PM's cabinet splits as Roxon, Evans quit

[nero_bolt]

Rome is burning and Labor is imploding and more will come and its all under Gillards leadership.

JULIA GILLARD has been forced into an emergency Cabinet reshuffle following the shock resignations last night of Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Higher Education Minister Chris Evans.

Ms Roxon is set to announce today she will quit Cabinet but remain in Parliament until the election.

Senior government sources confirmed the resignations which come only only days after the Prime Minister announced an election for September 14.

Ms Gillard will face caucus on Monday before Parliament resumes the following day with the government in chaos.

Last night frantic calls were being made among senior MPs as word leaked out about the resignations, with renewed talk about the stability of Ms Gillard's leadership. Ms Roxon's decision comes only days after she rolled back controversial anti-discrimination legislation banning conduct that offends, insults or intimidates.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/prime-minister-julia-gillards-campaign-in-disarray-as-minister-for-higher-education-chris-evans-resigns/story-e6freuy9-1226567059223

Abandon ship! Now Roxon tipped to quit, too

It’s starting to look like a stampede for the gates:

JULIA Gillard has been forced to reshuffle her ministry after veteran Chris Evans’ decision to quit and with Attorney-General Nicola Roxon expected to announce today her retirement from politics at the next el...

One senior Labor MP told The Weekend Australian late last night that “Rome is burning"…

[Former Attorney-General Robert] McClelland, a Kevin Rudd supporter, said this week he would not contest his seat at the election.

Roxon has demonstrated this past year how inadequate she is for high office. Her vitriolic attacks on the alleged personal shortcomings of Tony Abbott made her seem shrill, but far worse were her clumsy, deceptive and inappropriately partisan handling of the James Ashby case and her outrageous attempt to introduce wide-ranging new laws to restrict debate on politics, race, religion and even “social origin” that might give “offence” and “insult”.

She has been an almost completely negative factor for the Government - the Minister for Hectoring and Censoring - and her departure will disappoint very few. Sadly, her mooted replacement, Mark Dreyfus, promises little better. 

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/andrewbolt/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/abandon_ship_now_roxon_tipped_to_quit_too/

How many more rats will desert this sinking and stinking ship... 

[azureline**]

Mark Riley

Chris Evans been considering leaving for over a year. WA-Canberra commute hard on family. Source says he informed PM last week.

[katydidthat]

I think this is the more important story:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-01/labor-official-takes-aim-at-sections-of-party/4496750

[azureline**]

I believe you are right Katy

from that link..

He says Labor instead needs to foster a culture that promotes justice, equality and responsibility to the community and nation.

Both major parties should be doing that.

[i-need-a-martini]

And if I remember correctly Roxon mentioned on an episode of Q&A some time back that she had planned to quit politics once her daughter started school.

[azureline**]

And if I remember correctly Roxon mentioned on an episode of Q&A some time back that she had planned to quit politics once her daughter started school.

yes, I was looking for that, I thought I heard her say that but could not recall when.

[i-need-a-martini]

I just tried to find but couldn't. Was a discussion about her breastfeeding her daughter in parliament and bringing the child along with her to work and on campaign trail. But she did say she wanted to be a stay at home mother when it came for her daughter to need her with homework.

But for all I know her daughter is in high school now lol!

[polksaladallie]

I just tried to find but couldn't. Was a discussion about her breastfeeding her daughter in parliament and bringing the child along with her to work and on campaign trail. But she did say she wanted to be a stay at home mother when it came for her daughter to need her with homework.

But for all I know her daughter is in high school now lol!

I don't think it was Roxon that wanted to breastfeed in parliament?   I might be wrong.

[azureline**]

She did, she had her bub travel with her so she could... but she isn't the one who was the object of "stranger in the house"

[katydidthat]

Craig Emerson was just on ABC News 24 talking about the state of the ALP.  He said that both Roxon and Evans were leaving for family reasons.  I'm sure they'll be repeating the interview throughout the day.  He also talked about the comments by Sheldon.