Gillard Holds Her Quarter Of Pm Job Share

The Sunday Age

Sunday January 18, 2009

JOSH GORDON

IT'S the perfect political marriage. She lets him fly off to indulge his international aspirations. He lets her take centre stage - on lead guitar, not just second fiddle.

They are quite the double act, our Prime Minister and his capable deputy.

In the 420 days since Labor won office at the 2007 election, Julia Gillard has spent 102 days - or almost a quarter of Kevin Rudd's prime ministership - at the helm.

It's an unprecedented job-sharing arrangement; one that saw Ms Gillard spend 77 days before Christmas as the nation's acting PM, and the 25 days since while he has been on holiday.

For Ms Gillard at least, the relationship is a harmonious and productive one.

"From the days that Kevin and I came together to be leader and deputy leader it's been a terrific partnership," she told The Sunday Age. "We work well together."

The arrangement stands in contrast to the previous Howard government. During his first year, Mr Howard barely travelled.

Mr Rudd's frequent absences have given Ms Gillard the chance to broaden her profile and display her leadership skills - something Mr Rudd may later regret, according to political experts.

He shows no anxiety yet. Shortly after returning from his Christmas break, Mr Rudd will hand the reins over to Ms Gillard - again - and fly to Papua New Guinea on January 27 for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting, before flying to India on January 28 for a "working visit", and then on to Zurich to attend the World Economic Forum between January 29 and 31.

Australian National University political scientist and author Wayne Errington said he believed the double act was good for the Government because it showed it had confidence in someone other than the Prime Minister.

But it could result in leadership tensions further down the track. "One interesting dynamic is the difference between Labor and Liberal here," Dr Errington said.

"When John Howard went away, a National Party guy would have been deputy prime minister so there would have been no threat there, no extra publicity or status to the deputy Liberal leader (Peter Costello). Whereas, obviously Gillard is benefiting enormously."

Dr Errington said the PM's office would also see political advantages in highlighting the fact that Labor had appointed Australia's first female deputy PM.

Monash University political scientist Nick Economou said "if Rudd wasn't comfortable about her being in charge, he wouldn't be off overseas the whole time".

He said leadership tensions between the two were a long way off, partly because Mr Rudd had enormous authority within the party.

© 2009 The Sunday Age

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