High flying Kevvie

by Odessa Koblenski

When the fiercely loyal Julia Gillard stabbed her Leader and PM Kevin Rudd in the back to take the top job, she famously issued the excuse that the government had “lost its way”.

Perhaps she was right. Rudd’s government was all over the place and since he was dumped as Foreign Minister after being dumped as PM he seems to be on a global quest to try and find out just where it went.

The disclosure that he has travelled the equivalent of more than half-way to the moon – 205,000 km and more than 45,000 km more than Julia herself – in the past year is not surprising. After all, very few people in Australia bother listening to him so he must, of necessity, journey afar to find an appreciative audience.

Back in September 2011 while he was still Foreign Minister, he created the enviable record of a new international benchmark for travel by Foreign Ministers – even more than the then US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton – and in his first nine months as Foreign Minister his travel bill was more than $1 million. It was then that Julia told him to “reign in” his travel expenses.

Just why anybody – Julia included – would think that the world is not a better place for all of Kev’s lectures, speeches and appearances is quite beyond me. I’m pea green with envy since I have not been afforded the opportunity to touch the hem of his garment. Perhaps I should get out more.

A spokesman for our world traveller said that he actually only accepts about ten per cent of all global invitations – well, there is a physical limit even for Kev who, regrettably, has to do boring things like sit in Parliament and help prop up Julia’s regime. 

And, it should be noted, his trips nowadays are paid for by others. 

However, just why the Business Council of British Columbia in Canada felt the need to fly him to China to address the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University in Beijing puzzles me. I wonder if he reminded the future communist troops of his observation as PM at the December 2009 Copenhagen climate change conference that, “Those Chinese f@#!ers are trying to rat-f@#! us.”  

At last count there were six former Canadian Prime Ministers alive and even possibly kicking including their first – and, so far only – female Prime Minister Kim Campbell’. I’m sure they would leap at the chance of promoting the British Columbia businesses courtesy of an all-expenses trip to Beijing.

Incidentally, Ms Campbell bravely led her government into the 1993 election with the confident prediction of victory and emerged with only two MPs. A staggering 154 government members, including Ms Campbell, lost their seats.

It is an example that we could do no better than emulate in September.

The Business Council of British Columbia probably don’t know that Kev wouldn’t have been promoting their case to the comrades one little bit at all because, according to his spokesperson, when Kev travels he “also promotes the export interests of businesses in his electorate of Griffith” which is very nice of him. 

The Australian Electoral Commission describes Griffith as “mostly residential with some food processing a light industry” kind of place and I have heard a rumour to the effect that a local florist – to cite but one example - has been overwhelmed with orders from all sorts exotic places his local MP has visited. I also understand that a local butcher can’t keep up with international demand for his special pork sausages – in fact, Kev is apparently so good at promoting this business, the butcher is flat out sending container loads of these sausages to Saudi Arabia.

One does hope that Kev’s behaviour on international airlines is somewhat better than it was on at least one occasion on a RAAF VIP flight when he was PM when he abused a hapless female cabin attendant so much for not delivering the meal he wanted that she burst into tears. Later, he made a rather grudging apology saying somewhat disingenuously, “I’m only human.”

When it comes to how a PM should treat female staff on VIP aircraft, I do prefer the story about PM John Gorton – a World War 11 fighter pilot – who climbed about a RAAF VIP aircraft tired and emotional after a particularly tiring and emotional day in Melbourne whereupon he promptly threw up.

Rightly ashamed of himself, the Hon John shamefacedly said to the female cabinet attendant, “I suppose it surprises you that an ex-RAAF man gets airsick.”

“Yes, Prime Minister,” replied the attendant, “Especially since we haven’t even taken off yet.”

Gorton told that story about himself; Rudd’s chief PR flack originally flatly denied the abuse episode.

It says quite a lot about those who like to think they are a man of the people.

Comments

[Jim Witt]

1.

Kevvie is looking more like Mr Magoo every day, and appears to have similar eyesight when looking at his own importance. Hmmm, wonder if it has anything to do with excessive radiation exposure on all those high altitude international flights.

[oldskool]

2.

The whole K rudd thing is very sad. When he was voted in it was ok for 6 months he initiated some good things like tackling binge drinking, stolen generation etc

But really he is an idiot who possibly only had a few good ideas that ran out after 6 months and had nothing to anchor to

Julia has taken over with no narrative and is all over the shop with policy

Possibly with Mark Latham, rudd, gillard- the fact is Labor are a bunch of baffoons who have no idea

[James (SA)]

3.

"tackling..stolen generation"? Really?

Pray tell, who were they that made up an entire generation? A list of names would be a useful start.

Then, what is the "etc"? Another list, please.

"A few good ideas"? One is a furphy, the others seem to be buried in the "etc". Not very convincing. Not very old-school.

[kraka]

4.

Jut read on another blog that the latest Newspoll is 58-42.ALP down to 30%. Not sure if this is guesswork or someone on the inside. Will find out in a couple of hours.