Smyth stands by decision to back Rudd

By Casey Neill
LA TROBE MP Laura Smyth is standing by her decision to vote for Kevin Rudd in Monday’s Labor Party leadership spill.
“I believe that Kevin Rudd was the best bet for taking us to the next election and succeeding against (Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott,” she said.
Ms Smyth said she never considered voting for the Prime Minister to keep the top job despite Julia Gillard’s almost certain victory in the caucus showdown.
Ms Gillard gained 71 votes to Mr Rudd’s 31 at the vote in Canberra, brought on by Mr Rudd’s resignation from his Foreign Affairs Minister post on 22 February.
“I stand by my decision,” Ms Smyth said.
“I have the courage of my convictions.”
Ms Smyth said Mr Rudd was “a great Prime Minister” and she was disappointed with the way he was forced to resign in 2010, when Ms Gillard challenged him for the leadership.
“But this party is all about getting on with things,” she said.
Mr Rudd spoke about a need for unity going forward, and Ms Smyth echoed his sentiments.
She said the party would have to be realistic.
“There are relationships that will need to be rebuilt,” she said.
The Australian Labor Party is 120 years old this year.
“We’ve been through a lot,” she said.
Ms Smyth expects Mr Rudd to now take a seat on the back bench, as he indicated prior to the vote.
She said he had an extraordinary level of experience, would continue to make a significant contribution to the Labor Party and the Labor movement, and she hoped to learn a lot from him as a fellow backbencher.