New Zealand does not often take more than a passing interest in Australian politics but it can heartily welcome the survival of Prime Minister Julia Gillard who has soundly defeated a challenge from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. On her visits to this side of the Tasman Ms Gillard has displayed a warmth and interest not often seen from previous prime ministers, including Mr Rudd.
Her visits, of course, followed disasters at Christchurch and Pike River and the assistance Australia readily provided. It is possible previous prime ministers would have been equally warm in these circumstances but she was here, spoke from the heart and left no doubt she valued the relationship. Previous prime ministers have left much to doubt on that score.
Most of them have been like Mr Rudd, keener to strut the world stage and talk to Washington than to attend to the neighbourhood. John Howard was better than most but Mr Rudd was definitely a throwback to the neglect of old. His autocratic manner was largely the reason he was dumped by the Australian Labor Party two years into his premiership. His departing speech was memorable for its graceless self-importance. His bid to regain the leadership was doomed in a caucus that remembers how it was sidelined under him.
And yet polls suggest Australians prefer him to Ms Gillard, and possibly to Opposition leader Tony Abbott as well. They have never forgiven her for the way she came to office. The dumping of a prime minister who had led his party to an election offended the Australian sense of fair play. But Ms Gillard had to face the voters at a general election less than three months later and though it was a close call, it was an endorsement of sorts. Her Government survived with the support of two independents and a Green MP.
Now, with Labor languishing in polls again, she has withstood the inevitable vengeance of Mr Rudd. Her margin of victory was probably decisive enough to discourage him from a second bid before the next election, though that might depend on the state of the polls closer to the ballot. Before the caucus vote, Mr Rudd said he would not mount a second bid if this one failed. But that assurance might have been given simply to assist this bid. If he remains popular he will not go away.
