How Malcolm Turnbull retreated from UN nod for Kevin Rudd

Malcolm Turnbull reneged on a pledge to back Kevin Rudd’s candidacy to become UN secretary-general despite the explicit backing of ­veteran Libs.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd. Picture: Gary Ramage

Malcolm Turnbull reneged on a pledge to back Kevin Rudd’s candidacy to become United ­Nations secretary-general despite the explicit backing of ­veteran Liberals Joe Hockey, ­Alexander Downer and Nick Minchin, who all held senior ­diplomatic posts at the time.

Mr Minchin told Sky News Mr Rudd had “had every reason to feel very bitter and twisted at being let down and deceived” by Mr Turnbull, who reneged on a promise to endorse his former political rival for the job in 2016.

The former finance minister, senate leader and consul-general in New York told Sky News for an upcoming documentary, that he, Mr Hockey and Mr Downer had written a letter to then foreign minister Julie ­Bishop endorsing Mr Rudd.

At the time, Mr Hockey was ambassador to the US and Mr Downer was high commissioner to the UK.

“We had advised the government, in the form of our minister Julie Bishop, that we all thought that the government should formally provide the nomination for Kevin, as an ex-prime minister, wanting to nominate for ­secretary-general,” Mr Minchin said. “Because you effectively need to have the nominal backing of your own country if you are to succeed.

“We all thought that it was proper, given he was an ex-prime minister, for Australia to provide that nomination, and churlish not to do so.

“And Julie actually produced in cabinet a letter signed by the three of us, supporting or advocating that the government support this nomination.”

Mr Minchin said Mr Turnbull and Ms Bishop had backed Rudd for the job, but when the issue came to cabinet, Mr Turnbull ­faltered.

“Kevin had every reason to believe that he had both Malcolm and Julie’s backing, and then Malcolm reneged on that and announced the government would not be supporting it,” the South Australian Liberal stalwart told Sky News presenter Chris Kenny for a special program to air on Sunday night.

Mr Turnbull said at the time he had made a “considered judgment” not to back Rudd because he was not suited to the role.

But Mr Minchin said Mr Turnbull had bowed to “a backlash in cabinet”.

“This is again a bit of a character flaw with Malcolm,” he said.

“Malcolm should have either been more persuasive and determined at the cabinet meeting, or he should have never led Kevin to believe that it was in the bag.”

The one-hour documentary, Men in the Mirror: Rudd & Turnbull, will examine the “striking similarities” between the two former prime ministers.

Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull, who were both removed from ­office by their own colleagues, have recently joined forces to call for a royal commission into News Corp, publisher of The Australian, claiming the company wields too much power.

But Mr Minchin said the pair’s collaboration was at odds with their past “bitter relationship”, in which Mr Turnbull – as opposition leader – saw Mr Rudd as the only thing standing ­between him and the prime ­ministership.