Aus ex-PM’s 'like cane toads'
2010-07-15 14:07
Sydney - A former Australian leader sniped at his predecessor's political record on Thursday in an extraordinary tit-for-tat brawl which one former colleague likened to "old men croaking like cane toads".
Former Labour prime minister Paul Keating accused his forerunner Bob Hawke of rewriting history about their combined 1980s reign, saying: "Narcissus-like, you cannot find enough praise to heap on yourself."
In a vitriolic public letter published in The Australian newspaper, Keating - then Hawke's deputy - said he had carried Hawke through the whole 1984-87 parliament and years of "intellectual and emotional malaise".
"No other prime minister would have survived going missing for that long," Keating wrote, responding to a recently published biography of Hawke written by his mistress-turned-wife Blanche d'Alpuget.
"But with my help you were able to."
Gulf War, Aus$
D'Alpuget said the little-educated Keating lusted for her husband's job and was "attempting to destroy Hawke's place in history" by laying claim to his achievements.
Keating was particularly incensed by passages in the biography which disputed his support for reforms like floating the Australian dollar and the 1991 Gulf War, as well as a description of him as an "ailing vacillator".
Keating deposed Hawke in a 1991 party-room ballot similar to last month's ruthless dumping of Kevin Rudd for his deputy, Julia Gillard, and the public spat will do the ruling Labour party few favours ahead of elections.
'Stop brawling'
Known for his acid tongue and sharp parliamentary ripostes, Keating, now 66, said Hawke, 80, had suffered "long years of depression and executive incapacity" which went ignored by his "obsequious" staff.
"How lucky you were to have me drive the government during your down years, leaving you with the credit for much of the success."
Bill Hayden, the man Hawke ousted to become prime minister, urged the men to stop brawling over things that happened years ago.
"Really, it's getting a bit like old men croaking like cane toads," he said.