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Campaign countdown: who wanted to f**k the unions?

David Penberthy

by David Penberthy

31 May 06:00am

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Filed under: Campaign Countdown, Election 2010, Kevin Rudd, Politics, Tony Abbott

92 comments

As election speculation hits a crescendo The Punch today launches its campaign countdown daily blog where we bring you the latest in a punchy, link-laden format, with today’s bolter being Simon Benson’s new book revealing that Kevin Rudd - and they’re his words - conspired with former NSW Premier Morris Iemma to “f..k” the unions over power privatisation. 

It was the one on the left. Photo: Getty Images

Swearing at airline hosties might be unforgiveable but swearing at unionists is in the same category as swearing at newspaper editors - it’s a victimless crime. But the more telling take-out from Benson’s book is that Rudd is (again) painted as a chronic non-deliverer, in that he promised to back Iemma on the controversial power sale in 2007 and then squibbed it because federal Labor was guaranteed victory in the polls and he didn’t want a distracting controversy. The betrayal killed Iemma’s premiership.   

Benson reveals that, prior to Rudd’s cave-in, the then federal Opposition Leader told Iemma :“If you help me, I’ll get elected and you will prosper. Work with me and, when the time comes, we can f ... them [the unions] together.” The meeting was attended by two other senior Labor staffers. Benson’s book is called Betrayal: The Underbelly of Australian Labor, and you can read an excerpt here. The quote about Rudd by the former NSW Treasurer, maverick Michael Costa, is a pearler.

The spicy revelations will prove a distraction today for Kevin Rudd with today’s Question Time set to be dominated by his $38m pillaging of the public purse for the mining tax ads. Further down this page our Punch opinion analyst Marcus Kucyzinski looks at the public backlash to Rudd’s use of taxpayer dollars for the ads.

Almost every political commentator in the land has lined up to criticise Rudd over his handling of the RSPT and, particularly, his use of public money to claw himself out of strife with an advertising blitz. Today’s fiery editorial in The Australian begins: “Kevin Rudd’s double standard in abandoning his own rules on government advertising is self-evident. So blatant and audacious is the backflip that any further commentary would be superfluous.”

Glenn Milne goes so far as to suggest that Rudd may have even misled Parliament last week by denying the tax would harm mining stocks, then saying the ad campaign was necessary to counter propaganda which could harm the industry.

Sydney Morning Herald correspondent Phil Coorey is more sanguine and says Rudd believes the long-term battle with the cashed-up mining industry will help him muscle up in the eyes of voters. Coorey also reveals that Rudd has snubbed the Minerals Council of Australia by ditching an invite to address their fancy dinner in Canberra on Wednesday - and will instead be at an ALP fundraising dinner honouring the 100th anniversary of the Fisher Labor Government (which, in a potentially bad omen, only lasted one term).

Expect Treasurer Wayne Swan or perhaps Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner to note this item from the Herald’s Clancy Yates showing that, even with an RSPT, the coal industry alone will make a hefty $80 billion over the next five years.

We’re pretty sure they won’t be quoting from Tim Blair’s column where he bemoans the lacklustre quality of the national emergency which forced Rudd’s backflip on government advertising, compared to ongoing emergencies in Thailand, Haiti and Greece. “It’s the most boring national emergency in history,” Blair writes. “Where are the death squads?”

There is plenty in all this for Tony Abbott to enjoy but he still has some serious unity headaches which are damaging the cohesion of the alternative government. There’s lingering sniping behind the scenes over Julie Bishop’s performance last week, and his predecessor as leader, Malcolm Turnbull, gave a slightly unhelpful interview yesterday where he queried Abbott’s poorly-handled asylum seeker stance, saying he doubted he would be able to stop the boats, and that it was wrong not to enable party room dicussion of the policy.

Abbott’s ability to do to Rudd what Rudd wanted to help Iemma do to the NSW unions (yeah, it’s a shockingly convoluted and crass analogy) will depend in large part on an ability to put out these fires.

We’ll be here on The Punch for live Question Time reader commentary from 2pm, but there’s plenty of stuff on the site today which is mercifully free of politics.

Most commented

353"Gifting", "journey" and other words we hate
309Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
242They must pay for one's bitter disappointments
230Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...
226South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
224Punch on: Open thread 17/05/2012
224The most laughable, err, spoof since Einfeld

92 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • persephone says:

      07:15am | 31/05/10

      Jeez, guys, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

      No one has declared this to be a ‘national emergency’. The guidelines nominate a ‘national emergency’ as one of three reasons that the restrictions can be lifted.

