So why was this ghastly sexist Blewitt her friend?

Andrew Bolt

What Julia Gillard says today about Ralph Blewitt, bagman of her former boyfriend, Bruce Wilson:

‘’Let me remind you who Mr Blewitt is. Mr Blewitt is a man who has publicly said he was involved in fraud.

‘’Mr Blewitt is a man who has sought immunity from prosecution. ‘’Mr Blewitt is a man who has fled Indonesia to avoid a police interview in relation to land fraud, although he denies wrongdoing in the case.

‘’Mr Blewitt says he owes money on another Asian land deal.

‘’Mr Blewitt admits to using the services of prostitutes in Asia.

‘’Mr Blewitt has published lewd and degrading comments and accompanying photographs on his Facebook page.

‘’Mr Blewitt, according to people who know him, has been described as a complete imbecile, an idiot, a stooge, a sexist pig, a liar and his sister has said he’s a crook, and rotten to the core.

‘’His word against mine: make your mind up.”

So how was it that the Prime Minister once had this man as a friend, doing him free legal favors?

In the early 1990s Wilson, Blewitt’s Fitzroy tenant, was a union kingpin, even talked about as a possible future prime minister.

The dashing union firebrand had embarked on a romance with Julia Gillard, then a salaried partner with Slater & Gordon, that lasted nearly four years.

Blewitt recalls the good times as the three of them would walk the short distance across the road to The Fitz cafe, which still plies a healthy trade…

The 67-year-old says he is not bitter about the past and recalls fondly the long late breakfasts discussing union factionalism and politics over strong coffee…

Blewitt’s memory of those heady times is hazy at times. But he remembers fondly visiting the Fitzroy property and the three of them having robust yarns about the big issues of the day.

“Julia would have been here when I arrived, or would arrive and stay overnight with Bruce whilst I was here. I mean, they were in a relationship they were boyfriend/girlfriend,” he says.

Gillard was also the union’s lawyers and helped advise the two of them in early 1992 on the incorporation of the AWU Workplace Reform Association.

UPDATE

Gillard today about Blewitt: “His word against mine: make your mind up.”

Most listening to Blewitt on the ABC’s 7.30 tonight would think he’s been a dodgy character all right, but there is a ring of authenticity to what he now says. Gillard has issued a challenge some might not settle in her favor.

But the bottom line is that a false dichotomy is being drawn. The contest isn’t between Blewett’s word and Gillard’s. It’s between Gillard’s word and much documented evidence, most of it supplied by Labor and union figures, as well as a former Slater & Gordon partner now being slimed by Labor as well. 

So why was this ghastly sexist Blewitt her friend? | Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog: