KEVIN Rudd has lost a six month battle to block the release of documents detailing his taxpayer-funded perks as an ex-PM including Julia Gillard’s offer of “the highest class of travel available”. 
 
Correspondence between Mr Rudd and his successor Julia Gillard has revealed for the first time the severance package that the ex Labor PM was offered for his ‘unfair dismissal’ as PM.

The deal was unusual because most ex-PMs leave Parliament before they are granted a ticket on the gravy train of entitlements available to national leaders.

Ms Gillard’s offer to Mr Rudd included three additional staffers on salaries over $100,000-a-year costing taxpayers around $400,000-a-year in total.

That cost did not include the cost of providing Mr Rudd with a second office in Brisbane’s CBD in addition to his electorate office and a range of other travel perks.

In a letter dated June, 2010, Ms Gillard also reassures the globetrotting ex-PM that he will secure access to a taxpayer-funded chauffeur and driver, a private-plated car, with the option of appointing a driver on his personal staff, plus access to existing ComCar pool transport. Overseas, Mr Rudd was also pledged access to cars at overseas posts but for specific journeys “rather than a dedicated on call service.’’

When Mr Rudd travelled as a backbencher, he was assured of being offered a travelling entitlement at the ministerial rate to ensure he could stay at more expensive hotels.

The standard range of entitlements available to former Prime Ministers also included second office separate from the electorate office, flights and spousal travel.

In Mr Rudd’s case, he opened a second office in Brisbane’s CBD a short drive away from his electorate base.

But the Rudd-Gillard deal also included a special deal for a taxpayer funded personal staffer on six figures for a period of 12 months.

The staffer, that Mr Rudd would not have been entitled to if Ms Gillard had not granted him the special deal, cost taxpayers around $120,000-a-year. This was to assist Mr Rudd with “transitional arrangements’’.

While Ms Gillard offered no objection to the release of the private correspondence following an Freedom of Information application by The Sunday Telegraph in February, Mr Rudd fought the application at every turn.

After the Department of PM & C confirmed their intention to release the documents and sent a letter to the parties outlining the reasons, the documents were mysteriously leaked to a rival media outlet last week, angering the Department.

Ms Gillard’s office confirmed it did not oppose the release of the documents or leak the documents prior to their official release in any way.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM & C) confirmed they also “did not disclose the documents or information in the documents’’.

Asked directly if his office had leaked the documents, Mr Rudd provided the following response:

“Mr Rudd’s office has no comment to make other than to underline the fact that the former Prime Minister’s office had, at the conclusion of the FOI process, not sought a formal review objecting to the release of the correspondence.”

That would have provided a final avenue for appeal after earlier objections.

In March, 2012, the documents show Ms Gillard wrote to Mr Rudd again after his first failed leadership coup stipulating his entitlements again but stipulated “unlimited travel by scheduled domestic services. at the cost of a business class fare.’’ The deal also included “a maximum of 40 domestic trips a year’’ to Canberra for his wife Therese Rein. This time, he also scored “unlimited postage for official purposes”.

But by June, 2013, it was Mr Rudd’s turn to write Ms Gillard a letter after he rolled her as PM. He offered her the same deal including up to 40 trips a year to Canberra for her partner Tim Mathieson. After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/labors-blood-money-kevin-rudds-secret-severance-deal-with-julia-gillard-laid-bare-in-foi-documents/story-fni0cx12-1227065120100

Quote:

That cost did not include the cost of providing Mr Rudd with a second office in Brisbane’s CBD in addition to his electorate office and a range of other travel perks.

Why the need for another office in addition to his electorate office? Was he taking on a second job or more work? What a waste!



Quote:

Ms Gillard’s offer to Mr Rudd included three additional staffers on salaries over $100,000-a-year costing taxpayers around $400,000-a-year in total.

Why the need for additional staffers on salaries over $100,000-a-year costing taxpayers around $400,000-a-year in total? Were his electoral office staff not up to the job? Was he doing some other job we don't know about? Perhaps they were high-priced hairdressers and cooks to ensure he's well looked-after? What a waste!



Quote:

In a letter dated June, 2010, Ms Gillard also reassures the globetrotting ex-PM that he will secure access to a taxpayer-funded chauffeur and driver, a private-plated car, with the option of appointing a driver on his personal staff, plus access to existing ComCar pool transport. Overseas, Mr Rudd was also pledged access to cars at overseas posts but for specific journeys “rather than a dedicated on call service.’’

All this for a failed PM, the worst PM in our history, so reviled by his own colleagues in the ALP that they preferred to resign from politics than work with him when he knifed Julia in the back. What a waste!



