The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is fortunate to keep control of the Australian Senate. Shortly after the election, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd resigned from office. Rudd told reporters that he would be retiring from politics if his party lost. Rudd’s departure from Labor allows the party to select new leadership going forward. The next leader must unite the country. The Labor Party should listen to this famous quote from Nelson Mandela, “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”
I was really disappointed at how weakly Kevin Rudd campaigned during this election cycle. He failed to appeal to Australians because he did not make this election about people. In 2013 Labor secured only one newspaper endorsement (out of 17). I am confident that Labor would have picked up more support if they campaigned on improving education, expanding human rights, and passed a Youth Wage Subsidy. Instead of campaigning on Australia’s future, Rudd spent most of his campaign attacking the Coalition. Negative attacks did nothing to help his party help win votes. The insecurity and timidity of Rudd’s campaign allowed the Coalition to define Labor as an ineffective government.
Although the outcome of this election was far from great, it could have been much worse. Australians did not completely force the Labor Party out of government.
Although the outcome of this election was far from great, it could have been much worse. Australians did not completely force the Labor Party out of government.