I am today announcing that I will be a candidate for leader
of the federal parliamentary Labor party.
It's not something that comes to me naturally.
It's not something, growing up very close to here in public housing
in Camperdown, that you aspired to.
It is, however, something that I believe I have a responsibility
to put myself forward because I believe I'm the best person
to lead Labor back into government.
We've lost three elections in a row.
That has an impact on those Australians who rely upon us
to improve their education, to look after their healthcare,
to build public transport infrastructure, to look after their interests.
And I believe, therefore, that I've got a responsibility to put myself forward.
I've already had some discussions with caucus members.
I'll continue to discuss it with caucus members
but also rank and file members of the Labor party.
I'm proud that, together with Kevin Rudd, I initiated reforms that did two things.
One, they gave the rank and file membership of our party a say
in the leadership and, therefore, the direction of the party.
But secondly also, that provided stability.
I've been loyal to the leaders that I've served, including Bill Shorten,
who's had loyalty from the caucus – I think unprecedented
over the last six years.
The reforms that we put in place were a part of ensuring that that occurred.
If it is a contested ballot, and I would welcome
people’s right to put themselves forward,
I am sure that it will be conducted in a fair, inclusive and democratic fashion.
And I certainly think that the last time that occurred
between myself and Bill, it actually put us in a strong position
to hit the ground running as a first-term opposition.
I think Australians know me.
I have been around in politics now for two decades.
I have explained my life story, which I found quite difficult,
through working with Karen Middleton's biography that she released in 2016.
I sometimes get things wrong.
If I do that, I will say that that's the case.
I am someone who can take on the other side of politics in a vigorous fashion.
And people who saw my record as leader of the House of Representatives
and as manager of opposition business will know that that's the case.
But they will also know that I am prepared to reach out across the aisle,
and if an idea is good and it needs bipartisan support,
such as the building of an airport and support for western Sydney jobs
and an aerotropolis there, then I will do that too.
What you see is what you get with me,
for better or worse.
I am a bit rough at the edges, but I think that Australians
don’t want someone who just utters talking points.
So from time to time, I will not be as articulate
as someone who is simply reading from a script.
But I offer myself forward, I do it in a way
which I wasn’t expecting, frankly.
The truth is that I, along with others, was expecting a different result last night.
I am disappointed by the result that we got.
But it is now time to stand up, dust ourselves off,
and get on with the business of making Labor an opposition
that holds the government to account but also a political party
that offers a different agenda to the government.
A fairer agenda, a more inclusive agenda,
an agenda that brings the nation together on economic,
social and environmental policy so that we can meet
the challenges of the future.