Kevin Rudd endorses Labor leader Bill Shorten after initially refusing to comment

FORMER PM Kevin Rudd has publicly backed Labor leader Bill Shorten for the nation’s top job after initially refusing to comment.

FORMER Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has publicly backed Labor leader Bill Shorten for the nation’s top job after initially refusing to comment.

“Woke in US to read I’m not supporting @billshortenmp. As former Labor PM and ALP member of 35 yrs I’m proud to endorse him,” Mr Rudd tweeted on Monday morning.

The backflip comes after News Corp Australia asked Mr Rudd what Mr Shorten would bring to the table as PM and he refused to answer.

“Mr Rudd’s longstanding policy is to not comment on Australian domestic politics,” a spokeswoman said.

On the publication of News Corp’s story and following two attempts to confirm this, Mr Rudd said he did endorse Mr Shorten.

.@newscomauHQ Woke in US to read I'm not supporting @billshortenmp. As former Labor PM and ALP member of 35 yrs I'm proud to endorse him.

— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) May 15, 2016

It’s a policy Mr Rudd uses when it suits him. Just last September Mr Rudd happily congratulated Malcolm Turnbull when he wrestled the top job from Tony Abbott.

“Best wishes to Malcolm Turnbull becoming Australia’s 29th Prime Minister. Huge job with huge challenges. Therese and I wish he and Lucy well,’’ Mr Rudd wrote on September 15.

He’s also tweeted on a variety of other Australian political matters since September, including praising the inclusion of Pat Dodson in the senate, praising the appointment of Stan Grant to the Prime Minister’s referendum council and talking up his own record in Government.

Kevin Rudd will not back Bill Shorten publicly, saying he doesn’t comment on Australian domestic politics.

The other ghost of Labor’s past Julia Gillard in contrast heaped praise on fellow unionist Mr Shorten, but Labor has not rushed to promote Ms Gillard’s support.

A spokesman for former Prime Minister Gillard said she believed “passionately” that the election of Mr Shorten and his team was best for Australia’s future.

“In Ms Gillard’s view, it is vital all media attention focuses squarely on Bill’s plan for a fairer Australia and his policies to put people first,’’ he said.

Former PM Julia Gillard has thrown her support behind Bill Shorten.

The Rudd-Gillard era and the leadership tensions that plagued it are seen in Labor circles as particularly damaging to Labor’s brand.

Ms Gillard had the support of Mr Shorten when she ousted Mr Rudd as Prime Minister in June 2010. Then a Victorian factional powerbroker, Mr Shorten’s support was key.

But Mr Shorten turned on Ms Gillard in 2013, throwing his support behind Mr Rudd, who consequentially regained the leadership after a second spill.

Ms Gillard has now twice tweeted her support for Mr Shorten, both on day one of the election campaign and again on Friday night, congratulating the Labor leader on his performance in the People’s Forum – the first public clash of the campaign.

“Congratulations to @billshortenmp on tonight’s forum - a winning presentation on the issues front and centre in the campaign – JG,” Ms Gillard wrote Friday night.

And: “On Day 1 of the election campaign, my best wishes to Bill Shorten & the Labor team as they fight for a fairer Australia. – JG”

Originally published as Kevin Rudd endorses Labor leader Bill Shorten after initially refusing to comment