What is the best way to get rid of Bill Shorten?

[Jezza]

I honestly think Labor stands a greater chance of winning an election with someone like Albanese in charge rather than Shorten, but it'll be a difficult task with Turnbull in power now.

Shorten was more popular in the caucus than Albanese in the leadership spill in 2013 but Labor members preferred Albanese on a margin of nearly 60-40 TPP.

[pietillidie]

Would someone disband the ALP? Pathetic, sickly lot. Honestly, still crapping on about "the coup" as if anyone gives a toss. Do some f^%$^ng policy work you lowlife turds.

Between that complete once-in-a-lifetime effwit Abbott and the most talentless ALP iteration in memory, Turnbull could grow a beard and wander about wearing a white robe reading from the Quran and still not have to worry.

[Wokko]

It's what surprised me so much about the constant attacks on Abbott, the ALP has NO answer to Turnbull but could've steamrolled Abbott at an election, even with Boring Bill. Now he's Mr 18% and Labor get to look foolish by dumping another leader. Should've been Albo from the start, any fool could see he's the best option to win an election.

[David]

Yep, should have listened to the rank and file. The party room and factions exist in a fantasy world in which Bill was the anointed one (you know, because everyone else was saying he was). Hope they're coming back to reality now.

[Lazza]

[stui magpie]

Shorten is a product of the union movement, Albo isn't. Shorten also is a massive factional player and has strong backing from the factional right, whereas Albo is from the left. That's your explanation of why Bill got the nod.

The trick is finding the right mix of attributes in a leader, as generally the leader gets the big say in the party direction. So you don't just need someone with the Charisma to win the election, you need someone who has the combination of brains, guts and salesmanship to actually put in place good policy and then sell it, even if it's unpopular.

Krudd had charisma and actually did some good things policy wise early on but was a meglomaniac twat with the leadership and people management skills of a dog turd dressed as hitler.

Gillard was hobbled from the start so we'll never really know whether she could have been really good or not but when you're treated as a glove puppet by both the unions and the greens it must be hard to focus on selling a message.

Abbott was an excellent opposition leader but it quickly became obvious that was the limit of his skill set. 3 word soundbites work in opposition but you need more in power

At the moment Turnbull's biggest potential threat is Turnbull. If he gets either too comfortable or too frustrated he has the capacity to have some Kruddesque implosions internally and upset those who will tolerate him. While around 30% of the party hate his guts he's on a tightrope.

I still think Labor need to be tactical here. Hold onto Shorten through the election, give him 100% support but make it clear behind the scenes that if/when they lose he will be expected to resign. That lets them clear the perception of having a revolving door leadership.

Then comes the hard question of who has the necessary attributes to be both an effective opposition leader but be a good PM. I don't know if they have someone with that skill set but if not they have 12 months max to identify them and get them ready.