Sydney, 15 July 2009: It was a very unnatural scene. Kevin Rudd and former American Vice President Al Gore were seated on plush overstuffed furniture surrounded by, yet ignoring, a barrage of photographers. Mr Rudd was complimenting the Nobel Prize winner's impressive boots. It was all over in a flash – literally - and media were quickly ushered out so the pair could continue their meeting.

The woman in charge of proceedings checked to make sure all media were in attendance for the following press conference. “ABC?” she asked. “SBS?” “Seven, Nine and Ten?” Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. “Good” she said. In my mind I slowly ticked off Jiji Press as also being present.

The press conference was a meeting of mutual admiration between the two men. Mr Gore, in Australia on a speaking tour, and Mr Rudd, spoke fondly of each other, with Rudd stating that Gore was more than just a “friend of this country” but an “ally and supporter of the great global cause of global action on climate change.” Gore, responded in kind, saying it was an honour to be in Australia and to have “such an engaging and deep conversation on the nature of the issues faced by the global community and getting a solution to the climate crisis”.

Both remained tight-lipped on the issue of clean coal however, which Kevin Rudd is spruiking but which Gore has previously likened to a healthy cigarette in saying, “it does not exist”.

Mr Gore was forced to remain tight-lipped for the remainder of the press conference in fact, as the issue of Mr Stern Hu took over proceedings. The Rio Tinto employee has been held by Chinese authorities without charge since July 5. Reading from a prepared statement, Kevin Rudd used the media to issue a warning to “our Chinese friends” that the iron-ore loving powerhouse needs Australia as much as Australia needs China and that, “a range of foreign governments and corporations will be watching this case with interest and be watching it very closely.”

Twittering later that afternoon, Kevin Rudd or 'KRudd' as he likes to refer to himself on the popular social networking website, applauded the meeting with Mr Gore saying it was a “Great discussion on next steps on climate change in lead up to the Copenhagen conference in Dec”. No mention from the Tweetdeck what the Mandarin-speaking former diplomat is personally doing to organise the release of Mr Hu. Not a peep (or a tweet).