Dfat
So Kevin Rudd reckons he’s a better bet to captain the Brisbane Broncos than run for Prime Minister again.
Julia Gillard, who once laughed off her Lodge aspirations by claiming she was more chance to play for the Western Bulldogs, could be forgiven for taking that as a declaration of war.
From earthquakes and tsunamis to violent insurrection in the Middle East, 2011 has borne witness to enormous devastation – which, while tragic for those involved – has certainly enabled Rudd as Foreign Minister to suddenly become more ubiquitous on Australian television than the Daddo brothers.
One step forward, one step back. Elation, tempered by frustration.
These are the yin and yang senses in the Gillard camp as the PM flies back to Australia today following what should have been an unqualified triumph: a full White House reception extending to a schools visit, an address to a joint sitting of the US Congress, and meetings with all the key figures including the United Nations, General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon.
But for the still new-at-the-job Julia Gillard, struggling to stamp her authority on the prime ministership at home and abroad, Kevin Rudd, the man she displaced last June, remains a fly in the ointment.
Continue reading "Gillard is still struggling to clip Rudd’s wings" »
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stave says:
Ive been mulling over what to do with Rudd, hes a loose cannon, he wont behave or step in line. I thought assasination of character would work. If the she can leak some stuff that will make Rudd look bad, she could get some traction and possible get others to… Read more »
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jg says:
FFS Gilliard. You are the PM of Australia. Show some guts and leadership and pull this egotistical meglomaniac into line. Read more »
How many people who describe asylum seekers as queue jumpers, “illegals” or part of some terrorist conspiracy have ever actually met an asylum seeker, and tried to work out whether it’s true?
Given that we don’t actually have many asylum seekers in Australia, chances are it’s very few.
Why not talk to an asylum seeker? Pick one who’s exhausted their appeal, who’s now waiting at Villawood. Ask them why they’re now so desperate, that they go on hunger strikes, or they sew up their lips. Ask them whether they’ve actually had a fair hearing.
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Katie says:
Yes Gavin, I’m sure they come here for the welfare payments. (Even though the immigrants I know work harder than most Aussies.) It’s got nothing to do with not wanting to be shot. I call troll! Read more »
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Katie says:
I’m very interested to know where that 65% statistic came from… valid links please thatmosis? Read more »
餵。我的名字是凱文，我有一個非常大的問題 (Translation: Hello, my name is Kevin and I have a very big problem).
Oh how Kevin Rudd must be wishing right now for a dirty stoush with, oh, let’s say Malaysia, or Indonesia, or even better, one of the African nations.
How terribly unlucky for the Prime Minister that his first bona fide diplomatic crisis involves China. Our man in Beijing is facing calls to personally intervene in the case of Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, who’s being held without charge by Chinese authorities on suspicion of commercial espionage.
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Miantiao says:
Australians are breaking laws all over the world in the service of Australia’s national interest. Such people are called ‘assets’ and form a vital part in.Australia’s efforts to get the best possible trade outcomes. Every nation does this, its no secret. Hu is not one of them, but he may… Read more »
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Tory Maguire says:
Wow Paul - you’re the first person who’s ever made that joke about my name, or at least the first person in the past 10 minutes. Genius. Read more »
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