Kevin Rudd is under fire for spending more time overseas than in Victoria since becoming Prime Minister.
Answers to Opposition questions in Parliament reveal the PM spent almost three times as many nights overseas as he did in Victoria during his first two years.
And when Mr Rudd visited our state he preferred not to stay the night — having been here 85 times between November, 24, 2007 and December 19, 2009, but staying only 35 times. Over the same period, the PM spent 153 nights in NSW and 60 nights in his home state of Queensland. He has spent 110 nights overseas.
But Victorians have nothing to complain about compared with some states. Mr Rudd stayed 20 nights in WA during this period, eight in both SA and the NT, while Tasmania has hosted him for only six nights.
The small number of nights the PM has spent here is certain to reopen the debate over whether Victoria should have an official prime ministerial residence like Sydney’s Kirribilli House.
Liberal Senator Scott Ryan slammed Mr Rudd for neglecting Victoria.
“Victorians would expect their Prime Minister to spend less time campaigning in marginal seats in New South Wales and Queensland and more time addressing Victoria’s needs.”