20 Aug 2008

Australian media briefing 'a hoot', says Clark

8:45 pm on 20 August 2008

Prime Minister Helen Clark has dismissed as "a hoot" a briefing for Australian media that describes her as keeping tight control of everything the Labour Party does and trusting few people outside her inner circle.

The biographical material was part of a briefing document given to Australian reporters before a meeting between Miss Clark and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd earlier this week.

The briefing also said Miss Clark holds left-wing views and has foreign policy perspectives forged from the Vietnam War era.

Asked by reporters for her reaction to the briefing, she said she was not offended, though she would not comment about whether she considered the description accurate.