Federal election 2022: Kevin Rudd set to return to Perth to ‘support’ Anthony Albanese’s campaign launch

Controversial former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd is on the campaign trail, jetting into Perth this week to doorknock voters and attend Anthony Albanese’s campaign launch. Mr Rudd will be in Perth on Friday to spruik his new book, The Avoidable War — The Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict between the US and Xi Jinping’s China. The day after, he will be on the campaign trail in the Federal seat of Perth, with his former adviser and now Labor MP Patrick Gorman before attending Mr Albanese’s campaign launch on Sunday. “I look forward to supporting his (Anthony Albanese’s) strong, capable Labor team in Perth,” Mr Rudd told The Sunday Times. It’s not surprising Mr Rudd is scheduled to attend Mr Albanese’s election campaign launch in Perth. Mr Albanese was deputy prime minister when Mr Rudd was PM, as well as infrastructure minister. He backed Mr Rudd in the leadership stoush with Ms Gillard in 2012. But Mr Rudd’s past relationship with WA has been rocky. Despite winning the 2007 Federal election, West Australians overwhelmingly voted for John Howard’s Liberals, Mr Rudd’s Labor Party winning Hasluck, but losing Cowan and Swan to the conservatives. Mr Rudd formed a friendship with then WA Liberal premier Colin Barnett — much to the ire of the then WA Labor opposition. Mr Barnett famously often referred to Mr Rudd as his “mate”, with Mr Rudd pouring $236 million into the sinking of the rail line along Wellington Street in what became known as the Northbridge Link. But that friendship cooled, following Mr Rudd’s proposal for a now infamous mining tax, which irked not just Mr Barnett, but mining industry heavyweights who heavily criticised the plan. Under the plan, all mining companies earning more than 6 per cent annual profit would have to pay a 40 per cent tax on all profits above that. The mining companies spent more than $20m fighting the mining tax. Even in this election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has tried to bring back the ghosts of the ill-fated mining tax plan, saying a future Federal Labor government could again bring back that proposal — a claim strenuously denied by Mr Albanese. Mr Gorman said he welcomed Mr Rudd’s arrival in Perth. “Kevin has been campaigning for Labor across Australia and it will be great to have him here in Perth,” he said. “Our WA Labor volunteers are looking forward to meeting former prime minister Kevin Rudd. “Kevin will be firing up our fabulous volunteer doorknocking team as we share Anthony Albanese and Labor’s plan for a better future.”

Top US drug cop’s chilling cartel warning for Australia

Federal election 2022: Kevin Rudd set to return to Perth to ‘support’ Anthony Albanese’s campaign launch