Tanya Plibersek warns George Brandis role ‘flat out political’

Tanya Plibersek has hit out at George Brandis’ appointment as High Commissioner to the UK, as “downright political”.

Shadow Minister for Education and Training Tanya Plibersek. Picture: AAP.

George Brandis, Australia’s High Commissioner to Britain, could face an uneasy future under a Labor government, after deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek said his appointment was “flat out political.”

Reports have emerged this week of a “hit list” of government appointments to diplomatic posts being drawn up by Labor, after they took aim at Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey’s ties to a company run by the Liberal Party’s treasurer last month.

“When we were last in government, we appointed both Liberal and Labor appointments. What you’ve seen from this government is just an absolute abandonment of the idea that we need

the best person for the job in a bipartisan manner,” Ms Plibersek told ABC News.

When asked if Labor would look at other diplomats with a link to the Liberals, specifically the former attorney-general Mr Brandis, Ms Plibersek blasted his appointment.

“Because they are just flat-out political appointments that actually are not suitable,” she said.

When pressed again on saying Mr Brandis was “not suitable”, Ms Plibersek said she was not going to “name names.”

Mr Brandis was made High Commissioner to Great Britain last year after he lost most of his powers as Attorney-General to the newly created Home Affairs portfolio taken up by Peter Dutton.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has also come under attack in recent days for naming former NSW Liberal MP Patricia Forsythe as High Commissioner to New Zealand.