Kevin Rudd’s diplomatic clout to open doors in DC: Hockey, Turnbull

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd’s appointment as the next ambassador to the United States will boost Australia’s diplomatic clout and access to powerbrokers in Washington, according to three of his predecessors and a former prime minister.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Rudd’s appointment on Tuesday at a press conference alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong ahead of her departure to Beijing for a highly anticipated meeting with China’s foreign minister.

Kevin Rudd and Anthony Albanese during a ministry meeting in July 2013.Credit: Andrew Meares

Albanese said Rudd “brings unmatched experience to the role. He has served as prime minister, foreign minister, held prominent academic roles and worked extensively in the United States”.

Asked about Rudd’s suitability for the role considering the harsh criticisms of his management style by some former Labor government colleagues, Albanese said Rudd “will conduct himself in a way that brings great credit to Australia. Kevin Rudd will be seen in the United States as a very significant appointment. I am appointing a former prime minister”.

Rudd said in a statement that he was “greatly honoured” by the appointment: “Australia currently faces our 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 the region.”

Kevin Rudd will take up a posting as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.Credit: Bloomberg

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reported in October that former foreign minister Bob Carr was among the senior Labor figures calling for Rudd to be appointed to the role, but both before and after the election Albanese has dead-batted questions about the possible appointment.

In April, Albanese said he had had “no discussions about anyone being an ambassador to any place”.

Rudd, who has lived in the US for most of the past decade and currently heads the Asia Society think tank, said he had developed “close personal ties with American business, civil society and the media” as well as Democratic and Republican politicians in that time.

He will replace former Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos, whose three-year term expires in February.

Australian Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos in 2021.Credit: Sarah Baker

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told this masthead that Rudd was a “very good appointment” with the right mix of political nous, expertise and intellect and “I don’t think there is any Australian with better connections in the Biden administration”.

“He is a voice of considerable influence on geopolitical matters in Washington. His recent book on Xi and China has been very well received,” he said.

Former ambassador to the US and Coalition treasurer Joe Hockey said the position of ambassador was the most significant appointment a government made after that of the Governor-General and, that by appointing a former prime minister, Australia would have a “level of diplomatic access in DC that we otherwise wouldn’t get”.

“The more senior the appointment the better, and I think he will do a good job. It does illustrate how significant the relationship is when you have Caroline Kennedy [in Canberra] and a former PM in DC,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Former ambassador and Labor leader Kim Beazley said it was “always important our ambassador to the US has the PM’s ear and Kevin certainly has that. Congratulations to Kevin”.

Former ambassador Dennis Richardson, who was appointed by John Howard and later led the Departments of Foreign Affairs and the Defence under Labor and Coalition governments, said Rudd enjoyed significant international standing “which is not always understood in Australia”.

”People get distracted by what they think on matters domestic. He is highly regarded for the depth of his knowledge and intellect on foreign policy and has at times over the years been sounded out by different US administrations, particularly on East Asia and China,” he said.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham cautiously welcomed the appointment, noting that Rudd was a friend and confidant of Albanese.

Birmingham said driving home the AUKUS pact “will require the unqualified support and attention of our ambassador”.

Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge was more critical. “I don’t think this appointment is a sensible decision,” he said. “No one should want an ambassador who thinks they are, or still should be, the foreign minister.”

Several of Rudd’s contemporaries from the Rudd-Gillard years who had criticised him in the past, including Wayne Swan, Nicola Roxon, David Feeney, Kristina Keneally and Stephen Conroy, either declined to comment or did not respond to a request for comment.

Albanese and Rudd were allies in parliament and have remained close since Rudd’s retirement from politics.

Albanese supported Rudd during his fierce leadership battles with Julia Gillard and Rudd promoted Albanese to deputy prime minister when he regained the Labor leadership in 2013.

Some figures within Labor and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expressed concern on background that Rudd’s celebrity status and strong opinions could make him a risky appointment.

US Democratic Senator Mark Warner from Virginia said he was “thrilled to see my longtime friend Kevin Rudd answer the call to serve. His years of leadership and expertise on Asia policy will be crucial in reinforcing the partnership between our two nations — particularly during this time of increased strategic competition with China”.

US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy said Rudd’s appointment “will further strengthen the US-Australia alliance, and I look forward to working closely with him to advance our shared values”.

Heather Ridout will be the new consul-general based in New York.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Albanese also announced Heather Ridout, former chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, as the new consul-general, based in New York, the first woman to be appointed to that role.

Rudd was recently awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University after writing a 420-page thesis on Xi Jinping’s worldview and he regularly appears in the US media as an expert on China.

Speculation about Rudd’s possible appointment heightened since Wong named former defence minister Stephen Smith the country’s next high commissioner to the United Kingdom in September.

Smith had been seen as a likely contender for the Washington role.

At the time, Wong said she wanted to depoliticise the diplomatic service but added: “In circumstances, there is also a clear advantage for Australia to be represented by people who have had distinguished careers beyond the public service such as business people and former parliamentarians.”

Stanley Bruce, Australia’s eighth prime minister, later served as high commissioner to the United Kingdom after his time in parliament ended.

With Farrah Tomazin

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