Back in the game: Former PM Kevin Rudd urged to back AUKUS as next US ambassador

When the AUKUS pact was announced, Australia’s new ambassador to the US wrote an article blasting Australia’s “foreign policy debacle”. Now the Opposition warns he must back it.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has chosen Kevin Rudd to represent Australia in the US, making him a key player in navigating tensions with China and shepherding the AUKUS deal he has previously challenged.

Almost a decade since leaving the nation’s highest office — and after months of

denying any interest in the role — the former prime minister will return to public service next year in an appointment that has been praised for elevating the US-Australia alliance while also sparking calls for him to back the defence pact.

Mr Rudd’s move to Washington DC had been rumoured since before the May election although he repeatedly rejected the speculation, saying it was “total garbage” and he had no plans to leave his role as the Asia Society’s global president.

But on Tuesday, he said he was “greatly honoured” and looked forward to “strengthening the bonds between our two countries”.

The Labor leaders have long been close allies, with Mr Albanese denouncing the 2010 leadership coup against Mr Rudd and backing his failed bid to return to the top job in 2012, before serving as his deputy prime minister in 2013.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd poses for a portrait being named Australia's next ambassador to the United States. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

In naming Mr Rudd to what is Australia’s top diplomatic posting, Mr Albanese waved away questions about whether he was concerned by Mr Rudd being described by Labor MPs as a “psychopath, a micromanager, a control freak”.

The Prime Minister said his predecessor brought “unmatched experience” to the role – including with his expertise on China – and would be an “outstanding Australian representative”.

Former NSW Labor premier and foreign minister Bob Carr was among those who has backed Mr Rudd for the role, suggesting his expertise in China policy would make a good fit for the US post.

The PM made the announcement alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong before her trip to China.

“I am very pleased that Kevin Rudd is prepared to do this. He certainly doesn’t need to do this,” Mr Albanese said.

“He’s doing it out of a part of what he sees as his service obligation to the country that he loves.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Kevin Rudd brings “unmatched experience” to the role. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Mr Rudd will replace current ambassador Arthur Sinodinos as the Albanese government finalises its plans with the US and the UK to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

When the AUKUS pact was announced, Mr Rudd penned what he admitted was an “unusual” intervention in a French newspaper that blasted the Morrison government’s “foreign policy debacle”.

“It is wrong that Australia has not offered France the opportunity to re-tender (in part or in whole) for these nuclear boats,” Mr Rudd wrote for Le Monde, in a piece that now appears to have been deleted from his website.

He also told the SBS he was “concerned about the long-term impact this has on Australian sovereignty”.

“As an ally of the US, you don’t end up agreeing with them on every element of strategy,” Mr Rudd said.

“Sometimes our American friends get it wrong.”

AUKUS NEEDS ‘UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT’

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said delivering on the AUKUS partnership required Mr Rudd’s “unqualified support and attention”.

Mr Rudd said on Tuesday: “Our national interest continues to be served, as it has for decades past, by the deepest and most effective strategic engagement of the United States in our region.”

Charles Edel, the Australia chair at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, said nominating a former prime minister was “an unprecedented choice” in a “critical period for the alliance”.

“Having an ambassador familiar with the issues, including from a leadership perspective, should be an asset,” Dr Edel said.

TURNBULL’S TURNAROUND

Mr Rudd once hoped to lead the United Nations but Malcolm Turnbull quashed that in 2016, despite his foreign minister Julie Bishop pushing to support his nomination.

Mr Turnbull told Mr Rudd he was not “suited to the role because of your poor interpersonal and management skills”, prompting what he said was a “torrent of obscenities”.

On Tuesday, the ex-prime minister described Mr Rudd’s new role as a “great appointment”.

Mr Rudd has also attacked Donald Trump – who is now running for the White House again – as a “a traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history”.

The ex-Labor leader said on Tuesday that he “had the pleasure of building relationships with Republicans and Democrats” over the past decade, which he has spent mostly in New York.

Former US ambassador Joe Hockey said he would “do an excellent job” as he offered his full support in what he predicted would be a tricky period.

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Rudd’s role is “a great appointment”.

“There’ll be numerous challenges on the policy front, but ultimately there’ll be political challenges with what will be a very complicated US presidential campaign and a very competitive and closely fought Congress,” he said.

On Capitol Hill, US Senate intelligence committee chairman Mark Warner said he was “thrilled” by the appointment, praising Mr Rudd’s “leadership and expertise on Asia policy”.

United States Studies Centre foreign policy research fellow Tom Corben said Mr Rudd would aid the Albanese government’s “emphasis on encouraging China, the US and other regional powers to find ways to responsibly manage strategic competition in Asia”.

Mr Hockey said the appointment matched President Joe Biden’s decision to send “Democrat royalty” Caroline Kennedy to Canberra.

“The alliance is in a stronger position than at any other time. This illustrates it and takes it to a new level,” he said.

Ms Kennedy said: “I look forward to working closely with him to advance our shared values.”

In recent years, Mr Rudd also spearheaded the push for a royal commission into News Corp, the publisher of this masthead, but this was rejected by Mr Albanese who said he could not “see a case for any other regulation or inquiries”.

DENIED INTEREST FOR MONTHS

Mr Rudd for months played down suggestions he was interested in the US role.

In October Mr Rudd formally responded to the speculation in a statement from a spokesman that said he was “very happy in New York” and had “zero plans” to leave his million-dollar job as head of the Asia Society.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is Australia’s next ambassador to the US. Picture: Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

Earlier this year former Labor foreign and defence minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments Stephen Smith was appointed as Australia’s high commissioner to the UK.

Former senior politicians are typically selected for the London and Washington posts: as well as Hockey and Sinodinos, former Labor leader Kim Beazley is among Mr Rudd’s predecessors.

A woman has never been made Australia’s ambassador to the US, while the UK posting is currently being filled by Lynette Wood in an acting capacity until Mr Smith takes up the position next year.

ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS

The announcement came as Mr Albanese and Ms Wong confirmed a number of additional diplomatic appointments.

Heather Ridout has become the first woman to be appointed to the role of Australia’s Consul-General in New York. Picture: News Corp

The government also announced Heather Ridout would be Australia’s Consul-General in New York and the first woman to be appointed to the role.

Bronte Moules will be Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Human Rights.

“As Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms Moules will lead Australia’s work to protect and promote human rights globally and be a key advocate on issues of importance to our region,” the statement said.

“Stephanie Copus-Campbell has been appointed Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality.

“Ms Copus-Campbell will deepen Australia’s international engagement on gender equality with her expertise in community development, gender equality and health.”

Other career diplomat appointments included Sophie Davies as Australia’s Ambassador to Brazil, Ralph King as Australia’s Ambassador to Israel, Sonya Koppe as Australia’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Minoli Perera as Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Richard Rodgers as Australia’s Ambassador to Croatia and Phoebe Smith as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.