PM vows to plug the leaks

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has vowed to get tough on rats in the ranks as she
continues to be dogged by questions over damaging leaks coming out of Labor.
As both sides of politics on Thursday shifted their focus to law and order, the
prime minister was again peppered with questions over the leaks which have
threatened to derail her election campaign.
Ms Gillard, who on Wednesday made a spirited defence against allegations she opposed
key welfare reforms as a member of former prime minister Kevin Rudd's cabinet, said
she would not tolerate treachery.
"If the government is re-elected, then I will as prime minister have a proper system
of cabinet government," Ms Gillard said.
"And what that means is when you are in the cabinet room you should have free and
frank discussions.
"What it also means is when you leave the cabinet room you keep those discussions
confidential."
"If there's anyone in my government, if re-elected, that does not respect the
confidentiality of cabinet, then they will no longer be a minister," she said in
Melbourne on Thursday.
The opposition says that by her own admission, Ms Gillard is not ready to lead the
country.
In a speech in 2006, Ms Gillard said that political leaders must show they have
authority over their party before they can lead the country.
"Before you can persuade Australians of your credentials to run the country you have
to show that you can run your political party," she said in the speech to the Sydney
Institute.
Opposition campaign spokesman Andrew Robb said it was clear Ms Gillard's party was
in no condition to lead.
"Julia Gillard needs to be judged by her past words, and at the moment she's
certainly by her own words not in in charge of her cabinet. It is dysfunctional."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the string of leaks over the past few weeks
showed Labor was disintegrating.
"What she was confronted with yesterday was evidence of an active campaign against
her from the heart of her own government," he said.
The tough talk from Ms Gillard comes amid growing concerns in Labor about the
likelihood of further damaging disclosures during the election campaign.
As a result of a leak earlier this month, Ms Gillard was faced with an allegation
she had reneged on a leadership deal with Mr Rudd the night before she replaced him
as Labor leader.
While the source of the leaks has not been identified, and despite public denials
from senior Labor figures, many in the party privately believe Mr Rudd is the most
likely culprit.
The opposition maintains the leaks demonstrate that Ms Gillard has lost authority in
cabinet, just four weeks after becoming prime minister.
Ms Gillard on Thursday again attempted to downplay speculation of a serious rift
between her and the former prime minister.
"Kevin Rudd has said he is campaigning for the election of the Gillard government. I
as the leader am campaigning for the re-election of my government."
Questions over the leaks stole some of the focus from law and order announcements
made by both Labor and the coalition on Thursday, and Ms Gillard's pledge to offer
more assistance to people with disabilities and their carers.
Mr Abbott, in Melbourne, pledged to establish a crack team to lead a national fight
against violent gang crime.
Under the plan, a national violent gangs squad would be established under the
auspices of the Australian Crime Commission.
Mr Abbott also promised to establish a national violent gangs data base, to track
the activities of groups around the country.
The list of banned knives would be extended and "tougher" uniform penalties put in
place for people who carry knives, Mr Abbott said.
Extra funding for metal detectors would be made available.
"If we are going to crack down on gangs, we need to have a national approach," Mr
Abbott said.
The coalition plan would cost $179 million over four years.
The opposition's announcement came hours after Labor promised it would strengthen
import controls on a range of weapons, including knuckledusters, flick knives and
devices used to give people electric shocks.



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