Aussie Foreign Minister racks up the mileage

[Fuzz]

• Kevin Rudd racks up 384,000km in travel
  
• Has spent 4 days in every 10 overseas
  
• His carbon footprint amount to 58 tonnes
  

Globetrotter Kevin Rudd has notched up a staggering 384,000km in overseas air travel since becoming Foreign Minister - the equivalent of flying to the moon.

The former prime minister confirmed his status as our leading frequent flyer by visiting 43 countries in an eight-month odyssey in which he has spent four days in every 10 overseas.

Taxpayers forked out hundreds of thousands of dollars to fly Mr Rudd and his entourage on the equivalent of 10 around-the-world trips since September. And despite being the only cabinet minister to drive a fuel-efficient Toyoto Prius, his global carbon footprint amounts to 58 tonnes - equivalent to driving 13 Holden Commodores for a year.

Since being sworn in as Foreign Minister, Mr Rudd has travelled to more countries in his first year than either of his two predecessors, Alexander Downer and Stephen Smith. Mr Downer, who was foreign minister for 12 years, suggested that Mr Rudd was spending so much time in the Middle East, Africa and other regions to win backing for Australia's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

"He may wish to travel to some of those countries as part of our Security Council campaign," Mr Downer said.

In an exhausting 13 overseas trips, Mr Rudd has trekked to a raft of countries rarely visited by Australian envoys including Liechtenstein, Finland, Norway, Tunisia and Kazakhstan. But he is yet to travel to New Zealand or other close neighbours such as Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

"I am concerned that Kevin Rudd has taken his eye off the Pacific region, which requires focused attention by the Foreign Minister," opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said.

"It is evident that Julia Gillard wants Kevin Rudd out of the country as much as possible. However, the taxpayer should not have to pay for the Prime Minister's political headache."

A spokeswoman for Mr Rudd said his overseas travel "is a requirement in his work to strengthen Australia's security and enhance Australia's prosperity. This year has required a demanding travel schedule due to significant international events," she said.

All overseas travel was approved by the Prime Minister.

Truly a Foreign Minister... foreign to Australia!!

[theholmesmob]

uh -oh ....just seen Warren is in the thread...time to leave......

[Warren]

You normally only get to see a **** flying in the monkey cage at the zoo.

[OZCUBAN]

I only have one thing to say this charade of a government has to go along with there tree hugging bed mates

[Wil]

Wow, who would've thought? A foreign minister travelling abroad.

[Traz]

The amusing part is when diehard/staunch fans of either party kid themselves into thinking only one side is wasteful when it comes to things like this. Politicians of any creed will always be happy to piss away tons of dough on useless garbage from expensive hosted lunches (calculate the amount per year per event per etc) to renovating locations of no use to anyone but themselves. In the end it’s a joke to kid yourself that your personal Hero/etc is no different to the rest. Still, hypocrisy never loses its hilarious charm thusly.