How the U.S. Embassy saw the Rudd-Gillard relationship in December 2009

Apparently Kevin Rudd may not have been as surprised by Gillard’s 2010 challenge as he now claims……………

09CANBERRA1123
SUBJECT

RUDD GOVERNMENT REPORT CARD 2009
DATE

2009-12-23 00:00:00

CLASSIFICATION

CONFIDENTIAL 
ORIGIN
Embassy Canberra

TEXT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CANBERRA 001123

“9. (C) Rudd has unprecedented power for a Labor leader; one MP told us he had never seen a Labor Caucus as subservient to its leader, noting Rudd's control over promotions.

Another told us she was surprised at marginal seat holders' acquiescence on the ETS.

However, powerbrokers confide the factions will assert themselves when Rudd's popularity wanes.
Possibly aware of this, Rudd in 2009 further courted New  South Wales factional heavyweights Anthony Albanese (New South Wales Left) and Mark Arbib (New South Wales Right) and elevated Senator Joe Ludwig (Queensland Right - Swan's faction) to a more senior position in Cabinet. Ludwig is the son of powerful Queensland Right union official Bill Ludwig.
One theory is that Rudd is developing a "praetorian guard" based on the historically powerful New South Wales Right to head off any challenge from GILLARD; that it was no accident that Rudd promoted Arbib, Bowen and Clare (all from the New South Wales Right). Bitar, who is close to Arbib and succeeded him as New South Wales General Secretary, became ALP National Secretary in late 2008……

14. (C) COMMENT: After two years in office, questions are being asked about the Rudd government's appetite for making tough decisions. Rudd will be scrutinized in 2010, accused by some of over-promising and under-delivering, particularly on health care issues. The Opposition will highlight Rudd's penchant for lengthy reviews and overseas trips….”