KRudd and that note
August 21, 2008I read with interest about a briefing note that was accidentally given to the media.
Apparently prepared three years ago and intended only for private use inside the Australian government, the frank and unflattering portrait of Miss Clark labels her views “generally left wing, with foreign policy perspectives forged during the Vietnam War”.
The article title reads “Rudd redfaced”. But the note was written 3 years ago, when Alexander Downer was Foreign Minister and John Howard was still Prime Minister. So I can’t see how the current Prime Minister has anything to be embarassed about if such “unflattering” opinions were harboured by the previous Government. Not to mention, both sides of politics have done it -
It is not the first time sensitive official Australian biographies have reached the public realm. Then treasurer Peter Costello was similarly embarrassed in 1997 when staff misplaced stinging written briefings on South Pacific leaders.