      In this case, the reference is to ‘other compelling reasons.’

      Reply

    • Gaius says:

      08:26am | 31/05/10

      Yeah Persephone the jaded ALP this is indeed in the category of ‘other compelling reasons’.  KRudd bit off more thna he can chew “again’ and now his ‘bum’ is hurting ‘again’ from the serve he got from the miners that he has to ‘again’ use the Australian taxpayer to absord the ‘crap’ that he doesn’t have the guts to swallow.

      So show us research then, you are good at that.

    • antiperspirant says:

      08:32am | 31/05/10

      HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA. The Labor spin machine is open early today kids. Back to work massaging the message.

      The greatest hypocrite in Australian political history has been caught out.

      This is the end for Rudd.

    • Steve_of_Cornubia says:

      08:58am | 31/05/10

      Hilarious.

    • notsurprised says:

      08:59am | 31/05/10

      Persephone, the antics of federal labor over the past three years make a great story enough to qualify for a B grade Ch.9 TV series. Thanks for clarifying the choice but can you elaborate on what these ‘other compelling reasons’ might be?

    • Ric of Perth says:

      09:15am | 31/05/10

      And so the ‘the other compelling reason is???? Oh that’s right :“More Debt”
      Heads Miners Win…. Tails Bankers interest wins….. Opps sorry guys its Tails…. and so another sad tale is written in to the lame history of the Australian loser, maladroit,  wooden Labour Party… Just for the record in our countries history has the ALP done anything of national lasting significance??

    • Andrew says:

      09:27am | 31/05/10

      What compelling reasons? Getting Labor re-elected?

    • chris says:

      09:33am | 31/05/10

      That may be so Persephone but how wide a definition can you apply to ‘compelling reasons’. It is riders like these in guidelines that make them so ineffectual that you may not as well have them in the first place.
      Compelling reasons - what a load of tosh.

    • Peter says:

      09:36am | 31/05/10

      Why don’t you mention that the Government changed this specific rule in March 2010, less than six months before an election?  The old rule required that there be “extraordinary reasons” for a bypass of independent scrutiny of ad campaigns.

      Why would they do that, I wonder?  Why would they also weaken the rules in relation to what can be advertised, and add a new category of authorised advertising: “to inform consideration of issues”.

      I smell a rat.  A very large, hypocritical rat named Kevin.

    • acker says:

      09:57am | 31/05/10

      “persephone” Rudd has done to the Labor vote in New South Wales what the Taliban did to Afghanistan..set it back to the 9th Century. Telegraph published that Labor could be looking at a 27% swing against it in NSW..that would make it tough for them to win next election. Federal & State

    • Carnegie says:

      10:24am | 31/05/10

      Peres, your fearless leader’s character is being laid bare. It started as a trickle and now it is a flood, even labor stalwarts (Iemma &Costa;) have joined the chorus! The man is a liar!

    • Referee Tails says:

      10:27am | 31/05/10

      Yellow Card Perse. Mr Penberthy was quoting another source in the context of the myriad opinions and issues circulating in the press today. If you’ve got an issue, take it up with Tim Blair. That’s your one. You want to push for the red?

    • Super D says:

      10:43am | 31/05/10

      Persephone you never cease to amaze.  Kevin really can do no wrong in your eyes can he? 

      I’m guessing that if secret footage of Kevin Rudd torturing a kitten ever emerged you’d be claiming that it demonstrated his interest in the natural world.

    • Ryan says:

      12:10pm | 31/05/10

      @persephone : since you are touting the so called “FACTS” how about you give us the “FACT” on the “other compelling reason”, I am sure we would all be interested.

    • Edward James says:

      12:33pm | 31/05/10

      Compelling for the survival of the Federal Labor party perhaps?  Federal Labor has driven the states dismantling of small local hospitials like Woy Woy Rehabilition Hospital. from bottom to top local state and federal Labor is past its use by date.  Busy making promises which have no chance of materialising till half way through the next two terms of government and certainly begging the question. Why is it so many of the things promised for next time and the time after that.

    • luke09 says:

      01:03pm | 31/05/10

      persephone, with labor now bagging Rudd, you must admit things must be bad in voter land. Labor unlike the liberals rarely criticise their own. Interesting times ahead, one week Abbott stuffs up and the next week it is Rudd.

