Here's what some of the newspapers and bloggers are saying about he shock resignation of Kevin Rudd and his on-going spat with Julia Gillard over the Labor Party leadership:
End of the phoney war, time for straight talk
“Julia Gillard now has the chance to do some long-overdue straight talking.”
Lenore Taylor - SMH
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Turmoil taking toll on business: bosses
“Australia's business leaders have hit out at the political infighting that has gripped Canberra, saying it has sapped consumer confidence and affected the economic management of the country.”
Eric Johnston and Mark Hawthorne – Business Day
An Ash Wednesday appeal to the true believers
“Kevin Rudd will now present the Labor party with a shocking prospect - would it like to be electable? Or would it rather continue indulging its personal distaste for Rudd all the way to electoral defeat?”
Peter Hartcher - SMH
Has Gillard created a total mess?
Judging Julia - by News Ltd's Steven Scott, Gemma Jones, Patrick Lion, Malcolm Farr and David Penberthy
Smart bomb crosses continents for a direct hit
“It was the most audacious stealth attack in modern Australian political history.”
Tony Wright – The Age
Phoney war over but way forward not clear
In the end, the stalker cast himself as the one being stalked. The man who stands accused of waging a relentless, covert campaign to win back the prime ministership charged Julia Gillard with the overt disloyalty.
Michael Gordon – The Age
Will Labor keep marching off the cliff?
I was leaning on the counter of a well-known department store at 5.20pm last night when I became aware of Kevin Rudd's face on about 50 television sets along one wall.
Malcolm Farnsworth – The Drum
Rudd's leading role in a Labor soap opera
This is the tale of one Kevin Rudd, the ultimate soap opera character.
Eleanor Gordon-Smith – The Drum
Legislated leadership: time to change, not just rearrange
Is it any wonder than Australians are disconnected from politics, politicians and the political process?
Andrew Heslop – The Drum
He's no victim: Kevin Rudd wants to destroy Julia Gillard
KEVIN Rudd distancing himself from the soap opera over the Labor leadership is like Reg Grundy distancing himself from Neighbours.
David Penberthy – News Ltd
Dim view from afar as Labor's rabble implodes
IF IN years gone by it required very good peripheral vision for foreign news desks to take much notice of what was happening in the far-off land Down Under, nowadays it demands great intestinal fortitude.
Nick Bryant – Herald Sun
Too many reasons why Kevin Rudd should be resigned to losing
KEVIN Rudd's declaration of war in Washington will provoke one of the most bitter leadership battles in which there can be only one winner.
Dennis Atkins – Courier Mail
Kevin Rudd has shown why he is far superior at politics to most of his colleagues. Certainly better—much better—than Julia Gillard.
Peter Brent – The Australian
