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Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says Graham Richardson is just missing the public spotlight. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has launched a bitter attack on former Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson, saying he is suffering from “relevance deprivation syndrome”.
Mr Rudd, who Mr Richardson says is working to seize the prime ministership from Julia Gillard, went on to accuse him of “taking hundreds of thousands of dollars” to “bag” the ALP.
On Wednesday Mr Richardson, who previously claimed Ms Gillard was “finished” as prime minister, named two ALP backbenchers he said were behind the push to have Mr Rudd reinstalled as leader.
He said Victorian MP Alan Griffin and West Australian Mark Bishop were heavily involved, with Mr Griffin “leading the push”.
”He’s doing a lot of the telephoning, a lot of the ringing around. He’s a very clever operator this bloke, no fool,” Mr Richardson said.
Today, Mr Rudd confirmed that he and “Griffo” have been friends for “about 10 years”.
“In the last couple of months I’ve probably seen Griffo twice, probably about a month ago I saw him and I saw him this week in Melbourne. I see a lot of people,” Mr Rudd told reporters.
Mr Richardson, who retired from politics in 1994 citing ill health, has recently increased his profile as a political commentator with outspoken comments and his own television show on Sky News.
In a newspaper column today Mr Richardson accused Mr Rudd of having experience in undermining leaders and of “treachery that brought the Gillard [election] campaign to its knees last year”.
Mr Rudd says Mr Richardson has missed the public spotlight and wants it back.
“There’s a thing in politics called relevance deprivation syndrome. Is Mr Richardson suffering from that?” Mr Rudd asked rhetorically.
“Probably,” he answered.
“Is Mr Richardson taking hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in salaries to go out there and bag the Labor Party and the Labor government every day? Probably. In fact, definitely.”
Downfall
Mr Rudd also took the opportunity to slam Labor’s factional bosses who he has always blamed for his downfall.
“Is Mr Richardson doing as he’s always done in the past and acting as some sort of unofficial spokesman for the factional bullies in our party who try to control it from time to time? Undoubtedly.”
He said Mr Richardson’s observations about him in the newspaper column are “water off a duck’s back”.
Mr Rudd has been active in travelling to various electorates since he recovered from a heart valve operation in August – today he was in Justine Elliot’s electorate of Richmond on New South Wales north coast.
Asked if the visit was part of a leadership campaign, Mr Rudd said Ms Elliot had been inviting him to the electorate for a long time – and it was not far to travel from Brisbane.
“What I’ve been doing for the last week with many of our local members across the country is explaining what we are doing in the aid portfolio, given that many, many Australians are deeply concerned about what’s happening in the Horn of Africa.”
Topics:
alp,
government-and-politics,
federal-government,
political-parties,
rudd-kevin,
australia
First posted
Comments (48)
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ABC (Moderator):
07 Oct 2011 3:30:19pm
Do you think Kevin Rudd’s comments are fair?
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Adam:
07 Oct 2011 3:39:11pm
Sort of. Richo isn’t really a labor loyalist anymore so I think he’s right on that point. But Richo is dead right Rudd is working to destabilise Gillard, that much is obvious. Rudd’s just upset that Richo’s publicly named his numbers men.
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Paul:
07 Oct 2011 3:45:39pm
Yes.
Many wonderful things have come out of the US, this style of “news” perpetrated on the public by Sky or Fox or whatever you want to call is not one of them.
Sky “news” like its US counterpart Fox “news” is about making money and it never lets the facts get in the way of making a good profit.
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hertie:
07 Oct 2011 3:50:06pm
I think they’re spot on!!
Perhaps he could have squashed this nonsense a while back though. -
Sharon:
07 Oct 2011 3:54:07pm
Mr Rudd is absolutely right in putting “Richo” back in his box. The former ALP minister is not doing the party any favours by stirring leadership speculation at a time when the PM needs all the support she can get.
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Anonymous Academic:
07 Oct 2011 4:00:48pm
Richardson does appear to be the most self-serving and self-promoting ALP commentator.
He has, on several occasions, been responsible for coordinating leadership challenges and shuffles and – when they turn sour – bears no responsibility for them.
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jaycee:
07 Oct 2011 3:36:23pm
I said it before and I’ll say it again : If “Richo” hadn’t been picked up by the labor Party and given a career in politics, he could’ve been spotted on Redfern station, carpet-bag in one hand and a one-way ticket to the Silver City in the other!
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Ford:
07 Oct 2011 3:37:55pm
Who was Richardson exactly, an ex-MP?
Ex-union boss?
Former powerbroker seems to just be a bit of a meaningless buzz word.
He seems to fall into the Ellis category of people who jibber jabber lots but have never actually done or achieved anything of note? -
Si:
07 Oct 2011 3:39:14pm
I always get the feeling you get when a married couple argue in front of you, when I see politicians carry on like this.
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Shane Guevara.:
07 Oct 2011 3:39:36pm
Absolutely spot on, Kev.
Graham Richardson substituted Labour values such as the fair go and decency for power play headkicking.
