Kevin Rudd News: Rudd Family Hurt at Rudeness Claim; Rudd Says Abbott’s Temperament on Syria is Dubious
As a result of reports that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was rude to make-up artist Lily Fontana, the Rudd family was saddened by allegations of rudeness.
Ms Fontanta posted this on her Facebook account after she attended to Mr Rudd's make-up need in one of the campaign debates:
"Just finished doing Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott's makeup for the People's Forum at the Broncos Leagues Club. One of them was absolutely lovely, engaged in genuine conversation with me, acknowledge[d] that I had a job to do and was very appreciative," she said on her page, which is public. "The other did the exact opposite! Oh boy, I have [n]ever had anyone treat me so badly whilst trying to do my job. Political opinions aside...from one human being to another...Mr Abbott, you win hands down."
Mr Rudd said that "rude" remarks that circulated after Ms Fonatna's Facebook status were hurting his wife and children. He also hoped that the Australian people will not believe such accusations.
"It knocks you around a bit, that's the truth of it, because we are all human beings. Anyone who has worked with me closely for a period of time will have a conclusion that is vastly different to what is run in Liberal Party political advertisements. What really grates on you is when it is fundamentally untrue, just a complete bald-face lie, not even an exaggeration, which I am used to. Therese and the kids, they are human beings too," Mr Rudd said during an interview with Seven Network.
In a much important issue, Mr Rudd said that it is Tony Abbott's temperament which is dubious at this point, in relation to dealing with foreign issues, specifically to that of Syria.
"This stuff is complex and in diplomacy, words are bullets and you've just got to remember that. There are, in my judgement, difficult times which lie ahead. And I sometimes question, I really do question, having known Mr Abbott for a long, long time, whether he really has the temperament for that sort of thing. Because you have to sit back, think, calmly reflect and then work through what the best decisions is. And temperament and judgement and experience are quite important. Sometimes I find in him a bit of an impulsive nature. That is, rushing ahead to a judgement...."
"He's been in parliament for 20 years, 19 of which he was the great pugilist, you know. In the last 12 months he's suddenly become the statesman. So the Tony Abbott that I know, having served 15 years in the parliament with him, is of a different nature."
"I don't challenge Mr Howard's temperament on those questions, I wouldn't challenge even Malcolm Turnbull's temperament on these sort of questions because he has a degree of background in dealing with these complex questions. But I think Mr Abbott is a little different," Mr Rudd explained through the interview with Seven Network.