Julia Gillard's challenge to Tony Abbott

Julia Gillard's challenge to Tony Abbott won't end scrutiny over the AWU affair

Dennis Shanahan, Political Editor The Australian  November 29, 2012 5:29PM

JULIA Gillard decided to put Tony Abbott on the spot this afternoon in parliament, delaying question time and giving the Liberal leader 15 minutes to "put up or shut up".
It was an attempt by the Prime Minister to put Abbott on the back foot politically and to try to kill off the continuing and damaging saga about her legal advice to her then boyfriend, Bruce Wilson, and self-confessed fraudster, Ralph Blewitt, who set up the Australian Workers Union Workplace Reform Association.
Gillard's strategy did neither.
Abbott, already prepared for a suspension of standing orders and the possibility of a government ambush, had a 15-minute response ready to set out the most telling argument against Gillard on the issue of her integrity and character as a lawyer and leader.
The latest revelations confirm she argued for the establishment of the association with the WA Corporate Affairs Commission, when the incorporation of what she later described as a union “slush fund” for the re-election of union officials was challenged.
Gillard's response today did not really address this central issue and instead seemed to draw strength from having Abbott in front of her in parliament instead of his deputy Julie Bishop, who had carried the Coalition's questions all week.
Gillard's attack on Abbott seemed to have less preparation than his reply and relied on the “sleaze and smear” response suggesting Abbott and Bishop had overplayed their hand.
Abbott was able to end the week and the parliamentary year with a solid allegation against Gillard's character and professional standards, while Gillard was able to reinforce all her arguments about Abbott's negativity.
Some of the heat will go out of the AWU affair during the Christmas break but a new focus on a particular point means it will not go away.

Tony Abbott challenges the Prime Minister to substantiate allegations over AWU affair. 

Picture: Gary Ramage Source: The Australian