Nicola Roxon launches scathing critique of 'bastard' Kevin Rudd Roxon calls Rudd a 'bastard' Former attorney-general Nicola Roxon slams former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd while giving the John Button Memorial Lecture in Melbourne on Wednesday. PT1M10S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2vnkt 620 349 October 17, 2013 - 8:35AM Former attorney-general Nicola Roxon has launched a scathing critique of the Rudd years, slamming former prime minister Kevin Rudd as a "bastard" who was a rude and dysfunctional leader and calling on him to quit politics. "I think we had all the right reasons to act but I think we were clumsy and shortsighted in the way we did it," she said. Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd embrace Nicola Roxon. Ms Roxon said that Labor needed to explain Mr Rudd's faults as a prime minister to the public. We didn't explain the dysfunctional decision-making and lack of strategy ... we didn't talk about his rudeness or contempt for staff or disrespect for public servants. The former Labor frontbencher, who quit politics at last month's election to spend more time with her family, also spelt out "handy hints" for a future Labor government. Nicola Roxon. Photo: Marija Ivkovic Ms Roxon, who has long been a supporter of Julia Gillard, also called for ministers to be given greater responsibility and more work, and prime ministers given less. The former member for Gellibrand, who was health minister under the Rudd government and later Australia's first female attorney-general under Ms Gillard, also suggested Mr Rudd had a messiah complex. Ms Roxon said that in her opinion, for the good of the Labor Party Mr Rudd should quit politics because, while he remained in the Parliament, destabilising polls would be run about his popularity. Asked about Ms Roxon's speech, Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen told ABC radio on Thursday that he thought all former Labor leaders were "deserving of respect" and a "place in the party's history." "They should be accorded the respect that the Labor Party has traditionally given to former leaders," he said. Mr Bowen said that it was up to Mr Rudd as to "how he chooses to make his contribution to the Labor Party and the nation going forward." Poll: Should Kevin Rudd quit politics? Total votes: 7257. Poll closes in 12 hours.