Albanese’s captain’s pick: An inspired choice or just Ruddy risky?

Senior Labor colleagues described Kevin Rudd as a ‘psychopath’ and a ‘control freak’ – but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just handed him one of the most important roles in his government.

Kevin Rudd at his Brisbane office on Tuesday after being named as the next Australian ambassador to Washington. Picture: AAP

Kevin Rudd faces a cautious reception from the Biden administration over his criticism of the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and a potential backlash from Republicans for his attacks on Donald Trump when he arrives in Washington as Australia’s US ambassador early next year.

Anthony Albanese’s captain’s pick – announced on Tuesday despite the prime minister rejecting pre-election speculation of Dr Rudd’s appointment as “complete nonsense” – was described by senior foreign policy experts as “risky”.

Mr Albanese, a long-time Rudd ally who served him briefly as deputy prime minister ahead of the 2013 election, said his former colleague brought “unmatched experience” to the role.

He brushed away questions over concerns about Dr Rudd acting as a second foreign minister, descriptions of the 65-year-old by senior Labor colleagues as a “psychopath, micromanager and control freak”, and his public criticism of Mr Trump.

“My expectations are very clear, that Kevin Rudd will be an outstanding Australian representative in Washington and that he will conduct himself in a way that brings great credit to Australia,” Mr Albanese said.

Standing alongside Foreign Minister and former Rudd critic Penny Wong, Mr Albanese said the US would welcome the “very significant appointment” of a former prime minister.

“I am very pleased that Kevin Rudd is prepared to do this. He certainly doesn’t need to do this. He’s doing it out of a part of what he sees as his service obligation to the country that he loves,” he said.

Kevin Rudd took on George W. Bush over keeping Australian troops in Iraq in 2008 – but his politics will be well received by the Biden administration.

Dr Rudd, who in October declared he had “zero plans” to leave his New York-based million-dollar job as head of the Asia Society, will replace outgoing ambassador Arthur Sinodinos in March.

The Australian understands Dr Rudd’s appointment was privately raised with US officials, who had wanted a “status appointment” matching its decision to send Caroline Kennedy to Canberra.

While some US officials are expected to be wary of Dr Rudd, they have endorsed his appointment to ensure a “direct line” to Mr Albanese.

However, concerns have been raised about Dr Rudd’s commitment to the AUKUS pact and Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

After AUKUS was announced in September last year, Dr Rudd said “France … is right to be outraged at how it has been dumped as our submarine supplier”.

“And US President Joe Biden is under attack in America for excluding Paris and Ottawa from the new, so-called AUKUS defence technology agreement between Australia, Britain and the US, which in the eyes of the world looks a little like the return of the Raj,” Dr Rudd said.

 

Dr Rudd, who will arrive in Washington around the same time as the government decides whether to adopt US or British nuclear submarine technology, had also raised concerns about operational issues given Australia lacked a civil nuclear industry.

As senior Coalition figures privately lashed the political appointment and Dr Rudd’s position on AUKUS, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said Dr Rudd must represent “Australia’s interests”.

“The next few years in the Australia – America relationship are as important as any in recent times, as we work together to deliver upon the AUKUS partnership and respond to the strategic challenges of our times. They will require discipline, sensitivity and drive,” Senator Birmingham said.

“AUKUS is essential to our national security interests and will be a most challenging undertaking. That will require the unqualified support and attention of our ambassador.”

Dr Rudd on Tuesday said: “Australia currently faces its most challenging security and diplomatic environment for many decades”.

“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,” Dr Rudd said.

“Over the past decade, I have had the pleasure of building relationships with Republicans and Democrats across politics, and have developed close personal ties with American business, civil society and the media.

“I will of course comply fully with all DFAT and APS guidelines to ensure any institutional associations I retain are consistent with my obligations as ambassador.”

Dr Rudd, who joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1981 before entering politics, is expected to receive a deputy secretary level remuneration package of $400,000 to $500,000.

A former senior Labor minister said, unlike when he was in office, Dr Rudd would “only drive several hundred people insane” in Australia’s Washington embassy.

“We don’t have fraught foreign affairs with the United States. He can’t start a war. The Department of Foreign Affairs will clean up most of his messes. And you know, he’ll call people in Washington who matter to Australia ‘c**ts’. And we’ll get over it. Our democracy will continue and our alliance with the United States will survive.”

A senior foreign policy observer said “the thing about Rudd is he has a first-class intellect, but a second-class temperament … everyone in the bureaucracy is having flashbacks”, while a diplomatic source said “I imagine the number of (DFAT) applications for Washington will plummet”.

Another insider with ties to the US said elements in the Republican Party would be “dubious” of Dr Rudd, who had a frosty relationship with George W. Bush after details of a phone conversation were leaked in 2008. Dr Rudd has also attacked Mr Trump – who announced last month he would run in 2024 – as the “most destructive president in history”.

“He’s been very critical of Trump. His criticism of AUKUS also means there will be question marks from some quarters. It’s a risk by the government. Albanese probably felt if Rudd really wanted it, it would’ve been very difficult for him to refuse,” the source said.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who in 2016 refused to nominate Dr Rudd for United Nations secretary-general because he had “poor interpersonal skills” and “temperament”, on Tuesday praised his “great appointment”.

Anthony Albanese had previously said he would not appoint Mr Rudd into the role – but now says he will do an ‘outstanding’ job working with the Americans.

Former Reserve Bank board member and AustralianSuper chair Heather Ridout, who has close ties to Labor, was appointed Australia’s new consul-general in New York, while veteran diplomat Ralph King has been tasked with repairing relations with Israel after the Albanese government overturned Scott Morrison’s recognition of West Jerusalem.

Former US ambassador Dennis Richardson, who held the post between 2005 and 2010, said many Australians’ opinions were “understandably formed by their views relating to domestic matters”.

“He is highly regarded internationally. A lot of people in Australia don’t quite understand how highly regarded he is internationally,” Mr Richardson said.

Mr Richardson, Australia’s top diplomat in Washington during Dr Rudd’s first stint as prime minister, said as a former DFAT official “he’ll obviously be very conscious of the need to represent government policy and I think he will exercise that discipline well”.

Former treasurer and ambassador Joe Hockey said Dr Rudd had a direct line to the prime minister and the “bravado (to) smash down closed doors”.

Ms Kennedy, who arrived in Canberra in July, said Dr Rudd’s nomination would “further strengthen the US-Australia alliance” and she looked forward to “working closely with him to advance our shared values”.

Additional reporting: Adam Creighton