Foreign policy experts weigh in after Dutton makes call on Rudd’s US role

Foreign policy experts have backed Peter Dutton’s stance on Kevin Rudd, after the Opposition leader said he would replace the US ambassador if he had “no real influence” on the Trump administration.

Foreign policy experts have backed Peter Dutton’s stance on Kevin Rudd, after the Opposition leader said he would replace the US ambassador if he had “no real influence” on the Trump administration.

Mr Dutton on Sunday said if Doctor Rudd is “the best person for the job he should stay in the job”.

“But if it turns out he has no access to the White House and no real influence … you would have to reassess his position,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

“If there are insurmountable problems that he has, or the administration has with him, then that would make it difficult.”

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said former Prime Minister Rudd holding the role made it a “unique case”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton addresses media. Picture: Fia Walsh.

“There’s never been a former PM appointed ambassador before, and I guess Dutton is assessing the fact it gives him access other ambassadors won’t have,” he said.

“I think it’s an encouraging sign that Dutton’s not viewing it entirely through a partisan lens, but is willing to make an assessment on the merits.”

Doctor Emma Shortis, director of international and security affairs at the Australia Institute, added: “Continuity is a good thing in those relationships, particularly important relationships like our alliance with the US”.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Dutton also flagged the government under him could wade into the insurance industry to split up major players amid soaring insurance costs.

Greg Norman receives an award from Kevin Rudd at the Australia Day gala in Washington DC. SUPPLIED

Mr Dutton warned he would intervene in the industry to prevent policy-buyers being “ripped off”.

The Coalition last year announced it would support divestiture – the practice of forcing big companies to sell off parts of their business – in the supermarket sector, in a move aimed at Coles and Woolworths.

MPs with knowledge of that said there was a section of the Coalition party room which resisted that move, saying the government shouldn’t get involved in the industry.

Those critics are likely to raise their head again given Mr Dutton’s new comments on the insurance sector.

“There’s work to do in the party room,” a Coalition MP told The Daily Telegraph.

Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall said Australia already has “a very competitive insurance market, with more than 30 insurers offering home and motor cover”.

Originally published as Foreign policy experts weigh in after Dutton makes call on Rudd’s US role