What is going on with the Prime Minister’s diplomatic snub to Australian caretaker PM Julia Gillard? He reluctantly admits to a journalist’s question that he phoned Opposition leader Tony Abbott after the weekend’s election, but not Prime Minister Julia Gillard, because he did not have her number.
So it is OK for the Prime Minister to phone the Australian Opposition Leader who is a fellow leader of the centre-right…but not call the Australian Prime Minister who happens to be a Labour leader? He doesnt have the Australian PM’s number in his phone? He couldn’t get foreign affairs to give him the number?
Does he realise that Australia is this country’s most important relationship?
So when did Labour get on the phone with Tony Abbott?
He reluctantly admits to a journalist’s question that he phoned Opposition leader Tony Abbott after the weekend’s election, but not Prime Minister Julia Gillard, because he did not have her number.
Unbelievable. Accept I do believe it. A very poor showing from the Prime Minister’s office.
Presumably he called ’cause he hoped Abbott would stop kiwis from coming to Australia since he’s been unable too?
Phil:
This is more than usually petty and stupid point-scoring. If you’re that concerned about our “most important relationship”, then it might be wise not to use the inconclusive election next door as an occasion for cheap point-scoring at home.
And another question: Does Phil Goff have Tony Abbot’s cell number? Would you expect him to?
Yes, Phil I saw that story. He claims he hasn’t been able to get hold of Julia Gillard. Rubbish, he hasn’t even tried. The truth is, he rang Abbott to give him advice on how to handle the stalemate to his advantage? After all we, across the ditch, have had a lot of experience in this type of situation.
It’s a good example of his appalling ignorance. He’s an embarrassment!
Did he discuss with Abbott how many kiwis are to be stopped at the border when he cuts back immigartion?
chris – We are talking about the NZ PM communicating with the Australian leadership on behalf of NZ.
Craig – I am not saying this is the biggest story of the week, just a revealing lapse of judgement by the PM. I don’t know if Phil Goff has Tony Abbott’s number, but that is not the point here. Key is the PM. I would have thought he would either have the Australian PM’s number in his phone, or would have got it from MFAT in an instant.
@ Anne – So you state as a fact that he is telling lies and that you know exactly what he said on the phone – despite you having no knowledge of that at all
And you use that ‘logic’ to call him ignorant? You see the irony in that I hope.
But Phil – They are our most important relationship!!! – Does your party not care? Why not contact them? You are not excluded from international politics just because you are in opposition.
You had been in contact with labour (unlike Anne – I can back that up – I got that from Goffs quote in the paper)
Exactly Phil. Which is why it is obvious Key hadn’t even tried! It would seem Craig and chris are as ignorant as
Key.
One wonders what would happen if he had urgent news to tell her. He would have to ring Tony and ask him if he wouldn’t mind driving over. The fact is she is the prime minister of Australia, and there’s at least a 50% probability that she will remain the prime minister of Australia.
Yes, I saw that story and told some Aussie mates. Their responses were along the lines of WTF?! And, one said, maybe he [Key] should try facebook [to contact Gillard]?
Saying Key didn’t have Gillard’s phone number is a lame excuse, and looks like a little bit of a diplomatic snub.
Hollow Man phones Hollow Man?
btw the final word ‘Key’ in my second comment was not meant to be on another line ie. highlighted. It was a typo. Just in case someone thinks otherwise.
Its a snub – I for one feel sorry for the Aussies – if they end up going down the right hand side of the road, then they are in for the same disaster thats unfolding here – I was following ABC and twitter as the election was unfolding, and the overwhelming amount of aussies having small heart attacks about how the election was unfolding was a telling sign.
As I read it, it looked like (to me) a bit like here – some of the public were a bit brassed off with Julia (for rolling Rudd – just like kiwis who got a bit fed up with Helen panding to Winston) so they thought they would either not vote or ‘give the other fella a try’ – like here. Now they are likely to regret that (at least 20% want to revote which says something).
As for smile and wave – you bet he was giving the right some advice – would suit him to have the australian infrastructure ruined by the right. In his head he prob thinks he can use their slash and burn cuts etc to further push and justify his privatization agenda here.
You’re right about the most important relationship, Phil, without Australia we’d be micemeat with our lack of defense
!
