Rudd unsurprised by dramatic front page

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Rupert Murdoch has made his anti-Labor stance clear and his papers are free to say what they will.

A dramatic tabloid front page calling for Labor's removal from office comes as no surprise to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

On day one of the federal election campaign, Sydney News Corp publication The Daily 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 said News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch had repeatedly made his political stance clear through his publications and public statements.

"He wants to see the government removed and he wants to see Mr Abbott as prime minister," Mr Rudd told ABC radio on Monday.

"We have a free press in this country so Mr Murdoch's media is free to say what it will and of course we disagree with the proposition they put."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott 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.

He said other publications will "no doubt want to support the government".

"I know that there are some people in the Labor party who are paranoid about criticism, who see conspiracies against them, but the fact is some media outlets will be for the coalition and some will be against," he said.

The Telegraph's front page was slammed by senior minister Bill Shorten.

"If some vested interests want to see Labor thrown out, you've got to ask yourself 'why do they want that'?," Mr Shorten told ABC TV.

"Is it for the interests of the little person or is it for the interest of big business?"


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world