Labor in crisis or just the normal retirement cycle?

Politicians retire before elections, this has happened in many election cycles and will continue to happen.

However, the forthcoming federal election is rather interesting due to the experience of the candidates who announced retirements after the Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd leadership spill earlier this year. This was surprisingly after the election had been announced, although in all fairness, it was the longest election cycle in Australia's history.

What is interesting is the skills and experience retiring in such a short space of time, guys like Martin Fergurson and Simon Crean are well respected on both sides of parliament; both strong performers, their knowledge and experience will be missed.

Stephen Smith performed well in foreign affairs before Kevin Rudd got his position in compensation for the Prime Minister's position he lost in the knifing. Some would also argue Kev liked the jet-set lifestyle and as Foreign Minister would spend more time out of the country (causing less problems) leaving Gillard and Swan free to do as they wish.

However, despite his ongoing assurances, Wayne Swan was never able to balance the accounts and post a surplus in his time as Treasurer, instead presiding over huge debts and inefficiencies. Likewise, Peter Garrett lurched from one disaster to another. 

Greg Combet on the other hand was the biggest surprise for me, I had expected him to lead the party in the future, if polling is to be believed, between 20 - 25 seats could be lost in this election and I thought he would be the one to lead the party out of opposition.

Lets see who has departed:

Julia Gillard - former Prime Minister, ousted in a leadership ballot after gaining the Prime Minister in leadership spill and then formed a minority government in 2010.

Wayne Swan - former Treasurer.

Stephen Smith - former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister.

Craig Emerson - former Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research.

Peter Garrett - former rock star, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.

Greg Combet - former Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation.

Stephen Conroy - former Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

Martin Fergurson - former Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism.

Chris Evans - former Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs, Science and Research.

Simon Crean - former Leader of the Opposition, Minister for Science and Technology, Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, Minister for Employment, Education and Training, Minister for Trade, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Minister for Education and Minister for the Arts.

Nicola Roxon - former Minister for Health and Ageing and Attorney General of Australia.

Robert McClelland - former Attorney General of Australia.

The question remains, did all this experience depart in such a short time frame because they felt they are unable to work together with Kevin Rudd or do they feel the government's time is up and they don't wish to spend a couple of terms in opposition?