Fed: Beazley demands clean fight in leadership vote

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2006
Fed: Beazley demands clean fight in leadership vote

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has appealed for a clean fight
in tomorrow's Labor leadership battle with challenger Kevin Rudd.

The Labor caucus will vote tomorrow on whether to replace Mr Beazley and deputy leader
Jenny Macklin with Mr Rudd and health spokeswoman Julia Gillard.

While Mr Rudd appears to be slightly ahead on votes, internal party polling which claimed
the foreign affairs spokesman had failed to land a punch on the government during the
AWB scandal was leaked to News Ltd papers overnight.

Beazley supporters also told newspapers that Mr Rudd had an explosive temper and that
his running mate, health spokeswoman Julia Gillard, actually hated him.

Mr Beazley did not confirm or deny today whether he condoned the leaking of the internal polling.

"As I said, I want a clean fight and I would urge everybody engaged in this to ensure
that in the remaining 24 hours left, it is," Mr Beazley told the Ten Network.

"And what I want out of this is no retribution for any people but a focus on the main game."

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KEYWORD: LABOR BEAZLEY

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