Kevin Rudd dreams of smoother sailing in Port of Brisbane visit Thanks to a recently completed $385 million Queensland government road upgrade, it's a smooth ride to the Port of Brisbane. It's not until we get to Wharf 12, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is to discuss what role the complex could play in his navy relocation proposal, that things get rough. A small sign and an unsealed road points the way. The taxi driver misses it twice before venturing forward. She's hoping for a glance of "big Kev," but lucks out. The Prime Minister, flying up from Sydney, has been delayed by 10 minutes. There isn't even a big media pack to whet her gossip appetite. Just reclaimed land and Moreton Bay. Disappointed, she leaves. "I don't know what he'd be doing out here," she offers as a parting shot. There's nothing here. That's not entirely true. From just a "strategic plan" in the 1970s, the Port of Brisbane, sold under a 99-year lease by the Bligh government in 2010, has grown into a multi-billion dollar concern. Laura Fraser-Hardy, the Labor candidate for Bonner is also here. It is the second time Mr Rudd has visited the electorate Ms Fraser-Hardy is hoping to win from the Coalition's Ross Vasta, who holds the seat with a 2.8 per cent margin. The first visit was early in the first week of the campaign. But despite reports Labor has abandoned marginal seats in favour of "sandbagging" those it does hold, Ms Fraser-Hardy gives a brave smile and a resolute "absolutely not." "We have a great team behind us," she says. C1 arrives. Mr Rudd, presumably the most important part of that "great team," emerges. The chosen pool photographers arrive moments later. They are there to snap, not talk. Which, with iPhones, iPads and cameras, we all do. Mr Rudd is not fazed. With Ms Fraser-Hardy keeping pace beside him, he starts at one end of the incomplete wharf and walks, talking to the general manager of port services, Peter Keyte. Mr Rudd is a master at publically private small talk. While Mr Keyte does his best to look like he talks to prime ministers while a press pack runs beside him furiously taking notes on the benign intricacies of port expansion every day, Mr Rudd is in his element. "What we're looking at longer term is ...," Mr Rudd says, giving a quick rundown of the relocation plan. "We don't tend to have as much cyclonic weather here as we do in far north Queensland," the Prime Minister offers, leaning over a retaining wall at the far end of the wharf. "Any reason why you've kicked it in here?" he asks, gesturing to where the construction has ended. Does siltation affect port use? Mr Keyte does his best to answer. Mr Rudd nods, knowingly. Ms Fraser-Hardy looks engaged. The wind kicks up over the bay, but a recent strategic hair snip means there is no pesky swipe-the-hair-from-the-eye situations. It's an innocuous act, but Mr Rudd, who has been repeatedly burnt by seemingly innocuous acts this campaign, is taking no chances. Having looped back to where he started, Mr Rudd and Ms Fraser-Hardy are pulled to the side for a campaign shot. They are directed to the edge of the wharf. "Just look out to the water," the photographers implore. "I'll just look straight up," Mr Rudd answers. There will be no tempting headline-fate here. An inquiry into the cost of what looks like the grown-up version of Meccano construction cranes later ["$10 million, a Chinese company provides them," Mr Keyte helpfully offers] and Mr Rudd is directed to a temporary marquee, where he proceeds to give NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell a serve. "I think the last thing I will say is this," Mr Rudd says, in what is not the last thing he says. The Royal Australian Navy is not Premier O'Farrell's property. It is the property of the Australian government. It is the Australian Government making national security decisions about where our defence asserts should be located in the future - we'll make those decisions and then we'll work with governments on their implementation. His polished but scuffed shoes stand firmly planted by his make shift stand. His hands are lightly clasped when not employed in bringing home a point. His voice is soft and his words are on message. But Mr Rudd looks tired. It's Day 23. This whole 20 minute walk, pose, talk opportunity will just serve as the bookend to media reports about the navy relocation proposal, which will also feature his request for camera lights to be dimmed and an awkward greeting with Premier O'Farrell on a Sydney boardwalk. As C1 pulls out, Mr Rudd's zip having been less enthusiastically offered than usual, it can't help but stir up a bit of dust on the gravel road. Its wheels will soon be on smoother road. You can't help but think Mr Rudd hopes for the same.