@chris – Goff, unfortunately, isn’t the Prime Minister
@Paul LOL
I doubt Tony Abbot would be interested in hearing from an opposition leader
@Anne – don’t worry we all know your feelings on Key
Agreed paul it is a snub!
!
Key is the kid we all knew in school – he wants to be your best friend when you’re “in”, drops you in a flash when you’re no longer cool.
John lost Julia’s phone number? Really?
June 26:
Prime Minister John Key spoke to the new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard soon after Kevin Rudd stood down today and passed on his congratulations. …
Mr Key said he was the first leader to have spoken to Ms Gillard after Rudd stood down. …
“Our relationship with Australia is a critical one and our most important with any country, and I look forward to working with Julia Gillard to advance that relationship.” …
Speaking before a speech in Blenheim, Mr Key told Fairfax he was the first prime minister to ring Ms Gillard “and I think that’s a sign of the depth and strength and the significance of the relationship between New Zealand and Australia.”
(Stuff.co.nz)
So does he still want to be Obama’s special friend? Or is he watching the President’s falling polls, and making eyes at Sarah Palin?
Saying that he can’t get the Aussie PM on the phone – whenever he wants – is a gaffe…
No one in Australia cares. Seriously. Who the Prime Minister of New Zealand rang or did not ring rates so low down the list of things the Australian media, public, and politicos care about no one even noticed.
Hell it’s a worry alright.. of bigger concern is that the ‘left’ are losing everywhere except Chavez in Venezuela. BTW I see Obama as about centre right as Key. Maybe they should have stuck with Rudd and it certainly makes leadership in NZ interesting.. be it Lab, Nat, Green .. you have to have a good leader and get rid of the last one in a dignified way.
@sammy – great one!! lol Hes such a fibber. Lost her number – yeah right – just like he lost his knowledge of owning a vineyard etc…
The real question is people, does anyone in Australia really give a toss if/when/ever the NZ PM phoned anyone? Alas, no.
Despite being on opposing political colours, Helen Clark and John Howard were surprisingly chummy during their respective prime ministerships.
about 10 sec via Google:
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Title: Prime Minister.
Party: Australian Labor Party
Parliament House Contact
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7700
Fax: (02) 6273 4100
Electorate Office Contact
Werribee Office:
Location:
Shop 2, 36 Synnot Street
Werribee Vic 3030
Postal Address:
PO Locked Bag 14
Werribee Vic 3030
Tel: (03) 9742 5800
Fax: (03) 9741 6213
If the NZ PM has the Pizza Hut free phone stored on his mobile’s 1000 contact address book, why would he not have the Australian PM’s direct dial.
This is the Prime Ministerial equivalent of “a dingo ate my homework”.
“No one in Australia cares. Seriously.”
True, you may have noticed this is a NZ blog talking about what the NZ PM said and how that affects NZ voters…
I see yet again the Tories are running the diversion. Fact is Key’s actions are those of a complete amateur. What a fool. What will save him is that Gillard is far more mature and wise in foreign affairs matters, and will likely simply see his actions as those of a novice leader still flushed with partisan bravado.
Jennifer, You just made that up! Gillard mature and wise?
Don’t you just wish her last name sounded like a J or her first like a gih?
Grant Gillard , Spud?
I’m not sure who that is
But I hope very much that there is a Gilligan Gillard 
You win, there is a Grant Gillard, but no Gil
it seems odd the PM f nZ doesnt have or couldnt get the Pm of Oz’s phone number… perhaps they just dont think we matte renough to give their numbers to JK?
” chris says:
August 24, 2010 at 5:02 pm
@ Anne – So you state as a fact that he is telling lies and that you know exactly what he said on the phone – despite you having no knowledge of that at all
And you use that ‘logic’ to call him ignorant?”
Strewth mate, have you got eye-sight or attention deficit problems?
a) You missed the question mark in my comment.
b) The “ignorant” remark was in fact a separate paragraph.
Suggest you attend some grammar and reading night classes. Oops sorry, your beloved Key and co. has dumped them. Well, please try harder to understand what you are reading.
Jennifer, what diversions are the tories running? You know last week I forgot to call a mate when I heard he won a meat raffle. Fact is nobody in Australia gives a flying xxxx whether or not JK called someone who has appeared on TV a lot in the past few weeks.
GET OVER IT!!