If the Labour Party is in such demise today it is because of the likes of “Richo”. (Apologies to Matty)
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rudi:
07 Oct 2011 3:40:46pm
Richardson is paid to bag the ALP by the News Ltd. Money talks you know. He’s a de facto coalition member I guess.
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Ravensclaw:
07 Oct 2011 3:41:47pm
Of course Mr Rudd is angry at Mr Richardson.
The primeministership is still a poison chalice thanks to the carbon tax being inflicted on Australia despite the promise to the community and mandate from the community that there should be no such thing.
If Rudd is going to come back as leader it will have to be just before an election for him to get any traction. Much of the public’s lack of confidence in the Federal Labor Govt is thanks as much to Mr Rudd’s abysmal leadership as Ms Gillard’s.
Kevin Rudd is of course being a happy vegemite being PM errr… Foreign Minister.
Cheers
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LaSignora:
07 Oct 2011 3:41:51pm
Absolutely! Graham Richardson is a REALLY nasty piece of work . He is a grub.
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Ms H:
07 Oct 2011 3:42:04pm
I’d trust Rudd over Richo ANY day. Richo – who was associated with Renee Rivkin, and who famously said one should do ‘whatever it takes’ to obtain power, is not someone I consider trustworthy. He might be ‘savvy’ but does he have the interests of ordinary people at heart?
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Hermit:
07 Oct 2011 3:42:06pm
As Sir Humphrey would say, never believe anything until it has been officially denied.
Asking himself questions and answering them with verbal sludge as always. A leopard does not change its spots. What was/is Labor thinking?
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rumpole2:
07 Oct 2011 3:42:14pm
“Do you think Kevin Rudd’s comments are fair?”
Yes, probably.
Aren’t we getting sick of hacks like Richardson stirring up every bit of muck they think is around to get publicity for himself and his employers ?
I certainly am
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Jacko:
07 Oct 2011 3:42:45pm
Rhichardson is what the Yanks term colloqually “A Benedict Arnold” No More No less.
I think he is just a Pain who wants to take his bat and go home because the rest of the team don’t want to play with a spoilt brat.
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Merv:
07 Oct 2011 3:43:31pm
I agree with Kev, think it takes one to know one, but Richardson really lacks all credibility and on screen persona is that of a Gus Gould – self important, self titled, self centred, self righteous look at me, look at me, I am Richo everyone will want to know what i think and the more sensational i make it the more channel 9 will pay me. Absolute tripe comes from this idiots mouth and Nine should get rid of him today to minimise the damage it is suffering and avoid a future train wreck that is currently waiting to happen.
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conservative:
07 Oct 2011 3:44:20pm
Not fair at all. Rudd is the one who has relevence deprivation syndrome. He was ousted because he was a dictator.
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Schnappi:
07 Oct 2011 3:44:59pm
Very fair comment,and think a lot of people likewise are thinking the same.richardson attacked the PM from day one.he is now a murdoch lackey,and likes the limelight .
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TDG:
07 Oct 2011 3:45:11pm
Can the Labor party please re-instate Gough Whitlam at PM?
Seriously, I voted for Rudd. Labor replaced him. It didn’t work out. Labour is putting him back. Can the puppet masters please reveal themselves or do we have to just keep watching this slow motion party train wreck?
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ellicat:
07 Oct 2011 3:46:14pm
It seems obvious from his comments that he does not yet have the numbers and does not ever expect to get them. What better way to let off some of the repressed aggression than to have a stab at Richo.
The style of asking himself a question and then answering it is a good reminder of what a troublesome politician he is/was. Although that style is preferred over Gillard’s failure to answer any question. She rather just recites what the standard line is over and over even when it doesn’t fit the question. Very annoying, but now somehow quite amusing .
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Funnyserious:
07 Oct 2011 3:46:18pm
Does it really matter, the ALP is self destructing. Did I read somewhere that if an election had been held in the last few weeks Kevin Rudd would be the only front bencher to hold his seat. Maybe he likes the thought of being the leader of the opposition.
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J.G. Cole:
07 Oct 2011 3:46:18pm
Richardson is the very worst of traitors – unprincipled, juvenile and cowardly.
He forgave neither Hawke nor Keating for their accurate assessment of both his Machiavellian personality and dubious capabilities.Both men have been proved correct in their estimations.
Sky News seems the perfect warm bosom for his dummy spits and prostituted opinions.
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Freedom of Speech:
07 Oct 2011 3:46:43pm
who would trust Graham Richardson anyway, he is renown for disembling information in order to achieve his objectives – whatever it takes
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Charles Williams:
07 Oct 2011 3:46:52pm
I think Rudd was holding back some of the vitriol that Richo quite rightly deserves.
Since fleeing the spotlight, Richo has done nothing but undermine the ALP, all in the service of the utterly-discredited right-wing faction of the NSW ALP.
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Big M:
07 Oct 2011 3:47:25pm
Richo is the Lib’s biggest asset!
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JOD:
07 Oct 2011 3:48:59pm
Most definitely- Kevin Rudd is a very intelligent articulate speaker he is quite right here in this statement.
