Kevin Rudd takes aim at Murdoch press, government 'corruption'

He also warned that Australia would become a trade pariah if it didn't act soon on emissions targets, and targeted Rupert Murdoch for alleged political bias in his papers.

A feisty questions session followed the National Press Club address, as Mr Rudd threatened one journalist with defamation action and scolded another who asked whether the former prime minister's own behaviour fell short of appropriate workplace standards.

Mr Rudd said institutions critical to a functioning Australian democracy were under threat from the corrosive effects on political parties of unlimited corporate donations, former ministers becoming lobbyists in all but name, gagging of parliamentary debate and the stonewalling of media.

"Morrison is debasing the high office of Prime Minister in the name of media management," Mr Rudd said.

He said the case for a strong federal corruption commission was now overwhelming, citing the $1.2 billion robodebt refund, $2.5 billion community development grants scheme, $100 million sports rorts affair and $30 million Leppington land transfer.

The Auditor-General, responsible for uncovering much of the "growing list of corruption, mismanagement and scandals", was being starved of funding, he warned, and the public service was politicised by appointments of long-term Liberal Party operatives.

He says he made no political appointments to head government departments and restored the best traditions of Westminster. "As for the Australian foreign service, it becomes a job placement agency for a growing legion of failed conservative politicians," he said.

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Dwelling on claims of sexual assault surrounding the parliament and the newly announced parliamentary culture review to be conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, the former prime minister urged her to "pull no punches" in making her recommendations.

Mr Rudd acknowledging that sexual assault or harassment is hard to talk about, and particularly hard for women who are survivors.

"Sexual harassment and sexual assault in the Parliament are an abuse of power, position and authority by my gender - the male gender - by men. It's not a problem caused by women or by the clothes they wear, or by how much they've had to drink."

Mr Rudd went on to say Australia faces export taxes from trading partners if it doesn't act soon on setting new and more ambitious emissions targets.

The comments came as the US and UK issued a joint statement in London declaring a commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050.

The former Labor prime minister said it should not be a matter of Australia being "dragged kicking and screaming" to set the same target as the US, UK, South Korea and other advanced economies.

"If we don't do it, we'll face very soon border adjustment taxes - from the European Union for being climate change laggards - on our exports," he said.

"The second thing that we need to do is bring about a new nationally determined commitment for the 2030s ... if you go for a mid-century carbon neutrality target of 2050, frankly you've got to have a credible trajectory from where you peak at carbon in the 2020s."

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