kevin rudds attack on john howard

I wonder what John's responce will be?

Imre Salusinszky | July 22, 2008
KEVIN Rudd has launched a stinging attack on his predecessor, branding John Howard "an absolute failure" in preparing Australia for the end of the international economic boom.

The Prime Minister said the policies of the former Howard Government had served Australia well during the good times but were ''downright dangerous for the bad times''.

Speaking in Sydney today at the launch of of Inside Keviin 07, a book on the 2007 election campaign by Christine Jackman, a senior writer with The Australian, Mr Rudd said the former Coalition government had "no interest whatsoever" in preparing Australia for the great changes that were overtaking the world in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century.

He said Australia under the Howard government had been living off the boom rather than lifting productivity to prepare for the end of the boom.

He said Australia had been left behind in education, had ignored the damage of climate change and had failed to respond to changes in the region and the world, including the rise of China and India as economic superpowers.

Mr Rudd said ''the storm clouds are even darker'' than when he took office and that tough decisions would be required for the long term.

"The need for a responsible reform program is greater than ever and the need for a government with the guts to prosecute such a program is greater than ever,'' Mr Rudd said