Kevin Rudd’s alienation of his colleagues and factional powerbrokers was so great that the end of his popularity meant the end of his prime ministership. Telling backbenchers “I don’t give a fuck what you fuckers think,” probably wasn’t the best start, write Bernard Keane and Paul Barry.
Night of the long knives
No night of the long knives for senior public servants
Despite some expressing pre-election scepticism, there was no night of the long knives for senior public servants from the Rudd government, now embarked on its project of “restoring Westminster”, writes Mark Bahnisch.
Tips and rumours
Among the Secretaries that might be contemplating “The Night of the Long Knives” you forgot to mention Nick Warner in Defence. As a former worker in the PM’s Office he must be a candidate for the chop. Interestingly, word has it that he might be very glad of such an excuse to walk away from […]
Springtime for bureaucrats (winter for Boxall and Bennett)
It’s officially Spring, and in Canberra that means venturing out of doors after winter hibernation, enjoying the longer days and watching your garden come to life. Except, this being an election year, there’s a special buzz of uncertainty in the air around the capital.
