Australian scandal backfires

But the fall out could soon result in the demise of not Labour Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, but Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.

Ute-Gate has captured the imagination of the Australian public not so much for the alleged underhanded dealings and political intrigue it represents.

The ute -- a utility vehicvle such as a truck or SUV -- is a potent cultural symbol in Australia -- a motorized ensign speaking of patriotism, of honesty, of rugged rural-based individuality and the virtues of the popular local beverage, Bundaberg Rum.

"Bundy Rum -- so much more than a breakfast food," is one bumper sticker popular among ute drivers who are often young, country-bred males who, in the southern states of America, would almost certainly be driving pickup trucks with Confederate flags fluttering from an aerial used to transmit (exclusively) country music.

The ute scandal is simple enough as far as political scandals go.

Rudd's neighbour in the family home located in an upmarket suburb of the Queensland capital of Brisbane is a wealthy used car dealer named John Grant.

Grant loaned Rudd an old "ute" probably worth around $4,000 Cdn to be used as a sort of mobile electoral office.

As Rudd came to power and the global economy collapsed, car dealers across Australia found themselves losing customers as credit lines dried up.

The Rudd government created the "Ozcar" scheme to help reopen credit lines and the Opposition alleged Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan helped Grant access Ozcar money to pay back the favour of loaning the PM a "ute".

If it all sounds a bit thin to Canadian ears so far, it's because it was, until an explosive email appeared.

The email allegedly showed the PM's office explicitly directing Treasury officials to assist Grant right after Rudd categorically denied to the federal Parliament he had done any such thing.

Canadians will be well aware of the grave view the Westminster system takes of the crime of misleading Parliament, and everyone knows it's the cover-up rather than the crime which brings about a politician's undoing.

Turnbull could barely contain his joy but, sadly for Turnbull at least, the email turned out to be a fake.

Federal police have been called, a Treasury official is under investigation and the government is demanding Turnbull resign on "character" grounds.

Turnbull has, obviously, refused and by mid-week was still lamely flogging what appeared to be a very dead horse.

On Wednesday, he moved a motion in Parliament calling for a judicial inquiry to examine a range of communications between Grant and Grant's "associates" in the government including "emails parliamentary and personal accounts, text, MMS and BlackBerry messages, voice mail, voice to text messages, any other written or electronic communication."

Turnbull's blustering will almost certainly amount to nothing apart from contributing to a growing concern in Opposition ranks that he may not be the man to lead them in the next election against the increasingly confident Labour government.

"He doesn't have the character to occupy the highest office in the land," declared Rudd, in case they needed any help in making up their minds.

Influential Opposition front bencher Tony Abbot says the Liberal/National Party Coalition is 100 per cent behind Turnbull.

"The government is absolutely hyperventilating on this one," he said.

"I am absolutely certain that the conduct of Malcolm Turnbull and all members of the Opposition is completely above board."

The Australian electorate may well be more concerned about the fate of the ute and its reputation as a solid, dependable symbol of a nation at work than the politics of the matter.

The Brisbane-based Courier Mail reported Wednesday that the organizers of annual "Ute Muster," which can now attract up to 20,000 ute fans to the New South Wales town of Denilliquin, are worried the ute brand may suffer "collateral damage" from Ute-Gate.

Organizer John Harvie wants Rudd to put the cares of office behind him, get into his much maligned ute and join the muster to show some solidarity with all ute lovers.

"We are worried Mr. Rudd will lose the love of the ute," he said.

"I'm sure thousands of ute lovers would not want that. Let's get that ute passion back."

Michael Madigan is the Winnipeg Free Press correspondent in Australia. He writes about politics for the Brisbane-based Courier Mail.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 26, 2009 A12