The Liberal Party is kicking former prime minister Kevin Rudd when he's down, laid up in hospital following surgery, Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan says.
News Ltd has reported former foreign minister Alexander Downer as saying that, as an ambitious Labor backbencher in opposition, Mr Rudd sought to undermine the ALP's then foreign affairs spokesman Laurie Brereton by giving information to the media.
Mr Rudd, who eventually took over the shadow portfolio in 2001, is threatening legal action over the claims.
"These are serious allegations ... they are completely and utterly false," a spokesman for the Queensland MP said on Sunday.
"Mr Rudd is taking legal advice with a view to initiating legal proceedings on this matter.
"As there are potential legal proceedings, it is inappropriate to provide any further comment at this time."
Mr Downer has since issued a statement on the matter from overseas, saying his comments had been misinterpreted.
"Kevin Rudd was not used by me or other members of the Liberal Party as a so-called `double agent' to leak material against other members of the Labor Party," he said.
"Unfortunately, (the journalist) has created a more controversial story than my comments warranted."
Mr Swan jumped to Mr Rudd's defence nonetheless, accusing the Liberal Party of "putting the boot into" his former boss while he recovers in the Mater Private Hospital in South Brisbane following keyhole surgery to remove his gall bladder.
"I don't think anybody would be surprised to see that the Liberal Party was putting the boot into Kevin Rudd while he's in hospital," he told ABC Television.
"They'll do anything to avoid a discussion about the real issues in this campaign."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott backed his former colleague Mr Downer's explanation of the comments.
"I doubt that it (the report) is true," he told the Nine Network.
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