By DANIEL TRAN & CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
– See: Crean won’t contest Hotham
JULIA Gillard supporter and Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus will continue
in his role as the Attorney-General, despite voting against Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd in last week’s leadership spill.
Unlike several of his parliamentary colleagues who resigned
following the brutal coup which ended Ms Gillard’s reign as prime
minister, Mr Dreyfus confirmed he would continue as the nation’s top
lawyer, as requested by Mr Rudd.
“My position has always been that I will support the leader, whoever that may be,” he said.
“Prime Minister Rudd has asked me to continue in my role as
Australia’s Attorney-General, and I’m honoured to continue to represent
the Australian people as the first law officer of the nation.”
Mr Dreyfus said he would fight to retain his seat at the next
election. His comments follow a bitter saga which left the ALP ranks in
turmoil. Following the leadership coup last Wednesday, a slew of cabinet
ministers resigned their posts and moved to the backbench.
Hotham MP Simon Crean, who did not respond to the Journal’s request for an interview, stood as deputy prime minister but lost to Rudd confidant Anthony Albanese. He has since decided not to stand for his seat at the election.
Bruce MP Alan Griffin said that while the leadership fight was
unpleasant, it “needed to be done”. He said Mr Rudd could unify the
Labor Party.
“He’s a very accomplished campaigner who’s very good at
communicating and is certainly very popular in the broader community,”
Mr Griffin said. “I think they’re the sorts of skills we’ll need in the
months ahead to ensure that Australia doesn’t elect Tony Abbott prime
minister.”
Asked if Labor could win the election, Mr Griffin said: “It’s
going to be very tough but I think we’ve now got the chance to be
competitive and then it’ll be up to the people.”
Holt MP Anthony Byrne did not respond to questions from the Journal.
