It took just hours to trip into the firing line

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This was published 14 years ago

It took just hours to trip into the firing line

By Phillip Coorey

YESTERDAY morning the story was about Malcolm Turnbull bullying Kevin Rudd's economic adviser Andrew Charlton at Wednesday's Midwinter Ball.

Malcolm Turnbull confronts the PM's economic adviser Andrew  Charlton at the Midwinter Ball. The photo was taken by one of  Mr Rudd's staff

Malcolm Turnbull confronts the PM's economic adviser Andrew Charlton at the Midwinter Ball. The photo was taken by one of Mr Rudd's staff

By the close of business Mr Charlton was the least of the Government's concerns.

A raft of emails plus testimony from Godwin Grech left the Government's two highest officers - the Prime Minister and the Treasurer - with sticky questions to answer. It also demonstrated why a prime minister must be squeaky clean, whiter than white. The moment Kevin Rudd accepted that free ute from car dealer and mate John Grant was the moment he exposed himself to allegations of favours.

Rudd is a millionaire. He could have paid for a ute worth only $5000 with spare change.

Now the clapped-out rustbucket is responsible for the greatest crisis for the Government in its short 18 months in office, eclipsing the sacking of Joel Fitzgibbon as defence minister.

Rudd and Swan are not taking a backward step and neither are reckless men. But Swan has been made to look silly. He has repeatedly told Parliament Grant received no special treatment.

The emails tabled at the inquiry yesterday, however, showed Mr Grant's request for assistance with credit was deemed important enough to keep the Treasurer, the departmental secretary Ken Henry, and the Treasurer's most senior staff apprised of developments. No other dealer referred to Treasury received such attention.

Rudd has told Parliament that he had not been advised of his office making representations on Grant's behalf.

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Grech, whose job it was to help the dealers, dropped a bomb by saying he recalled an email from Rudd's office alerting him to the case of Grant.

No one can find the email. The Coalition claims to be aware of its existence and some say they have read it. No one has produced it.

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It is easy to feel sorry for Grech. After he told the committee about the mysterious email, the Government released an email Grech wrote yesterday morning to Rudd's office contradicting what he told the inquiry.

You wouldn't be him for quids.

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