Union leader saw Rudd as leader after Burke meetings
It has been revealed a Western Australian Labor Party heavyweight was touting Kevin Rudd as a future Prime Minister just days after Mr Rudd met the controversial lobbyist Brian Burke two years ago.
The Federal Government continued to attack Mr Rudd this week over past meetings in Perth with the former WA premier, saying they were used to drum up support for a leadership challenge.
Mr Rudd denies he was in WA in 2005 to discuss any leadership prospects.
But in an interview in August 2005, two days after Mr Rudd had dinner with Mr Burke, union leader Kevin Reynolds told ABC television he saw Mr Rudd as a future leader.
“I mean I know for a fact that he met with Rudd the other day when he was here,” Mr Reynolds said.
“He’s a future leader of this country and he sees there’s no problem in meeting with Brian, in talking with Brian.”
Mr Rudd maintains there was nothing sinister about the 2005 meetings but admits they were a mistake.