Quote:

Asked directly if his office had leaked the documents, Mr Rudd provided the following response: “Mr Rudd’s office has no comment to make other than to underline the fact that the former Prime Minister’s office had, at the conclusion of the FOI process, not sought a formal review objecting to the release of the correspondence.” That would have provided a final avenue for appeal after earlier objections.

In other words, Rudd leaked it.

GRAFT I think its called...you scratch my back and I will scratch yours....what a pair...

Mr Krudd is all about EGO.. if he got offered a knighthood he would be there with bells on.. superficial to the core.. not one iota of substance.. a true phony and they elected him and gave him a second chance..bah humbug!

this is what a toady PM gets... imagine what he would have got had he been a good PM.. :D :D :D

and shes as bad for offering it to him..cronyism at its worst

In a letter dated June, 2010, Ms Gillard also reassures the globetrotting ex-PM that he will secure access to a taxpayer-funded chauffeur and driver, a private-plated car, with the option of appointing a driver on his personal staff, plus access to existing ComCar pool transport. Overseas, Mr Rudd was also pledged access to cars at overseas posts but for specific journeys “rather than a dedicated on call service.’’

When Mr Rudd travelled as a backbencher, he was assured of being offered a travelling entitlement at the ministerial rate to ensure he could stay at more expensive hotels.

amazing.... of course its not their money so why not??...but should these deals be allowed???..

the offer of Ambassadorships to get them out of office is bad enough but this is damn right payola..

the people didnt unelect krudd the labor party did...

cods wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 7:50am:

In a letter dated June, 2010, Ms Gillard also reassures the globetrotting ex-PM that he will secure access to a taxpayer-funded chauffeur and driver, a private-plated car, with the option of appointing a driver on his personal staff, plus access to existing ComCar pool transport. Overseas, Mr Rudd was also pledged access to cars at overseas posts but for specific journeys “rather than a dedicated on call service.’’ When Mr Rudd travelled as a backbencher, he was assured of being offered a travelling entitlement at the ministerial rate to ensure he could stay at more expensive hotels. amazing.... of course its not their money so why not??...but should these deals be allowed???.. the offer of Ambassadorships to get them out of office is bad enough but this is damn right payola.. the people didnt unelect krudd the labor party did...

At that particular point in time, it was all borrowed money, so it wasn't even taxpayer funds - it came from loans to the government. Although, it'll be taxpayer funds that has to repay it! Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people - her first time as PM was due to her knifing the sitting PM and her second go was only as a result of an unholy alliance with that fool Bob Brown.

Sometime, have a look at Abbott’s expenses. Apart from air travel LOTO monkey spent way more than Gillard on everything, way more. HM spin doctors does Morriscum employ? Ninety–odd I think it is. Ex–PM Howard had a million dollar office fit–out and drinks deeeeep from the public trough.

Try and be adult about this sometime. If you want to talk about waste make it general and that would be well worth doing—the waste runs into millions and millions of dollars every year! HM staffers, what travel entitlements, office costs etc etc could well do with a cold, rational look and the huge savings put towards building public housing, anti–DV activities etc.

And if you REALLY want to get indignant have a read of what the NSW state govt is doing to women’s refuges and their idiotic “Going Home, Staying Home” policy!

But can we stop the stupid partisan nonsense?

Firstly, every bunch of idiots we elect have wasted money, and should be held accountable for wasting money regardless of stripes.

Secondly


Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 8:06am:

Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people

That is not how votes work in Australia.  Party leaders are elected by the party, not by the voters.   Never has a party leader (hence PM) been elected by public voters.

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 8:17am:

Sometime, have a look at Abbott’s expenses. Apart from air travel LOTO monkey spent way more than Gillard on everything, way more. HM spin doctors does Morriscum employ? Ninety–odd I think it is. Ex–PM Howard had a million dollar office fit–out and drinks deeeeep from the public trough. Try and be adult about this sometime. If you want to talk about waste make it general and that would be well worth doing—the waste runs into millions and millions of dollars every year! HM staffers, what travel entitlements, office costs etc etc could well do with a cold, rational look and the huge savings put towards building public housing, anti–DV activities etc. And if you REALLY want to get indignant have a read of what the NSW state govt is doing to women’s refuges and their idiotic “Going Home, Staying Home” policy! But can we stop the stupid partisan nonsense?

Abbott is PM... this is the one that got assassinated....if you read it.. he has been getting these extra perks since June 2010.....even when he was on the back bench...

no one is talking about what he got when he was in Office....

if you bother to read the op.. it says.

gillard did not stop the FOI.. but krudd fought it for 6 months.....

and then someone.. ::) ::) released the Info to another paper..lol.. I wonder who would do that????......

gillard wanted the world to know what crafty krudd was like. and is like...even when not in Office...


you may wish to take your own advice..


as we are supporting more Labor EXs than Liberal..

