PM to recommend Sinodinos as US ambassador, Fifield for UN

PM to recommend Arthur Sinodinos as next US ambassador, Mitch Fifield off to the UN.

Senator Arthur Sinodinos is set to become the next Australian ambassador to the US. Picture: Britta Campion

Scott Morrison will recommend to the Governor-General that NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos become Australia’s next ambassador to the US, and that Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield, the Minister for Communicatons, become Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Incumbent ambassador Joe Hockey will finish his term later this year and Senator Sinodinos will not replace him until then.

It is understood that both men could have had a place the new Morrison ministry but chose to accept these high ranking diplomatic appointments.

More than a decade ago John Howard had intended to offer the Washington embassy role to Sinodinos who had been his long term chief-of-staff.

Senator Sinodinos was reluctant to take it at that time because of family commitments and ultimately pursued a political path instead.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield.

It is unclear whether both men will come back to the Senate before taking up their diplomatic appointments.

The resignation of Senator Sinodinos would create a casual vacancy in the Senate for the Liberal Party in NSW which could be filled by retiring Senator Jim Molan who was the fourth placed member of the coalition’s NSW Senate ticket and just missed out on election.

Both Senators Sinodinos and Fifield were continuing senators, so did not face re-election at the recent federal poll.

Therefore their appointment is not open to the criticism that they ran for the Senate without intending to serve.