Kevin Rudd's behaviour while representing Australia to the UN might not have been his sole indiscretion.
Issues are beginning to surface regarding Rudd's time as administrator in Queensland in '90's. Including the cover up of the rape of a 14yo Aboriginal girl.
Rudd doesn't excuse his behaviour, or explain it. But, almost certainly, he will soon be Prime Minister
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Everyone has had more sex than me Radio Edit
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Kevin Rudd admits visit to strip club
By Glenn Milne
OPPOSITION Leader Kevin Rudd has admitted visiting a New York strip club during a drunken night while representing Australia at the United Nations.
Mr Rudd yesterday issued a statement to The Sunday Telegraph, confirming he went to the club.
But he said he could not recall what happened at the night spot because he had "had too much to drink".
"If my behaviour caused any offence to anybody whatsoever that evening, I of course wholeheartedly apologise," he said.
Mr Rudd went to the Manhattan "gentlemen's club" Scores in September, 2003, when he was Shadow foreign affairs minister.
Bipartisan observer
He was in New York at taxpayers' expense as a bipartisan observer at the UN.
Mr Rudd went to the club, which is a well-known haunt of UN diplomats and journalists, with New York Post editor Col Allan and Northern Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon.
Discussions about Mr Rudd's actions have been current in diplomatic and political circles for some time.
But last week a Canberra-based source approached The Sunday Telegraph and confirmed accounts of the evening.
A 'perfect gentleman'
Mr Allan (an employee of News Corporation, parent company of the publisher of NEWS.com.au) then confirmed he and the Opposition Leader had been to a "gentlemen's club".
"Yes, we went out for a drink," Mr Allan said.
"Yes, it was at a gentleman's club and he (Mr Rudd) behaved like a perfect gentleman."
Confronted with the revelations yesterday, Mr Rudd said he recalled attending a dinner with Mr Allan and Mr Snowdon in New York in 2003.
"After dinner, Mr Allan suggested to Mr Snowdon and I that we all go on for a drink. Mr Snowdon and I agreed," he said.
"By that stage, I had had too much to drink.
"With the benefit of hindsight, I should not have gone on for a further drink.
"Not withstanding the fact that I had had too much to drink, I have no recollection (nor does Mr Snowdon) of any incident occurring at the nightclub - or of being asked to leave.
"It is our recollection that we left within about an hour."
'Warned against touching dancers'
But, according to some sources, Mr Rudd was warned against touching the dancers by Scores management.
Reports of Mr Rudd's behaviour reached senior Australian diplomats serving in the US at the time.
One of those diplomats, who insisted on anonymity, confirmed to The Sunday Telegraph a version of events involving "inappropriate behaviour".
It is understood that Mr Rudd and Mr Snowdon complied with the management directive.
"I have never been informed of any report of these events to any Australian diplomat," Mr Rudd wrote.
"I would have thought given the time that has elapsed since then that I would have been informed or the matter made public as it would have been in the possession of the Government.
Admission to wife
"At the time, I raised these matters with my wife Therese and the circumstances surrounding them.
"I indicated to Therese that it would have been far better for me to have simply returned to my hotel after dinner.
"I have never claimed to be perfect but I make no excuses.
"I take full responsibility for my actions."
Mr Rudd said he has met with Mr Allan in New York on at least three occasions.
The trip, which cost taxpayers $18,000, was conducted under the auspices of the Parliamentary Entitlements Act.
Under this Act, the Prime Minister gives specific permission for the visit to proceed and the recipient is formally regarded as representing Australia whilst overseas.
At the time of publication, Mr Snowdon had not returned The Sunday Telegraph's calls.
Kevin Rudd's statement
from news.com.au
The transcript of Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's statement regarding his visit to a New York nightclub in 2003:
I have met Mr Col Allan at least three times in New York.
At no stage on any of those visits did I make any request of Mr Allan to take me, or anybody else, to a club of any description.
The only recollection I have of going to a bar or club with Mr Allan was when I was in the company of Warren Snowdon.
Mr Snowdon and I believe that occurred in September, 2003, when we were both in New York.
My recollection, and that of Mr Snowdon, is that Mr Snowdon, Mr Allan and I went to dinner at a restaurant in New York.
Mr Snowdon was at that stage in New York attached to the Australian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.
After dinner, Mr Allan suggested to Mr Snowdon and I that we all go on for a drink.
Mr Snowdon and I agreed.
By that stage, I had had too much to drink.
With the benefit of hindsight, i should not have gone on for a further drink.
Nothwithstanding the fact I had had too much to drink, I have no recollection (nor does Mr Snowdon) of any incident occurring at the nightclub or of being asked to leave.
It is our recollection that we left within about an hour.
If my behaviour caused any offence to anybody whatsoever in the evening, I of course wholeheartedly apologise.
I have never been informed of any report of these events to any Australian diplomat.
I would have thought, given the time that has elapsed since then, that I would have been informed or the matter made public, as it would have been in the possession of the Government.
At the time, i raised these matters with my wife, Therese, and the circumstances surrounding them.
I indicated to Therese that it would have been far better for me to have simply returned to my hotel room after dinner.