We are also supporting WAY more spin doctors than ever before. Why does Morriscum need 90+ spin doctors when he keeps immigration matters secret?

Waste in govt is an important matter and govts/MPs/ex-PMs need to be brought into line. Waste is not a partisan issue.

All those perks yet the one person that Rudd should have insisted on being appointed to see to his wellbeing is a food taster.

salad in wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 9:39am:

All those perks yet the one person that Rudd should have insisted on being appointed to see to his wellbeing is a food taster.

isnt he living in America now??????...something tells me he got a job offer he couldnt refuse...b loody hell and we still cough all this up.

I have long been an opponent of the gravy train.. and gold passes... its beyond reason...PM for 5 years after they exit.. and thats it.. bugger them let them live off their pension like we all have too.

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 8:45am:

We are also supporting WAY more spin doctors than ever before. Why does Morriscum need 90+ spin doctors when he keeps immigration matters secret? Waste in govt is an important matter and govts/MPs/ex-PMs need to be brought into line. Waste is not a partisan issue.

this thread show us what goes on behind closed doors... is it a first??? who would know >:( >:(

we are at the mercy of the media to want FOI... you and I are not privy to getting that....

this is/was a shady deal... and from what I can see we are still picking up the tab,.

are we not all sick to death of shonky deals behind our backs..???..

Waste, like going to a LNP fundraiser under the pretext of visiting a cancer hospital, that sort of waste and transparency?

Its time wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 9:50am:

Waate, like going to a LNP fundraiser under the pretext of visiting a cancer hospital, that sort of waste and transparency?

That cost more than half a million dollars, did it?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 10:25am:

Its time wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 9:50am: Waate, like going to a LNP fundraiser under the pretext of visiting a cancer hospital, that sort of waste and transparency? That cost more than half a million dollars, did it?

The amount is irrelevant.  Steal a peanut, steal a packet of peanuts.....still theft.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 8:06am:

cods wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 7:50am: In a letter dated June, 2010, Ms Gillard also reassures the globetrotting ex-PM that he will secure access to a taxpayer-funded chauffeur and driver, a private-plated car, with the option of appointing a driver on his personal staff, plus access to existing ComCar pool transport. Overseas, Mr Rudd was also pledged access to cars at overseas posts but for specific journeys “rather than a dedicated on call service.’’ When Mr Rudd travelled as a backbencher, he was assured of being offered a travelling entitlement at the ministerial rate to ensure he could stay at more expensive hotels. amazing.... of course its not their money so why not??...but should these deals be allowed???.. the offer of Ambassadorships to get them out of office is bad enough but this is damn right payola.. the people didnt unelect krudd the labor party did... At that particular point in time, it was all borrowed money, so it wasn't even taxpayer funds - it came from loans to the government. Although, it'll be taxpayer funds that has to repay it! Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people - her first time as PM was due to her knifing the sitting PM and her second go was only as a result of an unholy alliance with that fool Bob Brown.

Bob Brown couldn’t give Gillard govt. That would be the independents like Windsor and Oakeshott, two people who are rational and I would even say wise and put a lot of work into the job of MP. The numpty that replaced Oakeshott in Lyne is claiming credit for projects Oakeshott won, has not achieved anything himself. Simialrly, Barnyard in New England claiming credit for dairy farmers there now exporting fresh milk to China—would not be possible without the achievement of Gillard of negotiating for the $A being the third currency that could be directly converted into the chinese currency.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 8:06am:

Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people

This is irrelevant, and also untrue.

Bam wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 11:04am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue.

Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 11:16am:

Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:04am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue. Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true.

McMahon

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 11:16am:

Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:04am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue. Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true.

If it's irrelevant, why mention it at all?

Bam wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 11:34am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:16am: Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:04am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue. Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true. If it's irrelevant, why mention it at all?

Because he knows the LNP are a spectacular failure and he is desperate.

Its time wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 11:36am:

Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:34am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:16am: Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:04am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue. Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true. If it's irrelevant, why mention it at all? Because he knows the LNP are a spectacular failure and he is desperate.

Indeed ... especially considering that (1) Gillard won in 2010 because she was able to form a government, and (2) McMahon never won an election. It's just a pathetic and weak attempt at a smear that would have contributed nothing constructive to the discussion even if it was true.

Bam wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 11:22am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:16am: Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:04am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue. Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true. McMahon

slight modification.  Gillard is the only PM who went thru an election and remained PM after losing said election.

happy now pebbles???

