Herald Sun (Australia)
"A LABOR insider lifts the lid on the Rudd Government. What he claims explains the venom of the attacks against Kevin Rudd this week.
EARLY last year, a former Rudd government insider sat down to write about the experience. The resulting document - he called it "a reflection in all seriousness once the period of madness was over" - has never been published. But in the current climate, in which Kevin Rudd's behaviour as prime minister has become the central issue in Labor's bitter leadership contest, it makes fascinating reading.The author, who operated in a key role and observed much of the discussion and decision making, says he would not have bothered to set down his recollections "except that they are such a powerful warning for future governments". His starting point is that "the Rudd government was never, and could never have been, a functional government because of the man who ran it". .....There is a section on "the culture of blame and fear throughout the government", claiming that Rudd's angry treatment of staff and public servants was very calculated.
"We all knew of advisers being 'put in the freezer' for crossing their boss. It was childish to watch - he would refuse to look at them in meetings and simply ignore anything they said until they gave up and quit or made amends.
"In this way he ensured he got obedience, but at the cost, of course, of getting proper advice."
ED: Gordon Brown mk 2
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