NSW Premier finally speaks to Rudd

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says she has spoken at length to Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd.

It was reported on Saturday that Mr Rudd was so frustrated by the calamitous state
of NSW Labor that he had not even spoken to her after she was sworn in as NSW's
first female premier on Friday.
Ms Keneally replaced Nathan Rees, who was rolled in a leadership spill on Thursday
night after serving just 15 months in the job.
But Ms Keneally said she and Mr Rudd had just been too busy.
"Our offices have been in contact since I was sworn in," she told reporters on Sunday.
"He (Mr Rudd) did appreciate it's been a very busy time for the both of us.
"Last night was a good opportunity to have a moment of stillness and quiet and have
a conversation with the prime minister.
"The prime minister congratulated me on my new role."
Ms Keneally said Mr Rudd had not repeated his public comments in which he urged the
NSW government to "get its act together".
"We discussed a number of issues. I found it a very productive conversation," she said.
"The prime minister is a man with great vision for the country. He is a man of great
integrity and I look very much forward to working with him."
Ms Keneally said she would discuss issues such as health and public transport at
this week's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Brisbane.
"I want to flag that we're very keen to work with the commonwealth, particularly in
the area of health," she said.
"The commonwealth have signalled their willingness to step up which is a change from
the previous 11 years of the Howard government."
Earlier, Ms Keneally said in a statement that Eric Roozendaal would retain his
treasury portfolio in her cabinet.