Kevin Rudd blows up over special VIP jet meal

[Auzgurl]

April 03, 2009 07:20am

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd was forced to apologise mid-flight to an RAAF cabin attendant on a VIP jet after he berated her because his "special" meal went missing.

The 23-year-old air force staffer wept and reported the matter to the senior cabin attendant after Mr Rudd reacted "strongly" when told his meal request could not be met.

An official report was filed by 84 Wing and the VIP Fleet Group commander Captain Peter Wood, detailing the behaviour of "VIP No. 1", Mr Rudd.

"The crew were distressed but later in-flight apologies were made by all," the report said.

The attendant later composed herself and continued with the service.

The incident occurred as Mr Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan and other senior officials boarded the VIP jet to Canberra after attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby in January. Mr Rudd has been losing weight and is on a non-red meat and fruit-only for dessert diet.

According to the report, cabin crew on board the taxpayer-funded Boeing 737 VIP aircraft from the RAAF's number 34 Squadron were not even aware of the meal request that caused the blow up.

A Government source said yesterday: "Remedial action was taken to the satisfaction of cabin attendant 1."


It is understood that included a personal apology from Mr Rudd.

"Everyone was placated by that," the source said yesterday.

Mr Rudd's chief spin doctor Lachlan Harris initially tried to cover up the incident with a flat denial that it had even occurred yesterday.

This is not the first unsavoury incident involving Mr Rudd and RAAF cabin crew.

During a 25-minute flight between Sydney and Canberra last June, the Prime Minister is said to have become "extremely irritated" when the only food on offer was fresh, gourmet sandwiches - rather than a hot meal.

In answer to written questions, Defence said: "It is not appropriate for Defence to comment on the service provided by No 34 Squadron on its aircraft."

Almost 24 hours after a response was requested, a spokesperson for Mr Rudd, who flew into London to attend the G20 meeting on his VIP jet, said: "The Prime Minister travels on the special purpose aircraft all the time and is very happy with the outstanding level of service provided by the dedicated members of 34 Squadron."

The Boeing 737 BBJ VIP jet costs more than $28,000 an hour to run and the first class service offered to its privileged passengers includes the best available food, fine wines, spirits and beer. The Port Moresby-Canberra flight would have cost taxpayers about $150,000.

The flying visit to PNG included a "who's who" of senior public servants who spent the return flight putting the finishing touches to the Government's $42 billion economic stimulus package.

Speaking in London today, Mr Rudd has apologised publicly for his ourburst, saying: "I'm only human".

"As I said, we're all human, we all make mistakes, your Prime Minister included," the Prime Minister said

Mr Rudd added: "Prime Ministers make mistakes. I'm sure I have made mistakes. That would be one of them."

And he went further: "All of us are human I'm human. I'm not perfect, you know."
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Kevin Rudd is a perfectionist and drives himself very hard in his ministrations as Prime Minister of very difficult times in Australia presently. Apparently he has a high turnover of personal assistants , rate of one per month and it is said he has a "bad temper"..I see how that could be true..he is extremely measured and quiet.

Kevin Rudd is a workaholic...all work and no play is bad for the health.

[Hebe]

Apparently he can be a real bastard to his staff, and I wouldn't work for him. However, in the absence of any credible alternative politically, he's the man for the job.

I wonder what would happen if she got the union onto him?

[TomB]

No Unions allowed in the Defence Forces.

Best we can do is this

[Aussie]

Fuck, you are a pain in PA's arse, DT,

Why don't you just piss orf?

[Jubial Priest]

said the blackest fucking pot that has ever existed

[Aussie]

.....and it took took you FIVE minutes to respond, huh.

Always lurking, hey?

[Jubial Priest]

.....and it took took you FIVE minutes to respond, huh.

I 'would would' have been here sooner to confront you Aussie but the bat signal blew a globe

[Aussie]

.....and it took took you FIVE minutes to respond, huh.

I 'would would' have been here sooner to confront you Aussie but the bat signal blew a globe

You you are are still still a a pain pain in in the the arse arse,, DD TT!!

Fuck fuck off off..!!

[Jubial Priest]

I'm not DT but you are still a pain in the arse.

No one here is fucking off on your say so Aussie, so go go blow a goat you stupid fuck

[Aussie]

I'm not DT but you are still a pain in the arse.

No one here is fucking off on your say so Aussie, so go go blow a goat you stupid fuck

Oh....................okay, DT.