    • Christian Real says:

      06:20pm | 31/05/10

      Nicole
      You ask, “Who’s the crazy one” and the answer is simply Latham, as I have met with both Latham and Rudd.
      Kevin Rudd is not like the person everyone is painting him to be, I have not one bad thing to say about him, every time I have met him, he hasn’t sworn, hasn’t been abusive and he is the most pleasant person to know.

    • Darryl Price says:

      07:39pm | 06/06/10

      Ha ha. “Other compelling reasons”. Right up there with ” ‘Cause” as in     ” ‘Cause I said so”.

    • Gary Cox says:

      07:30am | 31/05/10

      Remember in the lead up to the last election Kevin expelled ETU man and Labor candidate Dean Mighell from the ALP for swearing? What was that all about? That was when the public thought Kevin was a squeaky clean Christian nerd. How things change.

      Reply

    • Referee Tails says:

      10:55am | 31/05/10

      PFFFFFT! RED CARD Perse.  No one asked you. Hit the showers.

    • Rover says:

      01:21pm | 31/05/10

      But Ref Tails, Gary Cox did ask the question. That funny thing on the end of his first two sentences is called a question mark.

    • Christian Real says:

      02:21pm | 31/05/10

      Referee Tails
      No one asked you either Tails, Persephone has a right to comment just as much as you do.
      It is called Freedom of Speech, and Australia is a Democratic Country, unless of cause it won’t be under a Liberal/National party government.
      Judging by your Un-Australian attitude problem towards freedom of speech, it appears the Liberal party aren’t worth voting for if they teach their supporters and members to attempt to ‘dumb down ’ people who are not agreeing with their radical plans and ideas.

    • Referee Tails says:

      02:53pm | 31/05/10

      Stay out of it Rover. I’m talking to the team captains only. Persephone was warned, and had only just said that she only replies when directly spoken to. I can’t see her name mentioned in Gary’s post. Besides, “Er, no” just got my back up for being unnecessarily smarmy.

    • persephone says:

      03:44pm | 31/05/10

      Tails, a misquote as always - I said in the majority of cases.

    • Referee Tails says:

      03:45pm | 31/05/10

      Red Card Christian Real. I’m not a member of any political party. Never have been and never will be. I just get sick to the back teeth of reading the kind of predictable mucus people like persephone and your good self hoik out, when there is intelligent debate to be had.
      I’m all for freedom of speech as long as it doesn’t turn into freedom of going on and on and on and on and on.
      So as long as you guys want to bombard this site with your party lines and your whatever, I’ll be here with my cards and my whistle.
      Toot toot.

    • More Real and Christian says:

      03:15pm | 01/06/10

      Christian Real - you seem to be a champion of freedom of Speech - tell me what do you think of Conroy’s internet filter?
      Ahh the sounds of silence perhaps?
      Perhaps also explain why the Libs/nats would have less freedom?  After all the Libs and Nats don’t shy away from a fight - even with each other - but do we hear any dissent from Labor?
      Nahhh they would be cast out fo their seat (read pension)....

    • Against the Man says:

      07:33am | 31/05/10

      Please vote Rudd out. Would you help someone who has screwed you over? Of course not. Lets sack the millionaire PM. Time for change!

      Reply

    • John A Neve says:

      08:39am | 31/05/10

      A the M,

      Why this constant refference to millionair PM, do I note a touch of jealousy?

      Tell us, what pollies don’t “screw over” part of the electorate?
      I must admit to being very unhappy with many of the decisions the Howard government made.

    • CSallen says:

      10:04am | 31/05/10

      I don’t like Rudd or agree to him being our PM, but you say millionaire like it’s a bad thing.
      Personal acheivement should be applauded don’t you think? Regardless of what job someone holds.

    • Johnny says:

      10:43am | 31/05/10

      I guess I would think a millionaire PM would have nothing to lose. He has the money not to depend on the private sector for an income when he leaves office so does he really care about how bad his policies are? Nothing wrong with being a millionaire at all. But money gives you the freedom to do certain things, influence your decisions a certain way and take certain risks when you know you have nothing to lose. Mr Rudd has done badly in the polls and he has made some bad political moves but would he have done so if he didn’t have his own personal fortune to back him up? Who knows? I want Australia to be a leader country, not a follower/slave country.

    • Super D says:

      10:45am | 31/05/10

      His missus is the millionaire.

      Though given Therese Rein made her millions supplying services to the taxpayer some sort of super profits tax may be warranted.

