Kevin Rudd

Kevin Michael Rudd, AC (born 21 September 1957) was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the federal Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was reinstated as leader of the party in June 2013, following a leadership challenge.

Rudd in 2010

Quotes

2002

• Labor has a universal position of opposition to the death penalty both at home and abroad... It is not possible in our view to be selective in the application of this policy.
  • ALP in 'me-too' policy mess over death penalty. The Age (10 October 2007). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
  • Statement made in 2002.

• ... no diplomatic intervention will ever be made by any government that I lead in support of any individual terrorist's life. We have only indicated in the past, and will maintain a policy in the future, of intervening diplomatically in support of Australian nationals who face capital sentences abroad.
  • ALP in 'me-too' policy mess over death penalty
  • Response to a backlash following statements made by Robert McClelland, days before the fifth anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombings, who said that Labor would campaign internationally to stop executions of terrorists.

2003

• John Howard's credibility on the entire Iraq war has been torpedoed by John Howard's own intelligence agency.
  • Howard under fire over Iraq. CNN (17 July 2003). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
  • Criticism of Australia's involvement in the 2003 Iraq War, and that of the Office of National Assessments.

2006

• Everyone's entitled to their point of view but that's seriously a weird one.
  • Attacks on Abbott cheap and nasty, says Pell. The Age (15 February 2006). Retrieved on 27 March 2019.
  • Response to Liberal MP Danna Vale's comment that Australia's rising abortion rate indicated that it might become a Muslim nation in 50 years.

• [But] we should not be kowtowing to anybody when it comes to freedom in this country.
  • Mainstream media takes a cautious line over blasphemous cartoons. Sydney Morning Herald (7 February 2006). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
  • Response to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, and whether publishing the cartoons would be appropriate in Australian media outlets.

• If he has any self-respect he would resign over this matter, the negligence is so gross.
  • Cole has no power to find against ministers: Rudd. Lateline. ABC TV (10 April 2006). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
  • Regarding then deputy prime minister Mark Vaile's evidence at the Cole Inquiry, following the Australian Wheat Board's 'oil for food' scandal.

• This goes to demonstrate the fact that John Howard established this inquiry in order to bring about his own absolution, not to bring about any form of accountability.
  • Labor says outcome of inquiry is stacked. The Advertiser (13 April 2006). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
  • Response to John Howard's interview with the Cole Inquiry.

• We have seen this complete right wing takeover of modern liberalism, and it is an ugly spectacle to behold.
  • Rudd's first speech as Labor leader
  • Speaking of John Howard's Liberal government.

• When you analyse it carefully, it is about a family’s ability to stay together and have time together. We all know, with our fractured lives in this place, how difficult it becomes when we as human beings cannot spend time with one another. However, the problem is that these industrial relations laws now set that disease in place right across the nation in every workplace, in every part of the country. What I fear most of all is the ultimate impact of this on the fabric of Australian family life.
  • Rudd's first speech as Labor leader
  • Speaking of the Workchoices Act introduced by the Howard government in March 2006.

• Labor’s message then is this: we believe in a strong economy; we believe also in a fair go for all, not just for some.
  • Rudd's first speech as Labor leader

• I say to those opposite: we intend to prevail in this battle of ideas, on the ground, right through to the next election. We intend to prevail.
  • Rudd's first speech as Labor leader

• Compassion is not a dirty word. Compassion is not a sign of weakness. In my view, compassion in politics and in public policy is in fact a hallmark of great strength. It is a hallmark of a society which has about it a decency which speaks for itself.
  • Rudd's first speech as Labor leader. The Australian (5 December 2006). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.

• When it comes to labour market reform, here's the difference between us and John Howard: John Howard regards labour as just like any other economic commodity. We actually see labour as made up of human beings. These are human beings with an intrinsic dignity. When they go to the workplace, they're not just like a lump of wood or a piece of coal, these are human beings, and they should be treated properly as people with intrinsic rights.
  • Rudd's new vision for the nation. ABC Local Radio (5 December 2006). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.

• The major challenges of climate change, the major challenge of the economy and manufacturing, the major challenges in education, and how do we turbo-charge our national education system to create the knowledge base for the future of the Australian economy. These are the sorts of areas that you're going to see detailed policy plans from us in the weeks and months ahead...
  • Rudd's new vision for the nation. ABC Local Radio (5 December 2006). Retrieved on 13 February 2008.

2007

• My name is Kevin, I'm from Queensland, and I'm here to help.
  • "World briefing: Too clever by half: Australia's quarrel with its new PM" Simon Tisdall. The Guardian. London (UK): 9 April 2008. pg. 17
  • Address to the Labor Party conference, 2007

2009

• That means temporary borrowings. People have to understand that because there's going to be the usual political shit storm, sorry, political storm.
  • Rudd 'slip-up' creates a 'shit storm'. The Sydney Morning Herald (9 March 2009). Retrieved on 22 April 2009.
  • On borrowing money during the Late-2000s recession. The remark became infamous, with many believing that the line (and use of a swear word) was scripted.

• It is unlikely that you'll have anything emerge from MEF (Major Economies Forum) by way of detailed programmatic specificity.
  • Rudd bamboozles Germans with 'programmatic specificity'. Perth Now (9 July 2009). Retrieved on 15 November 2013.
  • Addressing the German press and Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, 2009

• I actually believe in a big Australia - I make no apology for that. I actually think it's good news that our population is growing.
  • Rudd welcomes 'big Australia'. ABC (23 October 2009). Retrieved on 18 April 2022.

2010

• There's nothing like having a bit of somebody else in you.
  • Kevin Rudd repeatedly breaks down during farewell speech. w:The Age (24 June 2010). Retrieved on 24 June 2010.
  • When speaking about organ transplants in his final address as Prime Minister on 24 June 2010.