By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen

Updated Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:48pm AEDT

Photo: Good work: Kevin Rudd and Simon Crean (AAP)

Senior Labor frontbencher Simon Crean says he believes Kevin Rudd is doing "some good" for the party through his increased public profile.

The former prime minister attracted attention this week after making a thinly-veiled criticism of Treasurer Wayne Swan following revelations the mining tax raised just $126 million during its first six months.

There is growing acceptance within Labor ranks that the design of the tax is flawed, because it rebates royalty charges, leaving the Commonwealth budget vulnerable to increases by state governments.

"In terms of any future changes to the tax, given the fact that it has not collected any real revenue of any significance so far, that really is a matter for the Prime Minister and the Treasurer to consider and I'll leave it with them," Mr Rudd said on Tuesday.

He has also recently returned to the breakfast television show that helped propel him into the Labor leadership and ultimately the prime ministership.

During the week, Mr Rudd and many of his key supporters attended a dinner in Canberra for retiring Labor MP Robert McClelland. Mr Crean, who was a vocal critic of Mr Rudd during last year's leadership ballot, was also there.

Mr Crean says he attended the dinner at the invitation of Mr McClelland because the former attorney-general is a "good friend".

Last week, he suggested it would be a "fantastic boost" for Labor's fortunes if Mr Rudd was to campaign beyond his Brisbane electorate, saying: "I think he is an asset and we should use him. But it has to be a disciplined asset."

Asked this morning if Mr Rudd was proving to be an asset to the party, Mr Crean told ABC NewsRadio: "I think that any way we can get the message out - and it's up to everyone in this team not just to get the message out, but to work as a team".

When pushed on whether Mr Rudd's increased profile was helpful, Mr Crean said: "I think he is doing some good".

There is a sense of despondency within some sections of the Labor party over the Government's performance, with part of the blame directed at Mr Swan, who was yesterday forced to rule out a hike in personal income tax and later had to correct a mistake over the current unemployment rate.

There is also a degree of suspicion among supporters of the Prime Minister over Mr Rudd's leadership ambitions, with a number of MPs this week circulating an email critical of the former Labor leader.

At the start of the parliamentary year, Mr Rudd reaffirmed his support of Julia Gillard and told those speculating about the leadership to take a "very long cold shower".

This morning, he suggested Liberal MPs Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Hockey should "jump in the ice bath" for trying to keep the story going, before going on to ridicule those who were looking for signs.

"I am wearing a blue tie today. It has got ladybirds on it. I'm told there is a comet passing Sydney next week. There is bound to be astrological significance in that in terms of future leadership. Give us a break! It's not happening."

Rudd doing 'some good' for Labor: Crean - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)