Top 15 Kevin Rudd Quotes

There's nothing like having a bit of somebody else in you.

I actually believe in a big Australia - I make no apology for that. I actually think it's good news that our population is growing.

It is unlikely that you'll have anything emerge from MEF (Major Economies Forum) by way of detailed programmatic specificity.

That means temporary borrowings. People have to understand that because there's going to be the usual political shit storm, sorry, political storm.

My name is Kevin, I'm from Queensland, and I'm here to help.

The major challenges of climate change, the major challenge of the economy and manufacturing, the major challenges in education, and how do we turbo-charge our national education system to create the knowledge base for the future of the Australian economy. These are the sorts of areas that you're going to see detailed policy plans from us in the weeks and months ahead...

When it comes to labour market reform, here's the difference between us and John Howard: John Howard regards labour as just like any other economic commodity. We actually see labour as made up of human beings. These are human beings with an intrinsic dignity. When they go to the workplace, they're not just like a lump of wood or a piece of coal, these are human beings, and they should be treated properly as people with intrinsic rights.

Compassion is not a dirty word. Compassion is not a sign of weakness. In my view, compassion in politics and in public policy is in fact a hallmark of great strength. It is a hallmark of a society which has about it a decency which speaks for itself.

I say to those opposite: we intend to prevail in this battle of ideas, on the ground, right through to the next election. We intend to prevail.

Labor’s message then is this: we believe in a strong economy; we believe also in a fair go for all, not just for some.

When you analyse it carefully, it is about a family’s ability to stay together and have time together. We all know, with our fractured lives in this place, how difficult it becomes when we as human beings cannot spend time with one another. However, the problem is that these industrial relations laws now set that disease in place right across the nation in every workplace, in every part of the country. What I fear most of all is the ultimate impact of this on the fabric of Australian family life.

We have seen this complete right wing takeover of modern liberalism, and it is an ugly spectacle to behold.

This goes to demonstrate the fact that John Howard established this inquiry in order to bring about his own absolution, not to bring about any form of accountability.

If he has any self-respect he would resign over this matter, the negligence is so gross.

[But] we should not be kowtowing to anybody when it comes to freedom in this country.