Rudd put own interests first: Swan

Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan has launched a scathing attack on former Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd after the former Foreign Affairs Minister's dramatic resignation this afternoon.

Speaking hours after Mr Rudd made the announcement in Washington DC, Mr Swan says Mr Rudd put his "own self-interest" ahead of those of the party and country as a whole.

“For too long, Kevin Rudd has been putting his own self-interest ahead of the interests of the broader Labor movement and the country as a whole, and that needs to stop,” Mr Swan said.

He said he and Prime Minister Julia Gillard had refrained from criticising Mr Rudd for the sake of the Labor movement, the Government and Australian people.

Mr Swan said Mr Rudd deliberately risked an Abbott prime ministership and undermined the Government "at every turn".

“He was the party’s biggest beneficiary then its biggest critic, but never a loyal or selfless example of its values and objectives.”

“Colleagues are sick of Kevin Rudd driving the vote down by sabotaging policy announcements and undermining our substantial economic successes,” Mr Swan said.

“The Labor Party is not about a person, it’s about a purpose.

In his resignation speech, called for 1.20am local time Mr Rudd said he could no longer be part of the “soap opera” surrounding the prime ministership.

Mr Rudd he would talk with family and political colleagues in coming days with a view to launching a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister.

He said Ms Gillard’s failure to repudiate recent public attacks on him by frontbench colleagues, including Simon Crean, had left him feeling he could not represent Australia on the world stage.

“I can only serve as Foreign Minister if I have the confidence of Prime Minister Gillard and her senior ministers,” he said.

He said the only honourable course of action was to resign.

Ms Gillard says Kevin Rudd did not contact her before his resignation. There are reports she will call a leadership ballot for Monday.

“I am disappointed that the concerns Mr Rudd has publicly expressed this evening were never personally raised with me, nor did he contact me to discuss his resignation prior to his decision,” she said.

Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd was a “strong and effective advocate for Australia’s interests overseas”.

“During his period of service as foreign minister there were many achievements,” she said.

“He strongly pursued Australia’s interests in the world.”

Ms Gillard said she would hold a media conference tomorrow to make further comments on the issue.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said it proved the Government was unworthy to continue in office and key independent Tony Windsor said if Mr Rudd was to become prime minister it most likely meant an early election.

Labor senator Doug Cameron said the “faceless men” in the Labor had forced Mr Rudd's resignation and this was “unacceptable”.

Bruce Hawker, a Labor strategist and backer of Mr Rudd, said Mr Rudd would contest the party's leadership.

Former Labor Queensland premier Peter Beattie said Mr Rudd did the right thing.

However Environment and Water Minister Tony Burke did not believe Mr Rudd had enough support in caucus even to bring on a leadership ballot next week.

Labor backbencher Andrew Leigh said he would support Ms Gillard if it came to a ballot.

Ms Gillard has firmed as favourite to retain the Labor leadership, according to a leading bookmaker.

Mr Rudd said the saga was also damaging business confidence and hurting Labor’s chances in Queensland.

The resignation has all but guaranteed a ballot will be held next week for the leadership, which based on current numbers Ms Gillard would be assumed to win comfortably.

Mr Rudd said everyone knew that his dumping as PM in June 2010 was "wrong" and Labor should not be run by the “faceless men”.

“It must never happen again,” he said. “Australia must be governed by the people, not by the factions.”

Mr Rudd said the decision before his colleagues was now who was best placed to stop Tony Abbott becoming prime minister.

He said a number of ministers and “faceless men” had publicly attacked his credibility.

Mr Rudd said the Australian people regarded leadership speculation as little more than a soap opera.

“They are right,” he said. “Under the current circumstances, I won't be a part of it.”

Mr Rudd's decision comes after four days of frantic speculation he was threatening Prime Minister Julia Gillard's authority.

Senior Labor figures had on Wednesday urged Ms Gillard to bring the leadership to a head.

Mr Rudd said there had been some “similar factors at play” in June 2010 when he lost the prime ministership.

“It's time for some plain speaking on this,” he said. “In recent days Mr (Simon) Crean and a number of other faceless men have publicly attacked my integrity and therefore my fitness to serve as a minister in the government.

“When challenged today on these attacks Prime Minister Gillard chose not to repudiate them.

“I can only reluctantly conclude that she therefore shares these views.”

Mr Rudd said he was sad to leave the office.

"I promise you this - there is no way, no way, that I will ever be part of a stealth attack on a sitting prime minister elected by the people,” he said.

Mr Rudd said it was now up to caucus to decide on the leadership.

“Mr Abbott, I believe, does not have the temperament or the experience to ever be elected to hold the high office of prime minister of Australia.

“But at present and for a long time now he has been on track just to do that.”

Mr Rudd thanked his family for their support.

Mr Rudd said he had few options in announcing his resignation overseas.

“The truth is I feel very uncomfortable doing this from Washington and not in Australia,” Mr Rudd said.

“But I don't feel like I have a choice given the responsibilities over the days ahead.”

