Mr Rudd appeared jovial as he joked with the audience during a Q&A session but remained firm and made no apologies as he outlined the Government's strategy of borrowing money to save jobs and build infrastructure needed for Australia's recovery from the recession.

This was Kevin the everyday man, who quipped that his cabinet was full of Victorians, and littered his speech with colloquialisms such as "hitting the economy for a six" and even referred to his minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry as 'Burkey'.

He also praised the host of the night, Emerald Secondary College, for its students raising $150 for the bushfire appeal.

"You reflect the spirit of Australia and that is reaching out to help the people who've been knocked for six."

During the 12th community cabinet meeting since taking office about 18 months ago, the PM and his ministers fielded questions on various issues, including funding for local community houses.

Local issues dominated the questions.

Cockatoo RSL president and war veteran Bob Simonds, wearing his medals, said Australia was "going nowhere fast" and should bring its soldiers home.

Responding, Mr Rudd said the Government had already pulled its troops out of Iraq and had increased its presence in Afghanistan to train its forces "in order to hand over security to them so we can bring our troops home".