The Prime Minister has deflected criticisms from a board-member of the Reserve Bank, saying Roger Corbett is just talking up his own interests as chair of Fairfax.

The Liberal Party member, Fairfax chairperson and Reserve Bank board member is understandably one of the nation’s most powerful businesspeople. Mr Corbett unleashed a torrent of negative opinion on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s leadership style and decisions during an interview this week.

“In my view Kevin Rudd is a leader that has really been discredited by his own conduct... his colleagues sacked him because they judged him to be incapable as Prime Minister,” Corbett claimed.

The Prime Minister said Corbett is entitled to his opinion: “I respect Mr Corbett talking up his own business book and his business interests. That's a matter for him. Mr Murdoch does the same... but guess what - Australian voters make up their own minds.”

Senator Doug Cameron has furthered the response to Mr Corbett, calling for his resignation, saying; “I just think trading on your position as a reserve bank board member, trading on your position as the chair of Fairfax and not disclosing that you're a paid-up member of the Liberal Party is outrageous,” Cameron said.

“I'm calling on Roger Corbett to do the right thing and resign as a member of the Reserve Bank board.”

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon questioned Corbett’s motives and timing: “You'd have to question whether part of his motivation for attacking Kevin Rudd also related to any concerns he has about the so-called duopoly of Woolworths and Coles remaining as it is or business as usual post election... it was clearly timed and strategic and clearly it was designed to inflict maximum damage on Kevin Rudd.”