    • Against the Man says:

      02:36pm | 31/05/10

      Ha Ha! I’m actually somewhat well off and comfortable without a care in the world really. I do however want to keep reminding everyone that ruddy is a millionaire who likes to seem he is connected to the average joe. Everytime he uses the phrase ’ Working families….......’ what a joke, a life long bureaucrat who doesn’t care 2 hoots about working families. Like I said before time for change, australia voted in a dud, the rudd experiment has failed miserably, time for cahnge. Ha Ha!

    • persephone says:

      03:45pm | 31/05/10

      So he isn’t in politics to make money, which suggests he’s in politics because he wants to make a difference.

      I’d have thought that was a plus.

    • Super D says:

      06:48pm | 31/05/10

      No Persephone, he’s not in politics for money.  Some are in it for service but many such as your beloved Kevin are in it solely for power and prestige. 

      The man doesn’t want to improve the lot of anyone but himself.

    • DocBud says:

      07:20pm | 31/05/10

      Persephone,

      It would only be a plus if the difference he wanted to make was a good one. In reality, he is in politics to massage his inflated sense of self-worth. He has achieved his one goal (to become PM) and everything else he does is to maintain that goal as long as possible.

    • PaulB says:

      10:04pm | 31/05/10

      Perse he’s in Australian politics as a stepping stone to becoming a prince of the UN.  He’s pushed their agendas of climate change and currency debasement as hard as he can.  Failed on both counts so far, maybe that’s why Turnbull has been dragged back into play.  They think he’s more likely to deliver, even if they have to wait a few more years.

    • Damili says:

      11:08pm | 31/05/10

      Of course personal achievement should be applauded and I commend Rudd’s wife for being such an astute business woman. Obviously, it is Therese who should be running the government.

    • Ric of Perth says:

      08:48am | 31/05/10

      Kevin Rudd… The buck stops with me!!!!  Well it sure does sir….$38,000,000 friggin million of them…. Ok now I’m taking out my cash value analysis meter!!!!

      Reply

    • Ben81 says:

      12:45pm | 31/05/10

      38 million million?  He’ll send us broke, madness!

    • Christian Real says:

      05:52pm | 31/05/10

      Rick of Perth
      It was different when John Howard spent oodles more of taxpayer’s money advertising ‘WorkChoices’ and the “G.S.T “, perhaps David Penberthy can come up with the costs of what avertising these and other things were during the Liberal party’s 12 years reign in office and make up another blog with it, just for comparrission.
      Also Ric of Perth where were you and all the rest of the Liberal cheer squad, you all appeared to remain silent over Howard spending spree of Taxpayer’s money on Advetisements during his term in office.
      I am not buying into Lemma’s dilemma, and his book is probably only fit to grace the toilet with.
      I seem to recall that Howard had promised Costello that he would stand aside and hand over the reigns to him, but alas Howard betrayed Costello’s trust and friendship.

    • TC says:

      08:49pm | 31/05/10

      Have you noticed Christian that Howard was voted out?

    • Moby says:

      11:12am | 01/06/10

      Christian

      Who was it again that called governmen spending on advertising a ‘cancer’??  Sorry I dont have the correct wording, but I am sure you know the reference that I am making

    • Mikko says:

      08:52am | 31/05/10

      Let’s get fair dinkum. Before the last election Kevin Rudd gave a 100 percent guarantee he would end government funded political advertising which was “a cancer on our society”. Asked if he would resign if he broke that commitment during his first term in office he agreed he would and told the assembled journos “You can all hold me accountable on that”. Fair shake of the sauce bottle Kev,  when will you be stepping down?

      Reply

    • persephone says:

      03:42pm | 31/05/10

      Let’s get fair dinkum, Mikko, he didn’t, because he isn’t a raving loony.

      He promised that he would restrict government advertising.

      Even the current advertising campaign has been given tight perameters it must meet, rather than an open slather to say what it likes.

    • antiperspirant says:

      09:54pm | 31/05/10

      Lol pers.

      Liar. He is on record on camera. Ahhh the lies of Labor and the tears of outrage they feed my hunger to see more bacflips.

      When is the bf on the great big new tax coming…..I need closure on this debacle

      So lets see pers

      ”  Even the current advertising campaign has been given tight parameters it must meet, rather than an open slather to say what it likes.”

      Explain your lies…err parameters here? What parameters. Asking a colleague if its ok. HAHAHAHAHA.

      Tell us the parameters. I need another laugh. the spin is out and lies are in.

    • persephone says:

      11:03pm | 31/05/10

      Mark, yes, and he says that it’s the current (under Howard) rate of government advertising and its political use that needs to change, not that all government advertising needs to be stopped (which would be a stupid promise, as some advertising is actually legislatively required, others serve important public purposes, such as notifying the public of grants and others are plain common sense - advertising job positions, for example).