G. Richardson is a big mouth usually always causes trouble when he opens it. He is a backstabber!
He should go have a good hard look at himself grow some loyalty genes. Or is he being paid by “SOMEONE ELSE” behind the scenes!!!!!!!!!!!! -
lauriesienna:
07 Oct 2011 3:49:11pm
Whatever it takes.
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susie ball:
07 Oct 2011 3:49:15pm
I can see the demise of Graham Richardson. It has been obvious for awhile now …with him popping up all over the place.
What does happen emotionally to these guys ? They start to think that people actually enjoy listening to them. The media outlets encourage them to come on a show one after the other , write another column , say something else etc …and then their ego’s become so inflated that they stop talking intelligently and start to babble.
Is it because the babbling gets more attention? -
Patricia:
07 Oct 2011 3:52:19pm
Absolutely fair (and amusing)
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PrussianBlueDay:
07 Oct 2011 3:52:38pm
Do what it takes Richo has always had his eye on the main game …what’s good for Richo. Both Rudd and Gillard have integrity so am more inclined to consider their comments as fair.
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A Little Cynical:
07 Oct 2011 3:52:49pm
I’d suggest there’s a little bit of a and a little bit of b. Richo always like a little bit of publicity, but I’m not convinced Kevin ’11 wouldn’t mind another go… maybe the ALP would stand half a chance @ the next election.
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ng:
07 Oct 2011 3:55:01pm
Do I think his comments are fair? Probably.
Is he a little bit embarrassing? Sometimes.
Will he become PM again? I doubt it.
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Sercro:
07 Oct 2011 3:56:35pm
No. Pretty unlikely Richo is making all this up. By commenting on this Rudd is actively adding fuel to the fire. Gillard’s days are numbered. Worst PM and government in living memory.
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Economist2:
07 Oct 2011 3:56:47pm
Fair? That is not really the issue at hand.
Delusions? More likely. Rudd was unaware of his surrounds when he was PM.
Subliminal respond. Possibly, Rudd’s rhetoric could be a description of his own pain suffering acute “relevance deprivation syndrome”.
Symptoms? Rudd said he is very happy being PM….ops, FM.
Cognitive dissonance: Faceless men had second thoughts after installing the new PM; these powerbrokers are not fools but strategists. Rudd offends the faceless by his own good polling.
Denial: The ALP knows Gillard is Gone. Saving her PMship is like hoping Jesus Christ will be spared crucifixion. Remember the gathered crowd choose Abbott ops I mean Barabbas.
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Brisbane Voter:
07 Oct 2011 3:57:34pm
Absolutely.
I would vote Labor if Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister.
Not so sure if I will vote for Julia Gillard again. -
Bren:
07 Oct 2011 3:58:57pm
I think Rudds comments re richardson are fair and reasonable. You cannot stay in any form of media if you don’t report something and Richardson is not alone. It seems all Canberra across radio, print [News and Fairfax] and tv thinks something is on. Say it often and long enough and eventually they have to be right.
All aside, despite Rudd’s comments none of it means there is not a plot afoot to remove Gillard. I would ask Paul Howes or any other faceless man though, they make all the important decisions in the ALP. Not some ex politician. -
dsurte66:
07 Oct 2011 3:59:01pm
Richo has been too loud for too long its about time someone like Rudd put the boot into the mercenary, political hack of a commentator.
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Gordon O’Donnell:
07 Oct 2011 3:59:46pm
Don’t you just love how Kevin asks his own questions.
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AK:
07 Oct 2011 4:00:48pm
I am happy to stand corrected, but to my way of thinking Mr Richardson’s observations tend to be right much more frequently than they are wrong. That should be the greater concern for the Labor Party, and perhaps why everyone is trying to talk him down.
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mark:
07 Oct 2011 4:01:55pm
Yep… Richo is irrelevant.
and he has likely been in receipt of many sacks of money for selling out on ideals he never likely held with much conviction -
Paul:
07 Oct 2011 4:02:19pm
yes but only if he is 100% correct – nobody is convinced. Should have maintained the policy of ignoring such comments which cannot be proven instead of taking the bait and im sure Julia is currently laying the law down on this issue (or should be)
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Tom:
07 Oct 2011 4:03:49pm
Hurray. Glad Rudd responded.
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Tribune:
07 Oct 2011 4:06:06pm
Richardson is a pretty odious character anyway and any bagging of him is probably pretty fair – given his position in the ALP and his constant quite treacherous destablising of it, its probably fair for someone with political relevance such as Rudd give someone with none such as Richardson a serve such as this -which looks right on the money to me.
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Daryl:
07 Oct 2011 4:06:27pm
The truth hurts. Richo knows what he’s talking about and Rudd is a poser who has been caught out.
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Rachel:
07 Oct 2011 4:06:33pm
Relevance deprivation sydnrome? Absolutely! To suggest that Alan Griffin and Mark Bishop are ALP powerbrokers is an absolute joke. Neither of them could muster enough support to host a round of drinks at the Holy Grail let alone a leadership coup. C’mon Graham, you’ve got to come up with something more believable than that!
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Rutt:
07 Oct 2011 4:07:31pm
Any attacks against Richo are unfair, because there’s no way any number of people could match the bile he spews out onto the nation.