The Australian media was littered with commentary over the weekend from an overstimulated press gallery as Julia Gillard began to settle into her new job as Australia’s first female PM.
Saturday saw the first run of robust polling for the Gillard era, which showed a significant boost in support for the government.
Yesterday the newly minted PM grabbed headlines by rejecting Kevin Rudd’s much trumpeted notion of a “big Australia,” opting instead for words such as “sustainable.”
There was speculation about Labor’s impending cabinet reshuffle, with talk of Simon Crean or Stephen Smith stepping into Gillard’s old portfolio of education, employment and workplace relations. Linked with that discussion has been the question of what to do with Kevin Rudd.
There has also been some buzz about a possible compromise with the mining industry over the RSPT, talk of a different response to boat people and the expected commentary about – gasp! – a woman becoming Australia’s Prime Minister.
Here are some highlights.
The Australian
Dennis Shanahan: New PM restores ALP vote
Julia Gillard’s replacement of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister has restored Labor’s lost vote and given it a chance of winning an election within months.
Michael Costello: Unions, factions don’t deserve all credit
…to say Gillard is somehow illegitimate because she has not been elected Prime Minister reflects a deep misunderstanding of our constitutional system.
Sally Jackson: Julia becomes an instant cover girl star for top-selling mags
Julia Gillard faces the first test of her appeal to women voters this week. PBL Media’s ACP Magazines will give the new Prime Minister unprecedented exposure in the nation’s two biggest-selling titles — gambling it will be repaid with big sales.
Matthew Franklin: PM throws tax talks wide open
In her first full day as Prime Minister yesterday, Ms Gillard set the stage to proceed with Kevin Rudd’s proposed resource super-profits tax, but established a process for genuine negotiations designed to win mining industry support for the new levy on profits.
The Age
Michelle Grattan: Gillard tries to get Labor shipshape
Her conspicuous rejection of a ”big Australia” is all about reacting to community fears about high migration. It also can be seen as reaching out to those who are worried about the boat people.
Jacqueline Kent: Gillard will grow into the job
Julia Gillard enjoys politics. The ALP’s culture is part of her political DNA. Gillard understands the importance of consultation and persuasion
Leslie Cannold: Julia is one of us and all women are proud of her
What does it really mean to have a female prime minister? What will change for Australian women, men and the country as a whole. Nothing. And everything.
The Herald Sun
Laurie Oakes: A Liberal dose of bad news
…when Julia Gillard says the aim was to get the Government back on track, what she means is back on track for re-election. And the first opinion polls since she became Australia’s 27th Prime Minister suggest it is mission accomplished.
Germaine Greer: Pragmatism rules over principles for Julia Gillard
Gillard’s personal credit survived the shelving of the emissions trading scheme, the appalling mismanagement of the home insulation scheme, and the schools’ rebuilding program because she was as good at sound-bite politics as Rudd was terrible.
Sydney Morning Herald
Jacob Saulwick: PM looks to a regional response to stem the flow of boats
Julia Gillard will try to take some of the political heat out of the asylum seeker debate by pursuing policies similar to those she advocated in opposition, working for closer co-operation in the region to reduce the flow of boats.
Phillip Coorey and Jacob Saulwick: Gillard to offer deal to miners
The Gillard government plans to end the war with the mining industry this week by announcing changes to the resource super profits tax designed to placate big players such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, as well as the smaller operators.
Phillip Coorey: No big change in population strategy, despite what new leader says
Julia Gillard’s denunciation of Kevin Rudd’s ”big Australia” has been welcomed by lobby groups and others concerned about population growth – despite the Prime Minister actually promising the same policy approach she inherited from Rudd.
The Punch
Leo Shanahan: Campaign countdown: Julia now whistling her own tune
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to abolish Kevin Rudd’s plan for a big Australia has as much to with concerns with over asylum seekers as it does over population.
Carrie Miller: Gillard is doing it for all the unmarried barren atheists
By the looks of Facebook, Aussie rangas are taking great pride in one of their own grabbing the top job. So imagine how I’m feeling. As an unmarried, childless heathen it looks like someone who reflects my personal values has finally become Prime Minister.
The Courier Mail
Dennis Atkins: It only took a week for the Labor Party to convert a problem into a solution
Gillard turned around the public perception of the Government’s handling of the resources super profits tax with a gesture, an offer and a grasping of control.
Simon Kearney and Daryl Passmore: Queensland voters angry at Kevin Rudd coup
Kevin Rudd’s brutal dumping could backfire for the Labor Party in Queensland – a crucial battleground in the coming federal election.
It is of vital importance that the current opposition with their few, often extreme, contradictory and frequently incoherent policies not be given a chance to form government.
There is at present no viable alternative to the incumbents, regardless of their chosen leader!
I woke up in a cold sweat. Just Imagine this nightmare scenario: Tony with Barnaby, Joseph, Julie, Bronwyn, Philip and Wilson running our country!
It’s just too shocking to contemplate?
We mustn’t be complacent. “The Australian” will rev up the BER attacks and do its best to see Abbott through. It’s just a matter of time. And the “miners” (a nice euphemism for “billionaire mining magnates”, some of whom left poisoned sherry near waterholes, to deal with “native problems”) will still be throwing money to the Libs and Nats. But you’re right GOCOMSYS, it is good at least to be able to breathe easier for a day or too.
And there’s always the hysterical, hyperbole of the shock jocks and TV news (including the ABC) everytime anyone moves. Just wait for “backdown”, “backflip”, “war on…”, “asylum seeker surge to the right” etc, etc… Then there’s the critical importance of what Ms Gillard chooses to wear and how she styles her hair! And the women’s magazines. Many traps ahead.
But at least it has become quite clear that Tony Abbott now has a serious adversary, which the nation so desperately needed! So many tired old yesterday’s men and token woman, with nothing new to offer.
CLIFFG: It won’t be just the Oz launching a tidal-wave of the syndrome’Hate Julia Gillard, love Tony Abbott’. It will be all of Rupert Murdoch’s press and visual media.
The Religious Right, all MS churches, and all religious cults will be after her because of her Atheism.
The Nationals, led by a rabid right wing catholic, Barnaby Joyce, will be after her; if they weren’t already disposed to wish her ill because she is a woman, will hate her with all the venom that only the religious cults and MSC (main stream churches) do so well.
The greatest hurdle in the way of Julia Gillard will be the infamous misogyny of the Oz voter.
All the misogynist males can relax. Your hatred of women is nothing compared to the misogyny of the female voter. For few women can bear the thought of a woman succeeding, when they haven’t. ❗
onya gilly ,the monk is on his last legs now ,mal will be in the drivers seat again soon ,its all they have left in there dopey team ,and no one liked him either.