As the Coalition decides that there’s no mileage in personal attacks on Kevin Rudd and instead adds a unique “theory of governance” where the Labor state premiers require checks and balances from a Liberal government, there’s been some speculation about the response of Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to Ruddism.

Beattie’s been having a terrible political time with the very vexed issue of local Council amalgamations. But he’s obviously been relishing the chance to play on the national stage. His sharp comments on Dr Haneef are a stark contrast with Kevin Rudd’s caution – a contrast so obvious that John Howard has mused that the Premiers are playing the role of Rudd’s attack dogs.

But that’s unlikely to be true in Peter Beattie’s case — the Premier’s actions are the product both of his own political interests and of his thorny relationship with Rudd.

Beattie’s Haneef position originated in a pressing political imperative – the need to ensure a continued supply of overseas trained doctors for staff starved Queensland hospitals, and to avoid any more scandals about their qualifications or competence. Any watcher of the Queensland Health’s job ads page would see workforce planning specialists constantly advertised – it’s a thankless job, as Tony Abbott will find out when the Commonwealth has to run Devonport Hospital.

It’s simplistic to suggest that Beattie’s stance is payback for Rudd’s local government stand. There was no love lost between Beattie and Wayne Goss – who sidelined the prominent MP after he entered Parliament in 1989. Beattie chaired the Criminal Justice Committee, and, in line with the Fitzgerald vision, stood up to the executive government when warranted. He was later replaced by a nonentity, and only elevated to the ministry after Goss almost lost in 1995 when he was handed the poisoned chalice of Health.

Kevin Rudd was, of course, Wayne Goss’ bureaucratic offsider.

There’s also the feeling that Rudd is somehow not really of the Labor Party – too academic, or too disconnected from the party’s base. Unions haven’t forgotten Goss’ public sector reforms or the downsizing of rail and mining workforces he presided over.

Pragmatically, Beattie probably wouldn’t mind a Rudd federal government. But then, scoring points off Canberra always plays well in Queensland, and Beattie himself will be gone next year. In the meantime, he’s no doubt going to enjoy himself, even if his media profile irks a federal leader with whom relations have always been strained.