Rudd's 'punishing workload' leads the news bulletins

Even though I wrote about this earlier today (and Mark Bahnisch has some extensive coverage of it) and I still think its a serious issue, it was just a little surreal to hear it leading the Sunday afternoon radio bulletins (2GB) as I headed to and from seeing the great St George Dragons dish out a drubbing to the Russell Crowe Rabbitohs. Even more surreal was the other big story of the day John Della Bosca 'hitler' you tube story. (link to video).

But there is evidence that Rudd seriously doesn't understand the nature of the problem. For instance, a Channel Nine story (see also AAP) carries this gem:

Mr Rudd, who has nicknamed his office "Stalag Kevin", had no public appearances.

Imagine working in a place where even the boss compares it to a prison or a concentration camp, even jocularly.

And, of course, the usual health experts have been getting coverage too:

However, Australian Medical Association (AMA) spokesman Dr Doug Travis warns all workers need rest.

"Fatigued workers behave in a similar manner to workers who have a moderate level of alcohol in their blood," he said.

ABC Insiders program also replayed some audio of talkback callers to the ABC's Canberra radio station sounding off about the impact Rudd's demands are having.

It would be easy to dismiss this stuff as a bit of Sunday silliness but I reckon that everytime there's a leak or a stuff-up or a sign of some internal discord the Rudd style will be raised as a probable cause.

Update: Leakwatch