Will be interesting to see if there is an ALP leadership spill prior to the election
"Make-up artist's comments put focus back on Kevin Rudd's temper
MAKE-UP could fill in the frown lines but no amount of concealer could mask Kevin Rudd's not-so-friendly face backstage before Wednesday's debate.
After smoothing Mr Rudd's complexion at Broncos Leagues Club, Brisbane make up artist Lily Fontana took to Facebook saying she had never been treated so badly.
Mr Rudd, who was concentrating on notes moments before the debate, yesterday acknowledged he had been "in the zone" and, like most men, doesn't like having make up applied.
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"Just finished doing Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott's makeup for the People's Forum at the Broncos Leagues Club," Ms Fontana wrote on Wednesday night.
"One of them was absolutely lovely, engaged in genuine conversation with me, acknowledge (Sic) that I had a job to do and was very appreciative. The other did the exact opposite! Oh boy,
Mr Rude.
I have ever (Sic) had anyone treat me so badly."
There are further revelations in The Australian this morning that a retired air vice-marshal has accused Kevin Rudd of "bully standover tactics".
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Criss revealed Mr Rudd had warned him in a private meeting that funding for veterans would be at risk if he "bagged" the Labor government. He accused Mr Rudd of using "classic bully standover tactics" and threatening veterans with getting nothing if they criticised Labor's military superannuation indexation policy.
The retired airman alleged that at a meeting in the Prime Minister's office on July 11, attended by Mr Rudd, Defence Force Welfare Association national president David Jamison, DFWA executive director Alf Jaugietis and Defence Materiel Minister Mike Kelly, Mr Rudd warned the DFWA against bagging the Labor government.
"I told him I was going to have to point out to our members that what Labor is offering is not a good deal," Air Vice-Marshal Criss said.
"I'm the national media manager, so I told him I would be putting together policy comparisons of what each party is offering. Rudd said, 'That's fine, but don't bag us, because if you bag us, we'll pull up the drawbridge and you'll get nothing'."
Of makeup artist Ms Fontana, Mr Abbott yesterday said: "(She) did a great job making my craggy face as presentable as possible". The pair had shared "a great conversation," he said.
Ms Fontana and her Facebook post.
While the wedding and magazine specialist who has worked overseas later withdrew her comments and went to ground, closing her Facebook page and declining to return calls, the incident has renewed focus on Mr Rudd's temper.
In his first term as PM he was accused of reducing a RAAF flight attendant to tears over a meal request, blowing up about a hair dryer in Afghanistan - a claim Mr Rudd rejected - and swearing in frustration as he recorded a video statement.
Coalition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull called the matter a "disturbing insight into character" and said he felt sorry for Ms Fontana.
"It's always very regrettable when people are rude to those who are not in a position to answer back," he said.
"I would think being rude to make up artists is quite a dangerous thing to do; leaving aside a breach of common courtesy, they might make you up to look less flattering perhaps."
Sky News, which employed Ms Fontana, said the comments on social media were "extremely unprofessional," adding in a statement "we do not agree with them."
"Didn't think my personal page/opinion of my day would get so much attention. What a lesson to learn. I've removed the post and regret making the comments I did," Ms Fontana wrote before her Facebook page was removed.
Her husband Ervin Fontana said: "I can't comment on these things."
Friend Abigael Johnston replied on Facebook, telling Ms Fontana: "I second this Lily.
"I have had a very similar experience! Must run in the family as Mr Howard and Mr Costello were gentlemen with a capital G. Mr Abbott is following in their footsteps. The other, I could not even face book how he treated the crew. Just abhorrent!"
Ms Johnston said she had done Mr Rudd's make up when he was Prime Minister the first time.
Mr Rudd dismissed the complaint, saying he believed a misunderstanding had occurred.
"I understand that the person concerned has withdrawn their remarks from Facebook, and they regretted making those comments," he said.
"When you are preparing for a debate with two or three minutes to go and someone walks in and puts stuff on your face, you smile, you are in the zone, you're ready to go - I don't know about you folks but I'm not happy about having make-up put on at the best of days.
"I think a misunderstanding has occurred and I have no hard feelings."
Witnesses said Mr Rudd was reading notes, which he had to leave behind before he went on stage after breaching a rule at the first debate and referring to them during the event.
No one in the Labor Party contacted Ms Fontana to ask her to withdraw her comments."
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One got removed for heckling?