19 February 2007

Rudd not keen on Canberra

| johnboy
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The Daily Telegraph has a story over the weekend on Kevin Rudd’s keenness to keep living in Brisbane’s Norman Park even if elected Prime Minister at the end of the year.

At least Kirribilli was already an official residence! John and Janette wouldn’t move because of the kids, Kevin won’t shift because it might upset his cat and dog???

(I reckon the dog would love the grounds at The Lodge myself)

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I wonder what the reaction would be if the British Prime Minister refused to live at 10 Downing St and the American president refused to live in the White House

The lodge was created in an era before high speed communication and (relatively) low cost airline travel as a mainstay for the PM. With todays technology the PM can effectively govern the country from anywhere so whilst it holds a historical signficance its practicalilty is somewhat limited these days.

The problem appears to be with Lodge resident, Roger the Roo.

Deadmandrinking2:40 pm 20 Feb 07

That’s it! I WILL not vote for anyone who won’t live in the Lodge – end of story. Forgetting of course, whether the leader in question is going to turn the tide of self-destruction that’s consuming the country.
But actually, in all seriousness, I do think it’s a little pussy not to move into an official residence when you’re elected prime minister. You’re running the country, for pete’s sake; who gives a rats whether your children will have to change schools or your cat and dog will have to shit elsewhere?

a little while back I heard there were plans to build a ‘new lodge’ for PM of the day down by the lake sort of in front of OPH – apparently the current lodge doesn’t really accommodate guests to standard and the dining room is far to small for entertaining.

…and the CT will headline:

‘Lodge rogerer ruts Rudd mutt’.

‘Shoo, Roo! Rudd mutt rogered at Lodge’.

I can see it now – front page Tele.

what’s the big deal, this happens with loads of big wigs these days. both the head of my current department and the head of the government agency i worked before this don’t live in canberra and instead get flown in and housed at dept/taxpayer expense for a few days each working week.

Heaves I think it has to do with Canberra folk being (somewhat understandably) sensitive to ‘Canberra bashing’, and therefore looking at a PM who is prepared to live here as supportive of Canberra’s role as the nation’s capital.
Two thoughts on this:
Could you imagine the US Prez not living in the White House?
What would be the additional security costs of Rudd (and Howard for that matter) shunning the Lodge?
Not one of Rudd’s most considered responses I feel…

Why is it such an issue with the PM living in the Lodge? I’ve never really understood it myself.

mbleh – the only people who care about the PM living in Canberra, is Canberrans. The majority of Australia doesn’t really care.

If he serves to drive up house prices though, bring out the welcome mat.

rudd is a smmoth operator.

he’ss drip honey in your ear for a vote.

he has more verbal twists and turns than any other pollie bar beattie.

if he shook my hand id count my fingers afterwards.

and reported on the ABC knobnut.

Well gosh, if it was in the Daily Telegraph it must be true.

Pillocks.

This of course assumes Ruddy wins.

Has anyone asked Costello where he’d want to reside, in the event that the man of steel hands over the reins?

So the dog and cat are more important to a potential leader of our nation than the people’s wishes – I’m sure anyone in private industry offered the pay and extra perks the PM’s job brings would compromise on a move to Canberra to gain the other. Let him live in BrisVegas (capital of the state that they say the election will be won or lost in, I note…), but reduce the cost of maintaining/yearly rent for The Lodge out of his pay, plus any associated extra travel from Banana Country to Canberra.

Don’t forget he has young kids as well Thumper, best to keep them in their school (the true believers will also say).

Absent Diane10:24 am 19 Feb 07

why not rent the lodge out… I heard a rumour once that tex perkins was actually living there.. but i suspected that was bullsht.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt10:18 am 19 Feb 07

Why don’t we sell the Lodge to developers for a crapload of $$, and use that to invest in high performing Asutralian shares. Then we can use the returns each year to pay for (part of) the costs of having a PM that commutes. If the PM wants to live in Canberra, the $$ can be used to rent somewhere nice.

Just an idea – I didn’t say it was a good one.

Reading a similar story in today’s CT, I had the impression Rudd is leaving the door open on this.

However, whether it’s the door to the Lodge, Kirribilli or the Norman Park mansion, remains to be seen…

And he’s right to worry about the cat & dog; the dog would be OK, but I can foresee a flat cat on Adelaide Avenue in due course.

Absent Diane9:16 am 19 Feb 07

Rudd is scum. He voted against stem cell research. Stay out of our city I say.

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