevin Rudd as Labor looks to Bill Shorten as leader". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Labor Senator Stephen Conroy labels Kevin Rudd's new leadership-selection rules a 'farce'". abc.net.au. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "Julia Gillard slams Labor leadership reform as contest between Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese begins". abc.net.au. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  12. ↑ Packham, Ben (10 September 2013). "Tony Burke urges Labor to stop arguing over Kevin Rudd". The Australian. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to propose major leadership reform to Labor caucus". News.com.au. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "How do Labor's leadership voting rules work?". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  15. ↑ Johnston, Tim (29 November 2007). "Australia's new prime minister names his own cabinet". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  16. ↑ Lion, Patrick (17 September 2013). "ALP opens the doors on leadership vote". The Mercury. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "Factional squabbles dog Labor as Jacinta Collins, Anna Burke vent anger". The Australian. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "Fraction too much faction in Labor 'cabal'". The Australian. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  19. ↑ Oliver Laughland (14 October 2013). "Anna Burke: the faceless men still control Labor". theguardian.com. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  20. ↑ "Tanya Plibersek endorsed by caucus as deputy Labor leader". The Australian. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  21. ↑ Anthony Albanese to run for Labor leadership against Bill Shorten. Yahoo!7. 13 September 2013
  22. ↑ Karvelas, Patricia (17 September 2013). "Greg Combet to launch Anthony Albanese's Labor leadership campaign". The Australian. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  23. 1 2 AAP (19 September 2013). "Bill Shorten tells Anthony Albanese: stop the sledging". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Greg Combet and Penny Wong back Anthony Albanese as he launches Labor leadership campaign". abc.net.au. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  25. ↑ "Bill Shorten says he will stand for Labor leadership". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  26. 1 2 3 Packham, Ben (9 September 2013). "Chris Bowen won't stand for Labor leadership". The Australian. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  27. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/chris-bowen-2022-3/101531594
  28. 1 2 "Bob Carr and Tony Burke reject Labor leadership roles". news.com.au. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.