Rudd too sensitive to media: Howard

When John Howard opposed the idea of Australia becoming a republic, he knew his view wasn't shared by most of the country's media.

If he didn't, Rupert Murdoch's The Daily Telegraph certainly drilled it home during 1998's Constitutional Convention to nut out a referendum on the issue.

The Sydney News Corp tabloid ran a photo of the former prime minister sitting on his own during the 10 days of deliberations.

The headline?

"Alone on the Queen's bench."

But Mr Howard didn't take it personally.

"It was a very clever headline," he quipped to a lunchtime audience in Sydney on Tuesday.

When petrol prices rose a few years later, the tabloid dressed him and then treasurer Peter Costello up as Middle Eastern oil tycoons.

"They had Peter Costello and me dressed up as Sheikhs, the implication we were responsible."

Mr Howard conceded he's had his ups and downs with the media.

"But you've just got to cop that in Australian politics."

Which is what he says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should do after the Telegraph led its Monday edition with a full-page photo of Mr Rudd and an editorial under the headline: "Kick this mob out".

Mr Rudd hit back, saying News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch had repeatedly made his political stance clear through his publications and public statements.

Mr Howard said his successor was "sensitive" for "whinging" so early on in an election campaign.

"One of the big mistakes this government made is to single out people in Rupert Murdoch's pretty successful business," he said.

"It's not good for our country, to have political leaders attacking individuals."

There are a healthy range of views in the media, which has more diversity than in the past, Mr Howard said.

"The argument for more control of the media is less now than it's ever been."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Monday denied the coalition had the support of News Corp.

"Over the years I've copped a fair bit of criticism from News Limited papers along with some support," Mr Abbott told ABC radio.