      The perameters, according to Ludwig, are that the advertisements must be factual and not party political.

    • Ric of Perth says:

      09:03am | 31/05/10

      National emergency!!! This ones the preliminary… the grand final will be when the body bags are bought in to take away the rotting corpse’s of Rudd’s crew, apparently they died of money poisoning, all were found choking on it… $480 Billion Debt, yep thats’s right folks $480 Billion Dollars in Debt and for what???... Post script.. again apparently the only people slow hand clapping where the Bankers!! Funny that

      Reply

    • Daniel says:

      09:10am | 31/05/10

      The book sounds great but the price is too expensive.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      05:58pm | 31/05/10

      Daniel
      If the book is anything like Lemma, it will be crap, and it won’t be worth the cost to buy it.

    • Zeta says:

      09:27am | 31/05/10

      I was going to buy Benson’s book, but have decided not too since Costa isn’t doing an audiobook edition. That would have been awesome.

      Reply

    • Wayne Fehlhaber says:

      09:40am | 31/05/10

      The catalyst for the final blow to a Rudd re-election lies in Rudd’s own decision to dismiss his high moral oath not to use taxpayers funds for political advertising . The Prime Minister bashed his predecessor mercilessly for what he and Labor decried as ” stinking ” , telling the Australian electorate that a Labor government would never ever use taxpayers money to fund advertising for Labor’s benefit.
      Rudd bases his backflip on a premise that opposition to his RSPT constitutes a National Emergency , therein lies the politics involved , the very core of what he abhorred has been tossed aside and expediency adopted to facillitate Labor’s re-election .
      This will not be as easy to set in place as the Prime Minister and his now very worried Cabinet percieved . The electorate is angry at the constant dismissal of their demands for accountability , broken promises and backflips. In short , Australians have had a gutful of a government which won it’s way to office via assurances that they would deliver honest and accountable governing . The electorate trusted them and they have betrayed that trust.

      Reply

    • Jane says:

      01:28pm | 31/05/10

      Labor were working on these ‘ads’ weeks ago…before any single miners ‘ads’ were even shown….ergo….the premise that it was ‘in response’ is also a LIE from them.
      No ‘national emergency’....no ‘other compelling reasons’....just , “we are a*seholes and will deceive as we choose…at taxpayer expense this time”
      The unions paid for their last campaign ‘winner’...now the taxpayer can….or so they assume.

      Labor at large are at fault on this and everything else -  Labor are the lying hypocrites and Labor have failed…not just Rudd.

      Labor as an entirety were happy to be joined at the hip to Rudd and slide in with him by default when he was mega popular….....they are joined at the hip and can slide out with him when he is mega UNpopular too.

      Adios mucachos…Rudd AND co

    • acker says:

      10:07am | 31/05/10

      28 Federal Labor Seats in NSW and it might be a Greenout for Labor ..If the Telegragh is right about a 27% swing in NSW even Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plebersek might be in trouble if the Liberals give their preferences to the Greens in those electorates.

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      10:47am | 31/05/10

      Its not hard to see how they could be tarred with the NSW Labor brush.  After all Albanese is the husband of Deputy PM Carmel Tebbutt and Plibersekc is married to the head of the NSW Department of education.

    • wolf says:

      10:12am | 31/05/10

      I don’t for a moment want to try and justify the decision to fund avertising for the mining tax, but after reading the Milne article it appears that Glenn hasn’t learned his lessons about mixing medication and alcohol.

      Reply

    • OldGirl says:

      10:30am | 31/05/10

      To say I am getting very confused by all these plots and under plots is an understatement . I wonder how many average older Aussie’s like myself can’t keep up with all of this. I feel this is the worst voting choice we have had in my lifetime and I am wondering how in the hell did it come to this? Both sides of Politics seem to have totally lost the way to me. Are they putting something in the water in Canberra?

      Reply

    • Phil says:

      10:33am | 31/05/10

      David I think they both wouldnt mind that after all the unions having been doing it to us for ages.
      This proves beyond a doubt that Rudd only cares about Rudd, which one could argue that most polititians fit into the same category. However the statement that one day a rooster the next a feather duster rings true for the Milky Bar Kid.
      I am sure if the GG had managed to get enough support for the UN seat we would have already seen the back of this dope. Lucky for the world but unfortunately for us that has yet to occur.