I have never claimed to be perfect, but I make no excuses.
I take full responsibility for my actions.
Canberra - August 18, 2007
Guided tour of Scores strip club
from news.com.au
SCORES in Manhattan is variously described as "a strip club", "a haven for horny high rollers" and "one of several gentlemen's clubs which changed the face of adult entertainment during the early 1990s".
It's also full-on.
One Australian who's been there described the "entertainment" to The Sunday Telegraph: "The girls start with dresses on. Then they come off and they don't have any bras on - just a g-string.
"Then they start dancing, rubbing their breasts into the customers' faces, lap dancing.
"The guys have their hands all over their backsides and their legs.
"All the girls specialise in turning around, bending over to face the customer and then there's lots of butt slapping.
"They open the men's legs apart.
"The manager - a big guy - comes around and asks whether you want a blonde or brunette.
"There are private rooms you can go to."
In January this year, some of the "dancers" were charged with prostitution-related offences at the club, described in one newspaper report as an "implant paradise".
According to the report, in The New York Post, four strippers and two of their bosses were charged for "offering to take undercover officers, who were acting on a tip, into a back room and pleasure them for money".
The price was $US200 ($250) to $US700 ($880) depending on the "act".
A so-called "Platinum Package" in one of those rooms costs $US195 ($246) for three hours.
According to the Scores website: "If privacy is what you seek then look no further than the President's Club.
"Enjoy the up close and personal company of your favourite Scores girl or girls."
"Tipping is made easy at Scores with Diamond Dollars.
"Use your credit card instead of your cash. Best of all, it's discreet!"
One customer review on the NY City Search site notes: "Scores has the best bouncers among all gentleman clubs in NY City.
"They do not interfere unless you really cross the limit."
The club has hosted celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and US shock jock Howard Stern, who regularly promotes the venue in his program.
But Scores also has a dark side.
There have been allegations of mafia connections in the past.
There have also been civil lawsuits filed against the club from customers alleging contested credit card charges of as much as $US129,000 ($162,000).
MP denies Rudd touched strippers
By Maria Hawthorne and Jane Bunce
ONE of Kevin Rudd's drinking companions on a boozy night at a New York strip club has denied claims that the Labor Leader was cautioned for touching the dancers.
Mr Rudd said he made a foolish mistake in going to the Scores “gentlemen's club” in Manhattan in September 2003 while on a taxpayer-funded visit to the US.
Details of the evening, which occurred when Mr Rudd was the Opposition foreign affairs spokesman, were splashed across newspapers today, embarrassing Mr Rudd and damaging his clean image as a committed Christian and family man.
Mr Rudd admitted visiting Scores with Labor backbencher Warren Snowdon and New York Post editor Col Allan but said he was too drunk to remember exactly what happened.
But Mr Snowdon rubbished claims that Mr Rudd was warned for touching the dancers and denied that they were asked to leave the club.
“It's just not true, it's a beat up, someone's creative imagination and there's nothing in it,” Mr Snowdon told the ABC.
“We stayed for a reasonably short length of time, nothing untoward happened and we left.”
Describing it as a foolish mistake, Mr Rudd said he had had too much to drink and had only hazy memories of the night.
He apologised if he offended anybody and said he expected to take a hammering in the polls.
He suggested Foreign Minister Alexander Downer could be the source of the story after reports that news of his behaviour had filtered back to diplomats.
Asked if he thought it was the start of a Liberal Party smear campaign ahead of the upcoming election, Mr Rudd said that was something for Mr Downer to answer.
“It's a question you should put to Mr Downer and his staff but my responsibility is simply to be upfront and accountable for my own actions,” Mr Rudd said.
“I've done that and I'll take whatever result ensues in terms of the way in which the public judge me.
“That's a matter for the public and they'll make their determination on these things come next election.”
A spokesman for Mr Downer said the minister would not dignify Mr Rudd's suggestion with a response.
Senior ministers were at pains not to comment on the story, with even Health Minister Tony Abbott refusing to bite.
“I have decided to be a Trappist monk on this topic,” Mr Abbott said.
“I think a vow of silence is good.”
Treasurer Peter Costello said it was a matter for Mr Rudd.
But he said he had not been to the strip club.
“No, I can honestly say that I have never been there, nor has Col (Allan) ever suggested that to me,” Mr Costello told Channel 10 today.
“I find when I'm in America on official business they pack your program pretty full. I don't think that you get much time for that kind of activity.”
Mr Rudd said he rang his wife, Therese Rein, at home in Brisbane the next day to tell her about his mistake.
He said he was not a big drinker and could only remember two occasions when he had drunk too much – the Scores' night and at a party at his home on his 35th birthday.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said the story would endear Mr Rudd to voters because it showed he had “blood in his veins”.
But Mr Rudd said he could think of better ways to humanise his image.
So what does Snowdon's defence tell us?
Is it like that song "This hand is my hand. It was not your hand"?
Or, is Snowdon using that defence not accorded Costello when he met some journalists in 2005, and spoke off the record? Something not documented did not happen, I suppose.
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