Kevin Rudd is a man who likes to make big calls. Big calls, he argues, saved the country from the economic outhouse during the global financial crisis. And big calls got Australia a hot seat with the cool kids on the United Nations Security Council.
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But if Barry O'Farrell had his way, the Prime Minister would restrict his calling activities to the telephone.
On Tuesday, amid the painted ceilings and glowing chandeliers of the Lowy Institute, Rudd announced, if re-elected, Labor would look at shifting the Navy from Garden Island in Sydney harbour to the north and west. Never mind that as recently as May, the Defence White Paper had decided the $6 billion price tag was too expensive.
An ominously generic-sounding ''Future Navy Taskforce'' would examine the issue, he told the hushed gathering, before decamping to the harbour-side.
Perched on a grassy patch against the backdrop of the gigantic ships of Garden Island, Rudd proudly declared, ''I'm about building for the future.''
None of his colleagues in the Defence portfolio was present for the announcement (Industry Minister Kim Carr was Rudd's date), but the PM insisted there had been ''deep consultations'' within government about the idea.
Rudd also had a zinger ready for local Premier, Barry O'Farrell, who had told morning radio that a Garden Island move would devastate the NSW economy, despite previously calling for the site to be opened up to cruise ships.
''Be consistent, Barry,'' Rudd lectured.
But the Prime Minister's gotcha stocks plummeted when walking up the hill back to his car. Who should he bump into on the pathway but the NSW Premier himself.
''Good morning Kevin, a phone call would have been helpful,'' O'Farrell said, who later told 2GB that he had only come down to the harbour side after seeing Rudd on TV.
''It's about the national security of Australia,'' Rudd offered, before turning away.
Given the face scrunching awkwardness of the personal encounter, it is perhaps not surprising that the two leaders chose to continue their debate, long-distance.
In NSW Parliament, O'Farrell said that Rudd should use his phone for calling his state colleagues. ''Stop the selfies.''
For his part, Rudd journeyed home, where he made a brief and windswept visit to the Port of Brisbane or Garden Island 2.0.
''Last time I looked at the constitution, the Royal Australian Navy did not belong to the Premier of NSW,'' he observed.
