Australian opposition Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd has flayed Queensland Premier Peter Beattie's criticism of police and the federal government's handling of the case against Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef.
But Beattie, who at the weekend described Australian Federal Police as Keystone Cops, hit back, vowing he would not back down. "I'm not going to be silenced by Kevin Rudd," he said.
While Beattie has attacked the government's decision to effectively override the courts, and has criticised the professionalism of the AFP, Rudd Tuesday said he had been briefed by the government and knew more about the case than the Queensland premier.
He also dismissed claims by Prime Minister John Howard that Beattie was acting on his behalf in attacking the government while allowing federal Labor to appear non-partisan on matters of national security.
"When it comes to Howard's and Downer's hyperventilation on this, I just say I make a call on behalf of the opposition in this country, Beattie doesn't," Rudd said.
However, Beattie refused to back down, The Australian newspaper reported.
"I'm not going to be silenced by the prime minister or Kevin Rudd," he said. "At the end of all this, I'm going to stand up for Queensland."
Beattie said Rudd and Howard were both caught up in the politics of the Haneef case.
But Beattie refused to criticise Rudd's public comments or Labor's position, and would not be drawn on whether his own stance might help Howard find a political wedge on the issue.
"I'll let Kevin and the prime minister play the politics but I don't intend to back off this issue one little bit," Beattie said adding "I don't take instructions from John Howard, Kevin Rudd or anybody."
The federal Labor leader, who faces internal criticism for supporting the AFP and Andrews, said the opposition had acted in good faith on the information provided.
"When I have said quite clearly we believe this matter, complex as it is, has been handled appropriately by the authorities, I mean it," Rudd said. "I've said it from day one."
Rudd said terrorism was a serious matter for any prime minister or would-be prime minister.
"These are tough decisions, I understand the complexity of them. I also understand the complexity of the civil liberties argument," he said. "But on terrorism we must adopt a hardline posture.
"Terrorists mean this country no good whatsoever. When it comes to the protective measures adopted by our security forces, we have to be hardline and robust. On the action taken by the immigration minister, based on information provided, we support his decision."
Rudd said he would not comment on the matter before the courts and said it should run its course: "I have a responsibility to act on the basis of the information provided and I have done so."
