15:30 - Kevin Rudd has seized on comments by John Howard that a leadership handover to Peter Costello would not occur for at least 18 months after the election, should the Coalition be returned to government.
Mr Rudd said Howard's annoucement confirmed his lack of accountability in regard to pledges made at yesterday's official campaign launch. "The bottom line is Mr Howard has no responsibility for implementing his campaign commitments yesterday because he won't be around to oversee their implementation," he said.
Mr Rudd also said he was concerned about the inflationary impact of the Government's public spending spree although he was careful not to alienate voters by criticising John Howard's education rebate directly. "I don't give a . . ." began Rudd before re-framing his comment. "I don't care whether schools are government-owned or non-government," he said.
13:00 - Kevin Rudd announced today that a Labor government would provide $480 million to help improve sections of Queesnland’s Bruce Highway that cut through the heart of safe Nationals’ seat, Wide Bay.
"The Howard government has taken Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast for granted, and has lost touch with local businesses and families," Rudd said.
09:00 - Kevin Rudd and Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan made a quick stop at their old high school in Nambour, QLD this morning. The two men attended Nambour High just two years apart. View the video of the visit by clicking on the Video Tab above.
"It's fantastic to be back in Queensland, fantastic to be back in Nambour and fantastic to be back at Nambour High," Rudd said to an excited mob of students.
The Opposition leader, who was dux of the school in 1974, posed for photos with Swan around the school and reminisced about their time there. Swan was apparently captain of the school's rugby team.
"Wayne was very, very cool - I was very, very not," Rudd joked.
The response was promising, but Nambour sits in the seat of Fairfax - a very safe Liberal stronghold.
The men now make their way to Maroochydoor, where Rudd is expected to continue his attack on the Coalition's official campaign platform, launched yesterday.
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