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Kevin Rudd on the run seeking refuge among friends Kevin Rudd on the run seeking refuge among friends
(12 days later)
As any good herd animal knows, when the predators are circling it's best to seek the safety of your own mob. Sheep turn in and face their backsides out to danger.As any good herd animal knows, when the predators are circling it's best to seek the safety of your own mob. Sheep turn in and face their backsides out to danger.
So Kevin Rudd returned to Forest Rd, Hurstville.So Kevin Rudd returned to Forest Rd, Hurstville.
If David Attenborough was narrating this story, he would have said it was Rudd's natural habitat.If David Attenborough was narrating this story, he would have said it was Rudd's natural habitat.
Forest Rd, Hurstville, is in Sydney's southern suburbs and is lined with the markers of a vibrant Chinese community: roast ducks hanging like political candidates past, noodle cafes, video shops called Happy, bargain basement stores called Lucky and a home branch of the Bank of China.Forest Rd, Hurstville, is in Sydney's southern suburbs and is lined with the markers of a vibrant Chinese community: roast ducks hanging like political candidates past, noodle cafes, video shops called Happy, bargain basement stores called Lucky and a home branch of the Bank of China.
As a former diplomat who falls into Mandarin with the ease of a native speaker, Rudd has always received a warm reception from a large portion of the Chinese community.As a former diplomat who falls into Mandarin with the ease of a native speaker, Rudd has always received a warm reception from a large portion of the Chinese community.
Forest Rd has been the scene of many such love-ins, the latest in 12 June this year. That day, Rudd campaigned for local candidates, including Steve McMahon and Daryl Melham.Forest Rd has been the scene of many such love-ins, the latest in 12 June this year. That day, Rudd campaigned for local candidates, including Steve McMahon and Daryl Melham.
Rudd was just a humble backbencher at the time, doing a lousy job of hiding his burning ambition.Rudd was just a humble backbencher at the time, doing a lousy job of hiding his burning ambition.
His appearance was controversial because he wore a blue tie, one day after then prime minister Julia Gillard suggested an Abbott government would see the country run by "men in blue ties". The Blue Tie speech to the newly minted Women For Gillard was a metaphor for the return to traditional conservative male-oriented government.His appearance was controversial because he wore a blue tie, one day after then prime minister Julia Gillard suggested an Abbott government would see the country run by "men in blue ties". The Blue Tie speech to the newly minted Women For Gillard was a metaphor for the return to traditional conservative male-oriented government.
So successful was Rudd's foray, the day after he returned to the prime ministership Hurstville's local paper, the St George Leader, reported Labor candidate McMahon saying the Rudd leadership return began in Forest Rd.So successful was Rudd's foray, the day after he returned to the prime ministership Hurstville's local paper, the St George Leader, reported Labor candidate McMahon saying the Rudd leadership return began in Forest Rd.
And that is how the MP for Banks, Daryl Melham, found himself waiting like a nervous groom, outside the Anna Loan Office, just a shave down from Trendy Hair Cuts.And that is how the MP for Banks, Daryl Melham, found himself waiting like a nervous groom, outside the Anna Loan Office, just a shave down from Trendy Hair Cuts.
Out fanned the media flock. In swept the white Comcar. Thwack came the crush of bodies. Up went the arms holding mobile phones. It was a selfie tsunami.Out fanned the media flock. In swept the white Comcar. Thwack came the crush of bodies. Up went the arms holding mobile phones. It was a selfie tsunami.
Into this fray entered Angela Liati, a woman on a mission. She was not a member of the Labor mob. Photographers remembered her as being previously ejected from Parliament House for protesting against the carbon tax.Into this fray entered Angela Liati, a woman on a mission. She was not a member of the Labor mob. Photographers remembered her as being previously ejected from Parliament House for protesting against the carbon tax.
Liati had also been sentenced to 200 hours of community service after she was found guilty of making a false statement to police with the intention of perverting the course of justice in the Marcus Einfeld case.Liati had also been sentenced to 200 hours of community service after she was found guilty of making a false statement to police with the intention of perverting the course of justice in the Marcus Einfeld case.
Liati began yelling, turning what had been a crazy, chaotic street walk into a discordant, crazy, chaotic street walk. From one direction, a Chinese camera crew appeared from nowhere, attempting to interview Rudd in Mandarin. From another came Chaser team member Craig Reucassel, brandishing the "Mal Award", named after Mal Meninga for the "greatest act of political suicide in a political campaign".Liati began yelling, turning what had been a crazy, chaotic street walk into a discordant, crazy, chaotic street walk. From one direction, a Chinese camera crew appeared from nowhere, attempting to interview Rudd in Mandarin. From another came Chaser team member Craig Reucassel, brandishing the "Mal Award", named after Mal Meninga for the "greatest act of political suicide in a political campaign".
All the while, Rudd tried to kiss a baby, took about 20 selfies, spoke to a group of Chinese men in Mandarin and came under a hail of kisses from a very passionate supporter who punctuated her professions of love with abuse directed at Liati.All the while, Rudd tried to kiss a baby, took about 20 selfies, spoke to a group of Chinese men in Mandarin and came under a hail of kisses from a very passionate supporter who punctuated her professions of love with abuse directed at Liati.
The pack moved as a single amorphous whole, albeit with 60 legs, moving towards the road with alarming speed. Traffic slowed, police got edgy and the white Comcar arrived. Rudd opened the door and briefly stood on the foot rail, giving a presidential wave before disappearing behind the dark glass.The pack moved as a single amorphous whole, albeit with 60 legs, moving towards the road with alarming speed. Traffic slowed, police got edgy and the white Comcar arrived. Rudd opened the door and briefly stood on the foot rail, giving a presidential wave before disappearing behind the dark glass.
Melham holds the seat of Banks by just 1.5%. Earlier in the day, Rudd had visited other western Sydney seats of Macquarie (1.3%) , Reid. (2.7%) and Watson (9.1%).Melham holds the seat of Banks by just 1.5%. Earlier in the day, Rudd had visited other western Sydney seats of Macquarie (1.3%) , Reid. (2.7%) and Watson (9.1%).
The whole Hurstville episode lasted about 10 minutes and the crowd disappeared as quickly as it had formed. It did not bode well for the final days of the campaign. With Forest Rd no longer safe, the only place left to go is into Rudd's own seat of Griffith. And that is exactly what he has planned.The whole Hurstville episode lasted about 10 minutes and the crowd disappeared as quickly as it had formed. It did not bode well for the final days of the campaign. With Forest Rd no longer safe, the only place left to go is into Rudd's own seat of Griffith. And that is exactly what he has planned.
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