Rudd 'PM in exile', says Bishop

14 Sep 2010, 7:37 am   -   Source: AAP
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The now infamous 'reconciliation' moment. (AAP)

The now infamous 'reconciliation' moment. (AAP)

Newly appointed foreign minister Kevin Rudd, set to fly to the US, is acting as Australia's prime minister in exile, opposition counterpart Julie Bishop says.

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Newly appointed foreign minister Kevin Rudd is acting as Australia's prime minister in exile, opposition counterpart Julie Bishop says.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave Mr Rudd the portfolio on Saturday, after deposing him from the top job in June.

The Queensland frontbencher and his Labor colleagues will be sworn in to their new roles in Canberra on Tuesday.

Then he'll head to the US later this week to meet senior officials in the Obama administration and attend the UN General Assembly.

Ms Bishop said Mr Rudd appeared to be picking up where he left off as prime minister.

"I understand that the UN requested world leaders to attend the General Assembly meeting," she told ABC radio.

"Mr Rudd clearly sees himself as Australia's prime minister in exile."

While it was appropriate for the foreign minister to travel abroad and attend high-level meetings, Ms Bishop said Mr Rudd's hasty departure showed there were tensions within the Labor Party.

"What possible authority can Julia Gillard assert over Kevin Rudd?" she asked.

"The relationship between the prime minister and the foreign minister s fractured at best."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is expected to announce his frontbench later in the day or on Wednesday.
 

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Your Comments

WHAT THE?

GG5 - from East Fremantle, 2 years ago

Yet another in depth, profound statement by the smirking, frozen expressioned, walking designer clothes horse - Julie Bishop. What is it with this woman-there never seems to be anything of worth being uttered by her- little, if anything, to do with her port folio & she is being paid big bucks by tax payers money to keep on sprouting innane comments. She is pathetic as a parliamentarian. Rudd kicks arse on her as a Foreign Minister-something hopefully she never gets the opportunity to be.

bishop

oncewas - from bribie island, 2 years ago

This person is our alternative Foreign Minister? God help us. She is toxic with a capital T. That is a worse prospect than T Abbot as PM.How about a bit of co-operation to get the country running properly instead of trying to white-ant the government by playing the attack dog every time you open your mouth?

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