What we're talking about

Mat on 'They'd never be in a Bruce Willis ... Shows what sort of society we've become when people want someone dead just so they're no longer inconvenienced. more
Cheryl on 'They'd never be in a Bruce Willis ... Doesn't he know we lose interest in news stories quickly these days, shoot him and get to another story, lol more
M. on 'They'd never be in a Bruce Willis ... A lethal weapon reference Derryn? Getting too old for this s--t. more
Al Capone on 'They'd never be in a Bruce Willis ... First of all the person who provided comment on this issue under the name of Al Capone presented through the Sly Fact File ... more
Mylene on 'They'd never be in a Bruce Willis ... What would Mick Miller have done? :p more
Put This Baddy in the Binse on 'They'd never be in a Bruce Willis ... This is beyond a joke, people want to get home to their places, this nasty man is delaying people's lives.The police should ... more
garry on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' i dont care to much for craig thomson but as long as he is there, workchoices is not and thats a great thing. more
Mylene on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Hinch is just mad that Craig Thomson quoted To Kill a Mockingbird instead of Death in Newport or The Ultimate Guide to ... more
The Anti Corruption Barbeque on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Every Australian citizen is currently very concerned with the direction our nation has taken over the last decade and the ... more
Janesse Hurd on Heartbreaking plea to stay with Mum Please lend your Voice and Support to the Four Queensland Sisters......"Kids Without Voices".... for the Benefit and Safety ... more
Steve on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Jason think you'll find he has already been judged by an independant body put in place by his boss. Or are Work Fair ... more
Geoff Mathers on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Wonder who paid for Thompson's legal script writers?Would have cost plenty. If he's no longer a member of the Labour Party, ... more
jason on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Stop trying a man before he's even gone through the legal process. You're acting like a loose lynch-mob, and degrading ... more
Al Capone on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' I sincerely hope both of the major parties realise what is at stake here. Both parties are currently teetering on the ... more
Steve on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' If he knew he was being set up why sign off the expenses? I only had taxi driver put through a trip I did not take and I ... more
Skeptic on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Thomson looked more rehearsed than a Kabuki actor... more
Senga on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' YOU got Addicted to Corruption, Craig Thomson.Because the system in the goverment is so easy to rort there aren't very many ... more
Kate on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' Any non profit organisation like a union would still be accountable to it's members. Credit Card Statements are issued ... more
Jonathon L Benson on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' I trust the Victoria Police and poor ole NSW ones too and the Taxation Department will pursue this joker and put him before ... more
mark on 'Craig, you’re no Atticus Finch' craig is a federal politition ,we have to believe him more

You never call me, Kevin?

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 21 February, 2012 - 6:03 PM

As this political arm-wrestle between Gillard and Rudd continues there is one question that none of us can get an answer to.

Forget the posturing through the media. ‘You go first’ and ‘no, I dare you, you go first’ My question is: When did the Australian Prime Minister and the Australian Foreign Minister last actually speak to each other? In person or even on the phone?

The last proof of any physical contact was in the middle of last year when they had that awkward, handshake turned into an air-kiss, when Julia Gillard was being congratulated by her mob and the Greens for getting the Carbon Tax through the Lower House.

Simon Crean, a member of the dumped Labor leaders’ club, told Mitchell yesterday that the PM should carpet Kevin Rudd and either pull him into line or sack him.

Apparently she has decided against that saying she’s doing her job and Rudd is doing his job. Sounds like she is in denial.

But this lack of communication is a major worry. The relationship between a PM and his or her Foreign Minister is the second most important pairing after that between a PM and the Treasurer.

For most of their terms Hawke and Keating and Howard and Costello were the Bobsie Twins.

But in times of international conflict the relationship between a country’s leader and the Foreign Affairs Department is crucial.

I’m not suggesting a ‘Hi Kev, it’s Jools’ sort of call from The Lodge to a Mexican cantina but it would seem that Rudd and Gillard aren’t even picking up the phone and talking about the carnage, the bloodshed, in Syria. Gillard didn’t even brief Rudd about the government’s change in attitude towards uranium sales to India and, I think, Rudd was in India at the time.

I presume apparatchiks in their offices pass on messages: ‘Tell so and so such and such’. Or these days it’s more likely to be ‘ tell the so-and-so…’

According to a report this morning Gillard’s people call Rudd ‘ that C---‘ and Rudd’s people call the Prime Minister ‘ the Bitch’. Charming way to run a country.

This is why one of them has to call a showdown. In coach John Kennedy’s famous words: ‘ Do something!’

In more practical terms: Pick up the bloody phone. One way or t’other get it over with.

PLAY: Nicholas Stuart, author of Kevin Rudd: An Unauthorised Political Biography on 3AW Drive

'The filly's not looking good'

HINCH BLOG: "And when the PM unveiled the biggest projected $5 billion shakeup of our education system, the most-talked about question was: Will you be around next week, let alone next month or next year, to implement it?"

'Australia deserves better'

UPDATE: Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has jetted off to Mexico, but not before division in the ALP reached a fever-pitch over the weekend. A video was leaked on YouTube showing Kevin Rudd angrily swearing while he was Prime Minister.

Blog comments

Shame on on Gillard SHAME SHAME, the world is watching and you are dragging us all in the %$*$ with you. Go peacefully now PLEASE.

Alex Thursday 23 February, 2012 - 1:06 PM
They are just acting like spoilt little brats who are fighting for an ice cream. Like those brats, they will find that while they were fighting, the prize has melted away.

David T. Wednesday 22 February, 2012 - 2:42 PM
Why is Crean so keen to see Rudd gone? It's no secret that Crean thinks Juliar is useless. Could it be that Crean wants Juliar to do his dirty work so that when he knifes her, he has a clear running track? Interesting place that Canberra and by the way who is running the country whilst all this rubbish is goping on?

Alf Wednesday 22 February, 2012 - 8:42 AM
If this is true lets face it they couldn't run the country when they were speaking so what chance now!!

Steve Wednesday 22 February, 2012 - 8:10 AM
Is this news? Why is it here, it's not interesting at all. Speculative news is not what news is.

Mark Tuesday 21 February, 2012 - 9:04 PM
Why else would he have the foreign Minister job.. as far away as possible!!!

DavidR Tuesday 21 February, 2012 - 6:53 PM