Will Gillard stand by Rudd’s and Labor’s Federal Executive’s Decision to Block Militant Unionist Kevin Harkins from taking Sherry’s Senate Seat?
Thursday, 15 December 2011 10:40
“Prime Minister Julia Gillard must rule out immediately any moves by militant unionist Kevin Harkins to be parachuted into the Senate seat made vacant by the retiring Tasmanian Labor Senator Nick Sherry,” Senator Abetz said today.
“If she doesn’t then Ms Gillard will be openly defying the express wishes of both the former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Labor’s own Federal Executive.”
“The last time Kevin Harkins made a tilt for the Parliament Kevin Rudd declared that as far as he was concerned Mr Harkins’ chances of ever entering the Senate were “Buckley’s and none”. (1)
“In the ugly war of words that followed Kevin Harkins described Kevin Rudd as “a dictator whose word is worthless”.” (2)
“Even Tasmanian Labor MP Dick Adams agreed that Harkins is not suitable to represent the ALP in the Parliament.” (3)
“As a result in 2010 Labor’s Federal Executive took the extraordinary decision to block Harkins from being preselected.”
“The Prime Minister must give an ironclad commitment that she intends standing by the resolve of Labor’s Federal Executive and the views of her own former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and that she will block any moves by Mr Harkins to enter the Senate,” Senator Abetz said.
