I didn't attack Rudd, Corbett says

RBA Board member Roger Corbett says his comments about Kevin Rudd destabilising the Labor Party were appropriate.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaking during Question Time

Labor made a mistake in switching leaders so late in the election cycle, a leading businessman says. (AAP)

Reserve Bank board member Roger Corbett has defended his criticism of Kevin Rudd as "entirely" appropriate but denies attacking the prime minister on national TV.

Mr Corbett caused a storm in the final week of the election campaign when on ABC's Lateline he criticised Mr Rudd for doing "enormous damage" and destabilising the ALP since being deposed in 2010.

"I don't think the Australian people will cop that," he said on Tuesday.

The prime minister on Wednesday brushed off the comments, saying Mr Corbett was free to speak his mind.

However, revelations Mr Corbett was a Liberal Party member prompted Labor's Doug Cameron to call for his resignation from the RBA board.

"He should not be there when he's running an agenda for the Liberal party," Senator Cameron told ABC Television.

"He has been absolutely deceitful and he should resign."

A guest at a $550-a-head Liberal fundraising dinner in Sydney on Wednesday night, Mr Corbett would not comment when asked about the calls for his resignation.

But the businessman did say: "I didn't attack Mr Rudd.

"I made the comments and I stand by those comments," he told reporters.

"I have nothing further to say."

He said it was "entirely" appropriate to have made the criticisms of Mr Rudd.


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Source: AAP


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