Mr Rudd said the ongoing leadership speculation about the Federal party was hurting Labor's prospects in the coming Queensland election.

He said the saga was bad for his friend, Queensland premier Anna Bligh.

“I believe the good people of Queensland deserve some clear space over the coming month as they make up their minds on a very important decision on the future of Queensland, my home state,” he said.

Mr Rudd's daughter Jessica tweeted: “Effing proud of you, Dad xxxx”. His wife Therese Rein responded: “Me too, Kevin xxxx”.

Mr Rudd said he would fly out of Washington on Wednesday and arrive home in Brisbane on Friday morning.

Other Australian officials would replace him at the scheduled international events.

“Under no circumstances do I want Australia's international reputation brought into disrepute because of this ongoing saga,” Mr Rudd said.

“Therefore, Ambassador (Kim) Beazley will discharge my functions here on my behalf in Washington tomorrow and the permanent secretary of my department, Dennis Richardson, will represent me in London and in Tunis.”

Mr Rudd said he was proud of his department's work to re-engage with Europe, Africa and Latin America, which he labelled the “major economic regions of the future”.

He also cited the appointment of Australia's first ever ambassador for women and girls and hoped the government would still honour a commitment to appoint its first indigenous Australian as an overseas ambassador.

He thanked his family - wife Therese and children Jessica, Nicholas and Marcus.

“Chatting to them over the course of the last several hours, I thank them for their encouragement and their support as always,” he said.

Mr Rudd said he now had “much, much to do” and ended his press conference without taking questions.

INCREASING PRESSURE

His announcement follows a day of increasing pressure over the leadership.

As Ms Gillard stood firm, Labor MPs turned on each other, with some attacking those who have criticised Mr Rudd.

There were reports that Ms Gillard was prepared to sack Mr Rudd and reshuffle her cabinet next week.

The Prime Minister's office refused to comment on the News Ltd report and Sky News reported a senior source as saying Ms Gillard will not act against Mr Rudd.

Earlier today, Mr Rudd said he was “fully engaged” with his job.

Asked at Washington airport if he would support a petition for a spill, he reiterated he was happy being Foreign Affairs Minister.

“I'm here to do some work as Foreign Minister,” he told the Nine Network today. “That's what I'm employed by the Australian public to do and that is what I am precisely doing.

“And furthermore, as I've said in many other places, I'm fully engaged with being Foreign Minister and there are many things on the agenda at present.”

Asked how he would respond if Ms Gillard asked him to pledge his loyalty, Mr Rudd said: “Let me just say, as I've said many times before: we have a prime minister, I support the prime minister and I intend to remain as Foreign Minister.”

In a move suggesting the Ms Gillard is confident she could crush any challenge, Ms Gillard has invited Mr Rudd to seek a leadership ballot at the caucus meeting next Tuesday.

She has told him, via intermediaries, that if he seeks a ballot, she will grant him one that day.

The Prime Minister's tactic is designed to not only force Mr Rudd's hand but also to expose his lack of support within the 103- member caucus.

Mr Rudd's supporters believe they could get up to 40 votes in a ballot but Ms Gillard's number crunchers say it is fewer than 30.

The Foreign Affairs Minister was due to be overseas until Sunday.

Labor left faction leader Doug Cameron today urged colleagues to stop attacking Mr Rudd.

And other Labor MPs have attacked former party leader Simon Crean for his criticisms of Mr Rudd.

One of his key supporters said it was unlikely he would head home earlier for fear it was "misinterpreted" ahead of any possible showdown next week.

The West Australian understands Ms Gillard may bring on a ballot even if Mr Rudd fails to challenge.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson, a Gillard ally, said the leadership question had to be resolved and "no one believes otherwise".

Dr Emerson said Mr Rudd would not be returned as prime minister.

"It's hypothetical because Mr Rudd's backers constitute a small group," he said. "If you're short of a majority, you don't become the leader of the Labor Party. That's just the arithmetic truth."

Mr Rudd's former Canberra flatmate and fellow Queensland MP Bernie Ripoll said those agitating for a leadership change were "wrecking the party".

"Somebody, anybody who is not a happy little Vegemite, they ought to go find something else to do," Mr Ripoll said, in reference to Mr Rudd's oft-repeated description of himself.

WA Senator Louise Pratt, thought by Rudd backers to be in their camp, said yesterday she strongly supported Ms Gillard.

"Kevin Rudd was a terrific prime minister but he had his time and I fully support Julia Gillard and it is time for the Labor Party to get on with governing," she said.

Constitutional expert Don Rothwell warned yesterday that reinstating Mr Rudd as PM could precipitate the Government's collapse if it was done during a parliamentary sitting week.

Professor Rothwell said a new leader would have to confirm crossbench support before the Opposition could move a vote of no- confidence.

Graham Perrett, the Queensland Labor MP who said last year he would quit his seat and cause a by-election if there was another leadership change, said he now regretted making that threat.