Julia Gillard advocates for Bill Shorten in new campaign video

Julia Gillard declares Bill Shorten is ready to be a “great” Labor PM in a new election ad | WATCH

In a new election ad Julia Gillard says she thinks Bill Shorten is going to be a terrific PM.

Julia Gillard declares Bill Shorten is ready to be a “great Labor prime minister” in a new Labor Party election advert, despite the fact he assisted her downfall in 2013.

The Opposition Leader was a key player in the push to replace Kevin Rudd with Ms Gillard in 2010, but later switched sides in the dying days of her leadership.

Ms Gillard tells Labor voters in the 37-second ad released last night on social media that Mr Shorten is “compassionate” and “ready for the consequences of the future.”

Australia has been well served by Julia Gillard's intelligence, passion and perseverance. Labor is fortunate to call her one our own. pic.twitter.com/KIZkX29TgA

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) March 31, 2019

“Bill in one word? I would say compassionate,” she said.

“The Bill Shorten I know is a great listener. The Bill Shorten I know is a terrific leader, he brings people together and I think he will do that for the nation.

“The Bill Shorten I know will be a Labor leader in the best of our traditions. And the Bill Shorten I know is a man ready for the challenges of the future.

“When I look at Bill Shorten, I see a man who is ready to be a great Labor prime minister. I think he’s going to be terrific.”

Mr Shorten shared the video starring Ms Gillard on Twitter and praised her legacy.

“Australia has been well served by Julia Gillard’s intelligence, passion and perseverance. Labor is fortunate to call her one (of) our own,” he tweeted.

Mr Shorten served as Ms Gillard’s workplace relations minister between 2011 and 2013.

He was instrumental in moving Labor Right votes to Australia’s female prime minister in June 2010 against the push against Kevin Rudd.

In June 2013, he revealed he supported Mr Rudd’s return to power just minutes before a party room meeting dumped Ms Gillard as leader.

The Bill Shorten we know... pic.twitter.com/KJOvDWEJZ9

— Liberal Party (@LiberalAus) March 31, 2019

The Liberal Party responded to the Gillard advert on Twitter with their own video showcasing Mr Shorten’s 2013 press conference where he declared for Mr Rudd.

The Liberal clip also included a bizarre interview from 2012 where Mr Shorten he supported a recent comment by Ms Gillard, despite not having seen what the then-Prime Minister actually said.