      Reply

    • AdamC says:

      10:54am | 31/05/10

      Actually, Persephone’s right, the guidelines in question do give outs for ‘urgency’ (among other things) which the Laborites have used in this case. But, in reality, it is the audacity of using our money to promote an already notorious tax-grab that has sparked the shock and outrage rather than the technical nature of any breach or otherwise.

      I find it remarkable that anyone would be surprised that Kruddy betrays his comrades. Remember the knife-shaped objects Rudd and Swan hurled at Kim Beazley (or was it Crean, or both?) – remember the ‘Roosters’?

      Reply

    • Ben81 says:

      01:02pm | 31/05/10

      What?  I think you’ll find most people are concerned about the hypocrisy here rather than the audacity of the actual ads, and the fact that more of what Rudd said to win an election has been exposed as insincere at the very least.

      He promised that the Auditor General would vet all government advertising, he told journalists they have “my absolute 100 per cent guarantee that that will occur . . . and each one of you here can hold me accountable for that”. I don’t think I need to explain to you how that turned out.  They weren’t the only strong words he used on the topic either of course, he said this kind of advertising is “a long-term cancer on our democracy”. 

      None of that’s convinient anymore is it, this governing gig must be harder than he thought!  You have to wonder if his rhetoric in the lead up to the next election has much meaning in light of this and other things don’t you, and that’s what the real problem is here.

    • David Lawrence says:

      11:51am | 31/05/10

      Just to sum up everyone’s perceived choices for this federal election : We have the incumbent Labor government that has ballooned a surplus into a deficit, and has lagged behind key civil-rights issues thanks to pressure from the christian lobby; or we have an opposition who wants to scare people about brown people trying to find a better life for their families and who would sell whatever public assets we have left if they could manage to get in on the share float beforehand.

      Disgraceful.

      I’m doing my research and voting for the only party that truly promises to f*$% the establishment - The Sex Party.

      Reply

    • Ben81 says:

      01:18pm | 31/05/10

      It’s easy to turn the people smuggling debate into a race issue David, but I don’t see the Liberal party singling out any particular countries for delayed processing of applications like Labor has done. 
      As ugly as it is, we have to send out a message again that turning up on a boat doesn’t guarantee you entry both for their safety and to guarantee that our resources are being directed where intended.  Don’t listen to the “f*** off we’re full” rednecks, they don’t represent anything the Liberal party stands for, even if they think it does in their simple minds.

    • Dee Why Politics Addict says:

      12:01pm | 31/05/10

      HI - David - would be great if one of your contributers did a follow up on that Australia 2020 summit that Rudd held, with such fanfare and hoopla. Remember all of the whiteboard??
      What outcomes have actually been achieved? Has anything been heard of the official final report since?

      Reply

    • antiperspirant says:

      01:57pm | 31/05/10

      The answer you are looking for is none.

      BoltA keeps an eye on it.

      Nothing concrete. No policy. No decisions. Although everyone agreed Cate was “fab” and Hugh “sumptuous” so the millions were not lost in vain.

      It is a typical Rudd tactic. Promise something to happen in the future, oh lets see like hospital reforms, that sounds super but conveniently leaves any nasties till after this election or the next. Then you can run around for 3 years “changing it all up” and start the cycle again.

      It is all pretty ho hum know we have all caught on.

      Well all of us except pers who still lives in 7.30 land.

    • Chris says:

      12:02pm | 31/05/10

      Mr Rudd could not find $3,800 to let an unwillingly unemployed person (who voluntarily contributes 70-80 hours a week to Australia’s foreign aid effort) attend a conference in Spain. It would not have been a holiday junket either.
      The request did not even meet with the courtesy of a reply - actually it was less than $3,800 - just enough to cover the economy class airfare I believe. The requestor had scraped together the rest the conference fees and living expenses - and had a paper to contribute. Nice to know we can afford $38m on a campaign to re-elect a government but not a miniscule amount to help a volunteer help them do their job.

      Reply

    • Carl Palmer says:

      12:53pm | 31/05/10

      Why should it be a surprise? The smell has been around for ages and it’s been clear for a very long time that what you see is NOT what you get. We have been shafted and the sooner this mob gets booted out the better. These baboons – boof heads and bozos have on their watch decimated their own   Books – Bats and Boat people programs and it’s all been with our money.

      Every time I hear or see any labour minister open their mouth I change the channel immediately. I’m not interested in their rhetoric. At least there is some positive news, three of my family voted for Labour at the last election, they’ve decided to change their vote at the next election.

