http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/g20-must-act-on...

FOREIGN Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that the G20 could lose international relevance if its leaders, meeting in France next month, fail to co-ordinate action to resolve economic uncertainty.

And if the G20 loses relevance, he says, Australia could lose influence on the global stage.

Mr Rudd made the comments in Brisbane yesterday amid uncertainty about Europe's debt problems and fears that if Greece defaults on its debts, it could spark a new global financial crisis.

As the German government increased its financial assistance to debt-burdened European neighbours yesterday, Mr Rudd said the world stood at a "critical point" in economic history and the response of the G20, which includes Australia, would be vital to avoiding further trauma.

"When the financial crisis began (in 2008), it was fundamentally about market failure in the finance industry," he told a forum at the University of Queensland. "It has now evolved to become a broader lack of faith by markets in governments' capacity to deal effectively with the crisis."

As Mr Rudd took to the stage at his old campus in front of a clearly adoring assembly of students, it was not missed that he was now the "everywhere man".

Introducing Mr Rudd to deliver the university's annual public lecture in politics and international studies, vice-chancellor Paul Greenfield expressed amazement at the Foreign Minister's schedule, at home and abroad, since recovering from surgery.

"Some of you would be aware of the satirical road song I've been Everywhere, Man, and (Mr Rudd) has just about been everywhere," Professor Greenfield said.

Mr Rudd was in no mood for a low-key return to UQ, where he was briefly an adjunct professor before entering politics.

The university might have forgotten to alert the media on his 30-minute address, but Mr Rudd's office certainly didn't.

When he took to the stage, it was vintage Kevin 07, with memories of his time as "shelf-stacker" in the undergraduate library, before morphing into Kevin 11, and casually mentioning he spent last weekend with Henry Kissinger in New York.

His audience ate it up, sending him off the stage with rousing applause and swarming around for autographs and photographs.

Despite Mr Rudd's office warning it was a "speech-only" event -- meaning no doorstop to answer questions about the latest poll finding that he is more popular than Julia Gillard in Queensland -- he couldn't help but oblige.

In fact, Mr Rudd even waited for his media advisers to find the news cameraman.

"People are very kind, but I am very happy being Foreign Minister," he said.

In his speech, Mr Rudd said the G20, which replaced the G7 as the world's primary venue for economic co-operation when the GFC began in 2008, would be seen to have failed if it were unable to make progress in Cannes on the fresh crisis now facing the world.

hasnt he just pledged $64 mill or something like that to PNG.???...

maybe he should be running the IMF sounds like he has money to burn.. and as his stim saved Asutralia..!!!!! he couldnt fail could he?

I seem to remember similar words before the last G20.. its all crap it also costs a mint..and nothing changes... unless you calling getting worse change!

all this posturing gets on my nerves to be honest,

"Same rhetoric - different topic"

Same could be said, for a few of us!

perceptions_now wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2011 at 5:36pm:




what else should we talk about on the polical board... perc?

lets see we could make it more interesting and make it up for a change..

this would have to be the most pathetic bunch we have had for a long time..someone suggested smith for PM... lol...hilarious.. he would be as exciting as watching wetpaint dry...what is it with most of the lefties.. they remind me of waxworks.. their lips move but thats all... dull uninteresting boring..

so what else can we talk about........

cods wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2011 at 8:15pm:


Smith sounds good, do you mean Ian?

Although he may be getting a little old & stale, by now!

But, at least Ian Smith would be a little more entertaining than most of our current lot of Pollies, even if he has been dead for a few years already?  

Only joking, I think?

That said, I have to agree, most, if not all of the current Pollies, are dull, uninteresting & boring.

But, not only that, it is likely that many, if not all, are also ignorant of the massive changes currently going on, as they are too interested in their own self-interests, which also co-habitate with TPTB!

So, I suppose we will just have to change them!

NorthOfNorth wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2011 at 9:04pm:


The only thing that can be done?

Get the alternative information to the Public, let more of the Public be informed and then it's up to them, the Public!

Yes, well I understand where the comment comes from. However, TPTB are looking at THEIR SHORT TERM PERSONAL SELF-INTEREST as it has been known, but unfortunately we are now being influenced by factors which are set to decimate the medium to longer term interests of the majority of the Public.

That said, TPTB are so involved with the past & the "here & now" that they may have lost sight og the fact that the "Public Good/Consumer" is what drives the modern Global Economy and if that "Public Good/Consumer" is decimated, then so to will be TPTB!

We have arrived at an inflection point in the history of humankind and much, if not everything, will depend on the individual & collective decisions made during this decade!

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2011 at 6:07am:




agree there pansi..we have more little boys club than ever before.. and we are in a bigger mess than ever before... go figure!!!!