A BAD WEEK

David Speers, Sky News Political Editor

4 June 2010

It was one of those weeks for Kevin Rudd.

Monday was spent trying (and failing) to defend the use of taxpayers' money to advertise his mining tax.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister had to steady the nerves of jittery caucus members after another dismal Newspoll.

Wednesday was just a headache. Mining executives descended on Canberra for their annual conference and cllectively railed against the RSPT. The PM even had to crack open the drinks fridge in his office for a select few.

On Thursday Xstrata blamed the mining tax for shelving investments and jobs in Queensland, where Premier Anna Bligh urged the PM to just fix it.

Then on Friday Barack Obama rang to call off his visit.

What a disaster.

Admittedly Kevin Rudd can't be blamed for President Obama's cancellation. Short of plugging the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, there's nothing an Australian PM could have done to keep this visit alive.

But the rest of the Prime Minister's troubles are his own making.

Whether you support the mining tax or not (and the Newspoll shows most don't), the government is failing to sell it to the public and failing to show any progress in its negotiations with any part of the mining sector.

It's hard for anyone to believe the government's claim this tax will grow the industry when no-one in the industry, not even the small operators, will back it.

There's little sign the government is serious about a negotiated outcome.

Mining executives I spoke to this week were incredibly hostile towards the government.

They're angry about the tax.

They're angry their valid concerns are being dismissed as "ignorance" and "lies".

And they're angry about the language being used by Kevin Rudd and his Ministers, who appear more interested in picking a fight than seeking compromise.

This close to an election Kevin Rudd can't afford to lose too many weeks.

But he's just lost this one.

Share your thoughts on this blog:

Comments are moderated and will not appear until they have been approved.

fred, sydney (3 September 2010 9:48AM) wrote:
David, congratulations on the initiative with the three independants' interview last night BUT you did show a bias by not asking the three key questions: What was their attitude to: The Labour and Coalition policies on the NBN, Health, and the Mining tax? Is there a plausible reason you avoided those matters??

Karen Dance, Brisbane (13 June 2010 9:24AM) wrote:
A bad week eh David. Try three bad years! In his endeavour to be a national treasure, all he has achieved is being a monument to ineptitude.

Kym Barnes, Adelaide (12 June 2010 10:54PM) wrote:
There's been a lot of bad weeks David. Kevin Rudds' report card thus far... Aboriginal affairs - Fail. Grocery Watch - Fail. Fuel Watch - Fail. Insulation - Fail. BER - Fail. Border protection - Fail. ETS - Fail. Health Reform - Fail. Whale Watch - Fail. Tax Reform - Fail. 2018 World Cup - Fail. Budget Surplus - Fail. I'd continue but you know where it's going. Let's have a good week, starting with getting rid of the worst Prime Minister in Australian history.

Tanya Bennett, Kalgoorlie, WA (11 June 2010 2:33AM) wrote:
Hi David, I think I might vote you in for Prime minister, you know exactly what is going on,Your question on the number of questions on mining tax in the WA community cabinet, did anyone ever think that there were not many questions asked because West aussies in particular are totally over the mining tax and probably have already decided to vote greens or libs just because the tax is so intelectually out of reach for most Australians to understand, and after all the sneeking around by the labour gov, we don't want to understand, why should we, Kevin Rudd does not want to negotiate this tax because as he says he thinks he has it right, well he is the only one, and he doesn't want to negotiate because he just wants to be right, People in Wa will not be told what to do, and they don't like to be treated as though they are stupid, Kevin Rudd the political Stud is fast turning into Kevin the "Dudd". Thanks David, Stay kool. Regards Tanya Mining town resident Kalgoorlie WA

Kevin Brennan, Waitara, NSW (10 June 2010 5:24PM) wrote:
David the timing of the introduction of the mining tax is puzzling me. The Henry Tax review arrived in Rudds office at Xmas, in April the Kitchen Cabinet planned the media campaign in anticipation of the mineral councils response, in May they release the policy which will not be legislated for till after the election and the policy will not start till 2012. So this is an election-program policy announcement that is setting the government up to be slaughtered in the polls and Rudd is yet again isolated trying to repackage the problem.

Natalie Woodley, Diamond Creek, Vic (8 June 2010 10:02PM) wrote:
David, I viewed you yesterday, Monday speaking with Hawker and Morris. You are now able to admit Rudd has some problems, but you try to make out Abbotts problems are worse?? What planet do you live on? Where is your logic, you treat we the viewers, as though we are utterly moronic, unfortunately it is you and the majority of journalists in this country that are utterly biased and moronic. I suggest you view Andrew Bolts blog today; "The Press Pack Turns on Rudd", read some of the posts, they describe you and many of your peers accurately, then read the blog, Broken Promises, read the never ending list of the lies and failures of this horrific P.M. that the media sold to the voting sheep of Australia. Start being an unbiased journalist, do some actual work as posters on Bolts site do and stop allowing that LYING Bruce Hawker to spew his lies and spin on Sky News, I guess he,s scared of losing the money tree that Rudd has become for him, he's a charlatan as is Rudd, the sooner you recognize these facts, you may be able to regain some credability, you guys have reduced your profession (if you can call it that) to lower than a used car salesman.

lyn, Adelaide (8 June 2010 4:56PM) wrote:
Liberal party will never have to do any advertising as the election gets closer Sky news political journalist and print journalist will be doing it all for them.

Peter , Coffs Harbour, NSW (6 June 2010 9:04AM) wrote:
It is amazing how out of touch with reality the SKY news is when it comes to this disaster now known as the Rudd Labor disaster. Every where you go now and on talk back radio everybody is saying the same thing about how incredible bad this Government is and where is the Governor General to sack this disaster but the ignorant fools who make up the medai are still pretending Labor are doing a good job. You are starting to give SKY news a bad name. Although it deals with the US thank God for FOX news who do not treat thier viewers like idiots and make you people look like some sort of bad joke. Let me guess, you fools are so ignorant you have no idea what I'm talking about. Continue with your extremist Left wing bias at your own peril.

May, 2000 (4 June 2010 8:04PM) wrote:
now you must of had a differnt week to me i thought it was a great week for the p,m. Paul Howes on Wed, Good polls but then you proably dont look at other polls except newspoll A smile on his face and a great pm get over it the mine tax is a great thing for this country when you reach 65 plus you will have more supper and your children will even have more. when the minerals are gone they are gone. We should build up the countries finances, e.g. Canada can i have read only be mined 8 months of the year due to snow, and their tonage is not anything like ours. No the miners will still be here.

Gary, Melbourne (4 June 2010 7:35PM) wrote:
Pure rot David. Even your own Essential Poll shows a majority supports the mining tax. Given up on them have you? Q. The Government has proposed a resources super profits tax- which is a 40% tax on the large profits of mining companies - in order to fund a reduction in company tax, assistance for small business and an increase in superannuation. Do you support or oppose this tax? Total support 43% Total oppose 36% Strongly support 12% Support 31% Oppose 22% Strongly oppose 14% Don’t know 20

Chris, Australia (4 June 2010 6:13PM) wrote:
Rudd is history in our town. We rely on mining for our prosperity.