      Reply

    • XW says:

      01:34pm | 31/05/10

      Andrew Fisher actually served three terms, albeit non-consecutively. He was Prime Minister for about five years all up, and is one of our more underrated heads of Government.

      Reply

    • Saskia says:

      01:45pm | 31/05/10

      Not content with being the most incompetent, lazy and deceitful government in living memory, Rudd has now been proven to have back-stabbed the poor feeble minded twits who got him elected.  What a mongrel-act.

      Kevin Rudd has just signed his political death warrant.  The end of Rudd & the corrupt and soulless ALP cannot come a millisecond too soon.

      Reply

    • Ellis says:

      01:49pm | 31/05/10

      We all know that politicians fib now and again and stretch the truth when it suits them, but this fellow Rudd so openly, so brazenly and so often commits terminological inexactitudes / lies that he is a disgrace to the already tarnished name of politics. He really is a nauseous, disgusting and dirty little jumped up public servant.

      Reply

    • Willy_K says:

      02:40pm | 31/05/10

      The whole ‘Christian act’ is just the cherry on top.  Behind the scenes it is widely known that Rudd is foul mouthed, abusive and particularly aggressive toward young women and service staff.  A true coward/bully.

      The Church doorstop interviews make me want to be physically ill.

      This Government is officially a train wreck.

    • Arther Conan Doyle says:

      02:43pm | 31/05/10

      Frankly when my Government (of any persuassion) wants to combat a cashed up multi-national company from peddaling propaganda i am all for it. Otherwise the top end of town will steal more of our countries wealth than they already do. We only have to look at the damage being done by BP with their massive oil spill, to realise that Governments need to be more interventionist than they currently are. The Govt. is entitled and required to Tax in the national interest. If they tax too much the corporates much loved ‘market forces’ will soon tell us. I find it a tad spooky that people really believe that Rio Tinto, BHP-Billiton care more for the Nation than the Rudd or any other Govt. does.

      Reply

    • Eye4anEye says:

      03:47pm | 31/05/10

      Think your in the wrong thread mate, the $40 million mining tax advertising thread with the funny cartoon is <—————- that way

    • Eye4anEye says:

      03:32pm | 31/05/10

      Hmmm Christian Real hasn’t found this one yet - I await his rabid frothing input with bated (perhaps baited smile) breath.

      Reply

    • Referee Tails says:

      04:02pm | 31/05/10

      Yes he has. See above.

    • Eye4anEye says:

      04:31pm | 31/05/10

      Can’t believe I missed it Tails -  I specifically look for his ever balanced and mature additions to threads these days, must be because there was only one post I’ve gotten more used to the 5 in a row seen in the other thread on the advertising “emergency”.

      Cheers for letting me know.

    • Nicole says:

      04:56pm | 31/05/10

      Eye4anEye and Tails, I have been spared Christian Real’s wrath today, thank God. He must have missed my earlier post smile

    • Holly says:

      03:42pm | 31/05/10

      I do not have a problem with Kevin Rudd using taxpayer money to explain the RSPT to me.  As a shareholder (through my super) I was not given any choice on the spending by the mining companies, and no doubt through my super fund I will some roundabout way be supporting the coalition in the lead up to the next election.  I think that the campaign will help clarify some points on the resource tax as so far we have been fed a “mine” of misinformation from some large mining companies, the coalition and certain media hacks (tho I would have to say that at the weekend some media representatives are now starting to present a more balanced view.  I note that I am using a “Workchoices” mouse pad! and I wonder how many of the more rabid respondents above remember the Howard government fridge magnets.  Chill people or the worst that will happen will be the increase in your own blood pressure.

      Reply

    • watchingwithinterest says:

      04:12pm | 31/05/10

      But are the ads going to inform and be based on facts.  I think not.  I think i read that they say that mining companies only pay $1.00 in tax for every $7.00 that they make.  They pay $1.00 mining royalty plus company tax for every dollar they make.
      The government needs to start telling us the facts warts and all and let us make up our own minds if we think that it is reasonable.  Why won’t they tell us what they actually pay.  Break it down.  Or are they scared that the public will think that they pay enough if they provide all the information.
      the australian people deserve to receive the facts when it is costing them $38 million

