PM Gillard confident in her leadership
February 5, 2012
Reporter: Mike Willesee
Producer: Mick O'Donnell
Full transcript: Click here
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has faced veteran Australian journalist Mike Willesee in his return to television in Sunday Night's series return this week.
Willesee brought his trademark interview style direct to the embattled Prime Minister and a woman under pressure.
Mike Willesee: "You've got people in your team trying to destabilise your leadership. Does that churn your stomach?"
Prime Minister Julia Gillard: "I wouldn't say churn my stomach, no."
The Prime Minister remained on message when directly questioned why she doesn't stop the leadership speculation.
"Why don't you just call a showdown in the Caucus?" Willesee asked.
Gillard: Because there's no need. I'm very confident in my leadership of the Labor Party.
Meanwhile, asked if she had any involvement in igniting the tent embassy riots on Australia Day, the Prime Minister said, "No."
"We had a staff member who made a very bad decision, very bad judgment call. He made it himself. He didn't consult anybody else about it," the Prime Minister said.
Watch the full interview here:
The 69-year-old Logies Hall of Fame inductee, Willesee dominated television interviewers in public affairs for over 40 years.
His 'birthday cake' interview with former opposition leader John Hewson on the GST was widely credited with changing the course of the 1993 federal election.
"When you say Mike Willesee, people take notice, he’s that good,” Mark Llewellyn, Sunday Night’s executive producer, said.
“Without doubt Willo is one of the best television journalists Australia has ever produced.
"We are very, very proud to have Mike join the team on Sunday Night.”
Selected images courtesy of Getty Images
