AFP/File – Australian opposition leader, Malcolm Turnbull (pictured), has come under growing pressure to quit after …
SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull has come under growing pressure to quit after a fake e-mail destroyed his claims that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used his influence to help a friend.
Turnbull admitted Rudd was off the hook over the 'Utegate' affair but denied any blame over the e-mail forgery, which saw his case against Rudd backfire badly.
"It was not created or composed by us," Turnbull told ABC public radio. "If it is a fake, as is apparently the case, it was a fake that was created in the Treasury.
"Now how on earth can I be responsible for a fake that is created in (Treasurer Wayne) Swan's department?"
Turnbull admitted Rudd now had no need to answer claims that he helped a car dealer friend who lent him a utility vehicle -- or 'ute' -- for use in his constituency.
But he refused to apologise and insisted he had acted "reasonably and responsibly" and kept up his attacks on Treasurer Swan, who he said "unquestionably misled the parliament."
Police on Monday said the e-mail, which purportedly showed a member of Rudd's office asking a senior official to help out the car dealer, had been concocted by someone in the Treasury.
The government, which had come under unprecedented pressure from Turnbull, rounded on the opposition leader, urging him to explain his role in the fiasco and demanding his resignation.
"He sought to not just accuse me of corruption, but call upon me to resign," Rudd said late on Monday.
"For such a grave error of judgement to occur from someone who will put themself up as the alternative leader of the country, it is quite clear ... that he has no option now himself but to stand up, apologise and to resign."
Turnbull was forced to deny that he passed on the e-mail to Australian media, while shadow treasurer Joe Hockey admitted he once employed the Treasury official at the centre of the row -- and also tried to call him on Saturday.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said Turnbull, a millionaire former banker who has led the opposition Liberal Party since last September, had gambled and lost.
"He has over-reached. He's shown a classic character flaw, a judgement flaw and he should resign," Tanner told Sky News.
The dramatic events represent a significant victory for Rudd, who has been riding high in the polls since ending John Howard's 11-year premiership in late 2007.
Turnbull admitted Rudd was off the hook over the 'Utegate' affair but denied any blame over the e-mail forgery, which saw his case against Rudd backfire badly.
"It was not created or composed by us," Turnbull told ABC public radio. "If it is a fake, as is apparently the case, it was a fake that was created in the Treasury.
"Now how on earth can I be responsible for a fake that is created in (Treasurer Wayne) Swan's department?"
Turnbull admitted Rudd now had no need to answer claims that he helped a car dealer friend who lent him a utility vehicle -- or 'ute' -- for use in his constituency.
But he refused to apologise and insisted he had acted "reasonably and responsibly" and kept up his attacks on Treasurer Swan, who he said "unquestionably misled the parliament."
Police on Monday said the e-mail, which purportedly showed a member of Rudd's office asking a senior official to help out the car dealer, had been concocted by someone in the Treasury.
The government, which had come under unprecedented pressure from Turnbull, rounded on the opposition leader, urging him to explain his role in the fiasco and demanding his resignation.
"He sought to not just accuse me of corruption, but call upon me to resign," Rudd said late on Monday.
"For such a grave error of judgement to occur from someone who will put themself up as the alternative leader of the country, it is quite clear ... that he has no option now himself but to stand up, apologise and to resign."
Turnbull was forced to deny that he passed on the e-mail to Australian media, while shadow treasurer Joe Hockey admitted he once employed the Treasury official at the centre of the row -- and also tried to call him on Saturday.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said Turnbull, a millionaire former banker who has led the opposition Liberal Party since last September, had gambled and lost.
"He has over-reached. He's shown a classic character flaw, a judgement flaw and he should resign," Tanner told Sky News.
The dramatic events represent a significant victory for Rudd, who has been riding high in the polls since ending John Howard's 11-year premiership in late 2007.
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