Labor frontbenchers have defended Julia Gillard's plan to go west next week, despite eyebrows being raised about her five-day blitz in key Sydney electorates.
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As Foreign Minister and NSW senator Bob Carr and other ministers defended the strategy to target western Sydney, the Liberal Party released a video to mark the one year anniversary of the 2012 leadership challenge.
The video, which marks 12 months since the Labor caucus voted to retain Ms Gillard as leader, features a mash up of comments senior Labor MPs made about Kevin Rudd and his government around the time of the challenge - "dysfunction, paralysis, sabotage, chaos" - although it is not clear in the video what the precise context is.
The Liberal Party is arguing that after 12 months, "nothing has changed".
Senator Carr told Fairfax Media on Wednesday that the Prime Minister's visit to western Sydney was appropriate.
''Western Sydney's a very big part of the Australian economy,'' Senator Carr said, adding it had a ''huge share'' of Australia manufacturing and services.
''It deserves this attention.''
On Tuesday, Ms Gillard's office confirmed that she would stay in a hotel in Rooty Hill for five days for a mini-campaign in must-win western Sydney electorates.
Senator Carr said that Ms Gillard would still be able to ''attend to official business'' - answer the phone, make decisions and sign documents - while she was on the road.
''Prime Ministers are able to base themselves anywhere in the country,'' he said.
The mini-campaign has been questioned by some within Labor, such as powerbroker Graham Richardson, who suggested that Ms Gillard's presence in the area might be a negative for the government, given her unpopularity.
''Five days in Rooty Hill will not be enough, let me assure you,'' Mr Richardson told Sky News on Tuesday.
A local Labor councillor has also described Ms Gillard's visit as ''a bit late''.
But other Labor ministers - who are also western Sydney MPs - have backed the Prime Minister's move.
Tertiary Education Minister Chris Bowen, who is the member for McMahon, told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday the visit was important and welcome.
''It's important that all prime ministers get around the country,'' he said, adding that Ms Gillard had been a regular visitor to western Sydney during her time as Prime Minister.
''[But] she will be visiting a little bit more intensively.''
Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury, who holds the marginal seat of Lindsay, also defended the trip.
He said he welcomed the Prime Minister to ''come into western Sydney any time,'' although he would not be drawn on whose idea it was for Ms Gillard to come to the west.
''This is a big place, western Sydney,'' he told ABC Radio, pointing out there were 2 million people in the region.
Mr Bradbury said for many people it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak directly to the Prime Minister.
He dismissed claims that the visit would be counterproductive.
''I've never been in the business of rolling up in a ball and hiding,'' he said.
With AAP
