Labor Minister Simon Crean voices his frustration about the leadership speculation. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Former Labor leader Simon Crean has called for the internal divisions in the party to stop, saying they were ''tearing at us from inside''.
In a press conference where he appeared to criticise Prime Minister Julia Gillard's leadership while insisting he supported her, he called on Kevin Rudd's supporters to back off.
''The party needs to get its act together,'' Mr Crean said.
''The stalemate has to end. We have to get the people who are destabilising to stop.
''I have said publicly that people have to pull back. They have to unify because it is killing us, the disunity. It's never been a good thing, I suffered it, I know what it means to go through it, so it's got to end.''
Mr Crean called on his colleagues to unite behind Ms Gillard.
''Understand it's in our interests to act in a more unified way and get on with the task of presenting ourselves as a united government.''
Mr Crean said Mr Rudd did not have the support to topple Ms Gillard.
''If Kevin Rudd had the numbers, they would have challenged,'' he said.
''He's said time and time again that he's not challenging. You've got to ask his troops why they keep promoting him.''
Mr Crean denied he had been approached by Rudd backers to be Mr Rudd's deputy in a leadership ticket.
Asked if he was a third candidate for leader, Mr Crean said: ''I haven't got the numbers, and I'm honest enough to admit that.''
While insisting he supported Ms Gillard, Mr Crean would not say how he would vote if there was a leadership ballot, and repeated his criticism of how the government had handled its media changes.
''We always get ourselves into trouble if we don't follow due process... if we want good policy outcomes, there has to be consultation, there has to be a development of ownership and support and third-party endorsement,'' he said.
Mr Crean said there was public support for the ends Labor's changes were seeking to achieve, such as greater media diversity. But he called for a broader shift in party strategy.
''Our problem is not just about changing leaders or sticking with the leader. Our problem is in my view more fundamental,'' he said.
''I think that the way in which the Labor Party has always operated most effectively is when it's been inclusive, when it's sought consensus, not when it's sought division. Not when it's gone after class warfare. That's what the Labor Party has to get back to.
''They can do it under what ever leader is prepared to stand up and say that, and I believe she can, but she must.''
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, a strong Gillard supporter, said the government needed to focus on explaining its policies.
''If the government spends all its time talking about itself... then the public will mark us down,'' he told reporters in Canberra.
He brushed off suggestions Ms Gillard's leadership was under threat.
''Julia Gillard is much tougher than all of you seem to realise. She's much tougher than she's given credit for.''
He denied there would be a leadership spill saying "Julia Gillard has the overwhelming support of the Labor caucus".
More to come...
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