Former prime minister Kevin Rudd turned up to his old department this week to share a few drinks and thank the public servants whose lives he ruled for two and a half years.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet played host to Mr Rudd on Wednesday night when senior management reminisced with him about the ‘‘good old days’’ when a mere phone call from the house on the hill sent chills down their spines.
Mr Rudd’s short time as prime minister was characterised by an iron-fisted rule over the public service that saw senior bureaucrats working around the clock and often forced to cancel leave and weekends at his behest.
Department secretary Terry Moran initiated the idea for the gathering and invited Mr Rudd before last month’s election was called. Some other departmental heads joined the festivities, described by insiders as a low-key affair attended by about 150 people.
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