Labor needs to change direction as well as leader

In hindsight, one of Gillard's biggest mistakes was not to use the opportunity of her ascension to the Prime Ministership to change the government's direction. Her only policy changes at the time concerned the mining tax and the East Timor Solution, both of which were short-term political solutions. The main policy change since has been the hated carbon tax that she promised not to introduce.

As a result, history is unlikely to differentiate between the Rudd and Gillard Governments, as they have been characterised by numerous broken promises, policy on the run, spectacular policy debacles, big budget deficits, faith in big government, tax hikes and a lack of real achievements – the very things that have made this government so unpopular in only its second term. As a result, Rudd is not a credible candidate for PM, despite his current popularity in the polls.

It follows that Labor needs to do more than simply change leaders in order to 'save the furniture', otherwise the change will be as successful as the leadership changes NSW Labor made in office, where the Premier was a different person but nearly everything else the same. Gillard's successor will have to change the entire course of the government. To that end, here are a few suggestions:

The only way for Labor is to not only replace Gillard but also the Rudd-Gillard style of government. Otherwise the leadership change and the passage of time will likely result in federal Labor becoming as contemptible and despised as NSW Labor was in March of this year.

• Scrap the carbon tax policy. This one is essential. Apologise to the Australian people for having tried to introduce it with no mandate and defer any price on carbon until there is a binding international agreement which includes all the major emitters.

• Re-open Nauru as a processing centre and re-introduce Temporary Protection Visas. Apologise to the Australian people for having softened the laws in 2008.

• Introduce some spending cuts in order to ensure that the budget is brought back to surplus as promised.

• End the formal alliance with the Greens, who will always support Labor over the Coalition anyway.

• Avoid any new schemes which will result in more money being wasted. If you can't respect the hard earned money of taxpayers, you cannot respect the taxpayers themselves.

The only way for Labor is to not only replace Gillard but also the Rudd-Gillard style of government. Otherwise the leadership change and the passage of time will likely result in federal Labor becoming as contemptible and despised as NSW Labor was in March of this year.