Rooks defending the Queen

As they move along Labor’s rank and file two powerful rooks, Australian Workers’ Union national secretary, Paul Howes, and Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Bill Shorten, make their strength felt. In spite of all the speculation and opinion polls that glare upon each other a whisper goes around that the unions will not desert the Prime Minister. In vain Kevin Rudd hears his supporters rail and rally but he will not join them in a single sally. Prime Minister Gillard, emboldened by her new vigour, sternly turns on disloyal colleagues, making a scene not easily forgotten.

The rough end of the pineapple

Ward O'Neill, The Australian Financial Review,

Breakfast polls

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

What? Me run for the leadership?

Mark Knight, Herald Sun,

Smoke signals

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street,

Julia Caesar

Jon Kudelka, The Australian,

Red and Rudd

Andrew Weldon, The Sunday Age,

Faceless men

Rod Clement, The Australian Financial Review,

#Ruddmentum

Chris Downes, The Mercury (Hobart),

Cleaning up their act

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street,

Game of Thrones

Mark Knight, Herald Sun,