      Reply

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      04:47pm | 31/05/10

      A 27% swing against the moribund, ineffectual NSW ALP, alleged, government, would result in the ALP losing Party Status in NSW! After todays rvelations about the Oh-so-pure, decent, honest, persona of Kevin Rudd being revealed as the exact opoosite this could well spell the end of the ALP Federally as well. They too may lose Party Status. The rock-solid, platinum-plated Rudd is even less substantial than one of those chocolate rabbits wrapped in synthetic gold foil we buy a Easter and he melts even faster. There is talk of an August Federal Election! Bring it on! But he won’t for he hasn’t got the guts to do so and he knows that the Opposition will make the most of this golden which Rudd has handed them. If nothing else happens all year the one thing we MUST do is get rid of this dishonest, weak, spendthrif, profligate ALP Government. They don’t deserve to be in office. Rudd promised, but as is usual, broke his promise to “@#$% the unions”. If he had kept his promise he would have done what no other non-Labor Prime Minister in our history had been able to do and it would have been an ALP PM who did it! So much for the much-touted solidarity fo th ALP. So much for Rudd’s “Working Families”. He concern for Australia and Australians is non-existant. His concern is for himself and himself alone. At least we are guaranteed that when he and his disastrous government are thrown out he will also be permanently removed from politics.After this It is doubtful he would even get a job as tea-boy any where. He is finished within the ALP. Good riddance

      Reply

    • Brad Price says:

      09:01pm | 31/05/10

      Kevin Rudd is the most ridiculous leader this country has had. Just watched the news break about him knowing the RSPT would hurt the industry…. On top of your Morris Iemma backstabbing i’d like to say thanks for nothing Kev…. Good riddance to you, you flake!

      http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112543865453767

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      10:34pm | 31/05/10

      RSPT knowledge, insulation deaths, backstabbing a Labor mate…...........I see a pattern. Even labor die hard supporters know that Kevin is becoming a loss cause. His legacy has been shattered, never to be considered a top Aussie PM. I hope the momentum is building to get Rudd out of power. C’mon guys Labor makes working families pooer -  more tax, higher utility rates, more tax, less super, more tax etc.

    • The Redman says:

      10:18pm | 31/05/10

      When are people going to wake up that Rudd is nothing but a pathalogical liar who is only interested in self aggrandisement? I suggest that journos start asking around about a meeting Rudd had over dinner in Sydney before the election committing to immediately getting rid of the ABCC when he came to power. That came at a cost of around $500,000.00 in donations from the unions towards his campaign. Nearly 3 years later, the ABCC is still going and the unions have done their dough! He is all sizzle and no sausage and all floss and no fairy!

      Reply

    • robynne says:

      11:43am | 01/06/10

      Kevin Rudd is not the man everyone see’s,he is the man behind closed doors,the man that treats his staff like they are beneath him ,some one should tape him when he is off camera ...

      Reply

    • Bart says:

      01:06pm | 01/06/10

      This is the tip of the Ruddberg.
      There was a meeting with his bureaucratic/colleagues over dinner (at a restaurant) in March this year where Mr Rudd was screaming and yelling and swearing at the top of his lungs because he was told his insulation program has big problems. So much so his security thought they better check on him as he may be under attack only to find him behaving like a lunatic.
      Others here want to compare him with Howard? Rudd makes Howard look like a saint.

      Reply

    • Jennie T says:

      02:03pm | 01/06/10

      There are numerous stories like this Bart.  The contrast with Howard could not be more stark.  JWH was always a gentlemen even under vicious personal abuse and not even a long time foe has a bad word to say about him.

      He was legendary for remembering everyone’s name, calling everyone by name and thanking all staff for anything they did from cleaner to cook.

      Even ALP friends that came in contact with him all said he was a very nice man even if they disagreed with much of his policy.

      Noone will want to know Rudd after this election when he is unemployed and even the UN gig is gone given his proven deceit and poor character.  Lucky he has his wife with her cosy govt contracts.

    • Bart says:

      05:16pm | 01/06/10

      Like ripping into the flight attendant.
      Jennie, deceit and poor character is the UN’s motto. He will pass the UN test with flying colours and get paid millions for it. Makes me sick, at least he will be at home with the rest of his dictator tyrant mates.

    • Patrick says:

      03:01pm | 01/06/10

      Rudd is only after a UN job, give it to him NOW!

      Reply

    • Fisherman says:

      03:28pm | 01/06/10

      Will commercial fishermen be subject to the tax?
      As far as I can see there is little difference from mining the land for minerals than mining the sea for fish.
      So will it be taxed Kev?

      Reply

    • Ellis says:

      06:36pm | 01/06/10

      Would someone - anyone - please inform Krudd that you cannot Legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. Those are the words of Adrian Rogers in 1931 and just as true now as they were then. Who will rid me of this troublesome nincompoop who is sending this nation backwards at a rate of knots?

      Reply
 
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