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| Down Under |
| Downer urges inquiry into leaked Bush gaffe |
| 2008-11-01 |
| The Federal Government is under pressure to explain how an account of a conversation between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush came to be published in an Australian newspaper. Last week, a newspaper reported that Mr Rudd had to tell Mr Bush what the G20 was during a phone call about global financial problems. Both US officials and the Prime Minister's office have denied the exchange took place. Mr Downer has told ABC1's Insiders program that despite the denials, it appears Mr Rudd leaked details of the conversation and as a consequence, damaged Australia's reputation. He says there should be an inquiry. "Officials in the United States and in other countries would think [that] these people in Australia want to be very careful what you say to them in a private conversation," he said. "I think the smart thing for Kevin Rudd to do would be now to set up an inquiry into what actually happened here. I think that would help to clear the air a lot and I think officials would very much appreciate that." Mr Rudd's office has declined to respond to Mr Downer's comments. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |