As Cosmicjester noted the other day, Brendan Nelson has started to use the Cate Blanchett test to expose a supposed skewing of Prime Ministerial priorities.

…Kevin Rudd found the time to go and visit Cate Blanchett’s new baby. If he has got the time to do that, he has got the time to meet pensioners and seniors organisations including those people protesting in Melbourne and actually listen to what they have to say.

Here is Dr Nelson applying the test to Mr Rudd this morning in relation to the proposed closure of a post office.

DR NELSON: I think what needs to happen here is that Mr Rudd needs to pick up the phone and speak to the head of Australia Post and say look, keep the post office where it is. I mean in the end this is the whole point. I mean you need a candidate who’s going to stand up and a member who’s going to stand up for the people of Gippsland, not sort of come down from Canberra and tell you what’s good for you.

CALLINAN: Can I just get this right Brendan, sorry I don’t usually interrupt guests but I was just struck by your response there. You’re suggesting the Prime Minister of the country should get on the [p]hone to the head of Australia Post and say oh by the way, Traralgon Post Office – what are you doing with that. Do you think that’s the sort of micro-management the Prime Minister should be engaged in?

DR NELSON: If that’s what it actually takes to get something delivered for the people of Traralgon then in the end that’s what you’re going to have to do. I mean he’s got the time to go and visit Cate Blanchett’s new baby and that’s terrific and take a gift, and if he’s got time to do that then he or indeed the relevant Minister should be, Stephen Conroy should be getting onto Australia Post and saying look we’ve got a big issue in Traralgon about place of the post office.

Pathetic. Simply pathetic.