James Packer says Kevin Rudd took Australia’s relationship with Asia backwards

[nero_bolt]

James Packer says Kevin Rudd took Australia’s relationship with Asia backwards 

BILLIONAIRE James Packer has unloaded on former prime minister Kevin Rudd, accusing him of damaging Australia’s relationship with its Asian neighbours.

The Crown Chairman, who is accompanying Prime Minister Tony Abbott on his current trip to the region, has criticised the previous Labor government’s diplomacy skills.

“When you go around and lecture people, and I think you’d know who I’m talking about, some people don’t take it that well,” Mr Packer told 3AW Radio.

“Especially if you position yourself as a foreign policy expert,” he said, referring to Mr Rudd.

The businessman argued the current PM is working to forge a closer relationship with Asia.

“I think the truth is that Australia’s relationships with China, Japan, India and Indonesia probably all went backwards over the last five years.”

Australia’s integration into Asia is, at a macro level, just about the most important thing our government can do.”

Mr Packer is part of a delegation of senior Australian business leaders travelling with Mr Abbott, which also includes Kerry Stokes and Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.

Mr Packer said it was important for Australia to show countries like Japan that it’s open for business.

“I think the Prime Minister making Asia, very clearly the first big trip he’s taken in his Prime Ministership … is again showing that the interaction with Asia is going to be key to Australia’s economic future,” he argued.

The head of Crown wished Mr Rudd “well” but his “personal view” was that the former PM damaged Australia’s relationship with our neighbours and Mr Abbott is having to make up ground.

“That’s why so many people are up here supporting him in the business community,” Mr Packer added, declaring he was a “big fan” of the current Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister last night announced the government had concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement with Japan

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/james-packer-says-kevin-rudd-took-australias-relation...

[lakeland27]

here we go, 'rags to riches' stories   the old standby ''you can do it too''  that rubbish doesn't wash. for one what would happen if we all 'pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps ' ?  the economy would collapse totally

its no secret a pool of unemployed is required by a capitalist system to keep people working in menial jobs. the fear of being one of the unemployed keeps them there.

[freakiness]

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I think you will find it's a 2 way street Mr Grizz.

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i don't understand what you mean

2 way street?

in which way.

if the wealthy didn't invest in these companies where would we work?

take my bosses as a example. 2 brothers took some risks, borrowed a lot of money.

have done very little of the phsyical work them selves.

now they are both multi millionaires.

they employ 400+ staff

are we meant to hate them for that?

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Who suggested that we are meant to "hate" them for that?

Being critical of a few rent seekers does not equate to hating all those who worked to become wealthy.

[*mrgrizz*]

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@lakeland27 wrote:

here we go, 'rags to riches' stories   the old standby ''you can do it too''  that rubbish doesn't wash. for one what would happen if we all 'pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps ' ?  the economy would collapse totally

its no secret a pool of unemployed is required by a capitalist system to keep people working in menial jobs. the fear of being one of the unemployed keeps them there.

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we aren't all going to do it

i myself have no desire to as do countless thousands.

but the point is you can if you wish

[boris1gary]

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@freakiness wrote:

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

---

@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I think you will find it's a 2 way street Mr Grizz.

---

i don't understand what you mean

2 way street?

in which way.

if the wealthy didn't invest in these companies where would we work?

take my bosses as a example. 2 brothers took some risks, borrowed a lot of money.

have done very little of the phsyical work them selves.

now they are both multi millionaires.

they employ 400+ staff

are we meant to hate them for that?

---

Who suggested that we are meant to "hate" them for that?

Being critical of a few rent seekers does not equate to hating all those who worked to become wealthy.

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I have the same "respect" of the capitalist class as they do of the working class. It's nothing personal.

[spotweldersfriend]

Well some of us want to accumulate wealth (spear chucking hunter gatherers) and I have the utmost respect for them 🙂 .

[freakiness]

While packer is doing good deeds for Abbott, by taking domestic politics to the international stage and slagging off Labor,  I wonder what his pay off is.

[spotweldersfriend]

A night with poodles?:)

[buzzlightyearsgirlfriend]

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@kilroy_is_here wrote:
Lack of formal qualifications doesn't make someone stupid , in fact some of the stupidest people I have met have letters before and after there name

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There name. Where? 

[buzzlightyearsgirlfriend]

Who are the idol rich and how do we distinguish them from the lazy rich? 

[silverfaun]

I really don't think anybody could go overboard in slinging off at Labor... in fact there's really no limit or base line you could possibly cross in slinging off Labor,   lets face it, they so richly deserve it  so why should anybody hold back.