From all the media coverage and the number of times the teev features a Lib frothing at the mouth, you'd be forgiven for thinking that 17 was the Devil's number.
Specially when it has something to do with an Aussie prime minister.
Kevin Rudd is on a 17 day overseas trip, four months into his first term in office.
So what if that trip doesn't include Japan this time. He'll be there mid-year at the invitation of the Japanese Government - seven months after he was sworn in as prime minister.
Rudders is also talking to the UN and others about a seat on the Security Council.
He isn't the first PM to do that either.
For all those nay sayers out there - just a little reminder.
In 1996 John Howard made at least three overseas visits in his first six months in office.
One of which was to Japan at the end of that six months, but he didn't get round to China until March-April 2007.
History now records this take on those first months of the Howard years.
"During the last six months of 1996, the new Coalition Government faced some major foreign policy challenges. Australia's delicate relationship with China continued to deteriorate. Despite the announcement in July of closer military cooperation, and the abundant goodwill displayed during the Presidential visit in November, Australia-US relations were strained by a protracted trade dispute which, if nothing else, underlined some enduring sources of friction in the relationship. Australia's surprising failure to win a seat in the Security Council embarrassed the government."
So how 'bout leaving the new bloke alone. He isn't doing anything unusual with foreign affairs.
And his first 100 days were at least marked by an attempt at national harmony, unlike Howard's first days which were made noteworthy by his failure to pour cold water on the anti-Asian feeling stirred up by Pauline Hanson's maiden speech.
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