"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs."

No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :)

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 2:01pm:

"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs." No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :)

In case you had forgotten Rudd hasn't been PM for over a year now. Tony is to busy hunting down all those nasty muslims, last count was at about one wasn't it  :D

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 12:33pm:

Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:22am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:16am: Bam wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 11:04am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 8:06am: Last but not least, Gillard will go down in history as the only PM never elected by the people This is irrelevant, and also untrue. Might be irrelevant to this topic, but it's definitely true. McMahon slight modification.  Gillard is the only PM who went thru an election and remained PM after losing said election. happy now pebbles???

That is shifting the goalposts, wrongweakened.

Also, wrong -

Gillard won in 2010 because she was able to form a government.

If you're asserting that she "lost" because she didn't have a majority after an election, neither did Menzies in 1940.

Its time wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 2:09pm:

[quote author=ArmchairPolitician link=1411241702/23#23 date=1411272101]"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs." No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :)

In case you had forgotten Rudd hasn't been PM for over a year now. Tony is to busy hunting down all those nasty


Tony is to busy jet setting around the globe to bother with domestic issues..crikey he's spending even more time out of the country than Pig Iron Bob Menzies did  :D

adelcrow wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 2:15pm:

Its time wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:09pm: [quote author=ArmchairPolitician link=1411241702/23#23 date=1411272101]"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs." No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :) In case you had forgotten Rudd hasn't been PM for over a year now. Tony is to busy hunting down all those nasty Tony is to busy jet setting around the globe to bother with domestic issues..crikey he's spending even more time out of the country than Pig Iron Bob Menzies did  :D

Really? Is that why he was recently in the NT and then QLD and then Sydney?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 10:25am:

Its time wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 9:50am: Waate, like going to a LNP fundraiser under the pretext of visiting a cancer hospital, that sort of waste and transparency? That cost more than half a million dollars, did it?

What do Morrisons almost 100 spin doctors cost? And he's one minister .... was that money also borrowed?

if you are going to complain about waste stop making excuses when the libs waste is mentioned

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 2:39pm:

adelcrow wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:15pm: Its time wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:09pm: [quote author=ArmchairPolitician link=1411241702/23#23 date=1411272101]"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs." No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :) In case you had forgotten Rudd hasn't been PM for over a year now. Tony is to busy hunting down all those nasty Tony is to busy jet setting around the globe to bother with domestic issues..crikey he's spending even more time out of the country than Pig Iron Bob Menzies did  :D Really? Is that why he was recently in the NT and then QLD and then Sydney?

wow, armpit is impressed that he can name 3 towns in AUSTRALIA that the PM visited ... where else was he armpit? you do realise he has had more trips in his first year than Rudd, wo what did you used to call him? Rudd747?  ;D ;D ;D

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 2:39pm:

adelcrow wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:15pm: Its time wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:09pm: [quote author=ArmchairPolitician link=1411241702/23#23 date=1411272101]"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs." No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :) In case you had forgotten Rudd hasn't been PM for over a year now. Tony is to busy hunting down all those nasty Tony is to busy jet setting around the globe to bother with domestic issues..crikey he's spending even more time out of the country than Pig Iron Bob Menzies did  :D Really? Is that why he was recently in the NT and then QLD and then Sydney?

No one said he is always out the country. He achieved nothing in NT and Qld.

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 21^st, 2014 at 4:05pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:39pm: adelcrow wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:15pm: Its time wrote on Sep 21st, 2014 at 2:09pm: [quote author=ArmchairPolitician link=1411241702/23#23 date=1411272101]"After Mr Rudd left Parliament, Mr Abbott wound back the special deal on extra staff and travel entitlements to reflect the standard arrangements for former PMs." No one in the public knew about this until now. Just another demonstration of Abbott's class. He could've held a press conference on this, but didn't even attempt to score political mileage out of it. All class, Mr Abbott!  :) In case you had forgotten Rudd hasn't been PM for over a year now. Tony is to busy hunting down all those nasty Tony is to busy jet setting around the globe to bother with domestic issues..crikey he's spending even more time out of the country than Pig Iron Bob Menzies did  :D Really? Is that why he was recently in the NT and then QLD and then Sydney? No one said he is always out the country. He achieved nothing in NT and Qld.

I wonder how much the bill will be for "Airbus Abbott" to stay in the NT?  And yes, he achieved very little - just a lot of lobbying from senior (and educated)  right wing Indigineous Lobbyists trying to convince their own People to sell their mining and resources rights to the big miners.   One of them even wants to start ATSIC up again!!!