Rudd under fire for heading to UN during Parliament week

Melbourne, Sept 22 (PTI) Australian Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd has come under fire from the Opposition for heading
to the United Nations rather than spending the week in
Parliament.

Rudd, who has been lebelled as 'Kevin 747' for his
hectic schedules by the opposition, will be leaving for New
York and United Nations General Assembly after Parliament's
Question Time Monday.

"At a time when we are at economic and financial
crisis, the Prime Minister thinks the priority is to announce
a local government summit, and to jet off to the United
Nations to talk to our friends about the UN," Liberal
frontbencher Chris Pyne was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.

"Kevin Rudd's priorities are wrong," he said, adding
the UN will always be there. What is important to Australians
in their daily lives is whether they are going to be able to
pay their mortgage, keep their jobs and put the food on the
table for their families.

Another Liberal Frontbencher Eric Abetz said "Rudd
should not be jaunting off overseas all the time. He is the
Prime Minister of Australia, he is not an emperor."

'Kevin 747' seems to be a very good little tagline for
him. It is, unfortunately, indicative of what he has been
doing in recent times, he added.

While in New York, Rudd will spend much of his time
speaking with global financial leaders about how to handle the
credit crunch which has now been running for more than a year.
PTI NC