Minister for frequent flying

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 13 years ago

Minister for frequent flying

By Jessica Wright

THE Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd, has become Australia's champion political globetrotter, clocking up 83 days overseas in six months.

Revelations of Mr Rudd's frequent flying come amid speculation of a rift between Mr Rudd and Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and criticism of the pair's conflict on a no-fly zone over Libya.

rudd travel.

rudd travel.

Parliamentary records show Mr Rudd spent almost half his time in the foreign affairs role abroad, visiting 25 countries during 10 overseas trips since September.

Since he was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Rudd has visited the Middle East six times and spent one day in South-East Asia, Australia's closest neighbour and key region for trade. The tiny European principality of Liechtenstein and far-flung Addis Ababa in Ethiopia have received more attention.

Blitzing his own travel record as prime minister - 110 days on foreign soil during his first two years in office at a cost to taxpayers of more than $3.5 million - Mr Rudd's jaunts eclipse the efforts of past foreign affairs ministers.

The nation's longest-serving foreign affairs minister, Alexander Downer, spent just 49 days overseas over eight trips in his first year.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith, who lost the foreign affairs portfolio to Mr Rudd after last year's election, was out of the country for 62 days in 2008 and 65 days in 2009.

The precarious balance of numbers in the lower house has meant it is difficult for MPs to be away, with each side reluctant to grant ''pairs'' - an opposite number who will abstain from a vote during a member's absence from Parliament.

Mr Rudd has attended most sitting days, frequently leaving on international flights on Thursday evenings after Parliament has risen.

Advertisement

Labor colleagues are split over Mr Rudd's frequent-flyer status.

One senior Labor source repeated claims reported in The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday that there were internal concerns that Mr Rudd had gone ''rogue'' by consistently spruiking Australia's so-called preference for a Libyan no-fly zone.

During a heavy week of media appearances, Mr Rudd twittered: ''Working with other countries on a no-fly zone to stop Gaddafi's warplanes.''

In Washington Ms Gillard denied there was a split between the pair but made it clear she did not favour sending Australian military forces to Libya.

''We have a situation where Rudd has being doing and saying his own thing and Julia has had to now come out and dampen this down,'' a Labor source told The Sun-Herald.

Another ALP figure said most in the party had no objection to Mr Rudd's worldly travels.

''It is his healing time,'' the source said.

Most Viewed in National

Loading