Ekip
29 July 2016•Update: 29 July 2016
By Jill Fraser
MELBOURNE, Australia
Australia’s government deems former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unsuitable for the position of United Nations secretary-general.
Just after noon Friday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull delivered the news that Rudd’s aspirations to be nominated for the next UN chief were dashed because he had decided not to back his predecessor’s candidacy.
Rudd requires the backing of the Australian government in order to be considered for the role.
"I do not want to add to his [Rudd’s] disappointment, but the threshold point here is when the Australian government nominates a person for a job... is do we believe the person, the nominee, the would-be nominee is well suited for that position,” Turnbull told a press conference in Sydney.
"My judgment is that Mr. Rudd is not, and I've explained to him the reasons why.”
On Thursday, during the first meeting of government ministers following the ruling coalition’s narrow win in the July 2 federal election, opinions were divided about whether Rudd should be nominated as a candidate.
Turnbull was left to make the call.
News Corp reports that during the meeting, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop recommended Rudd's nomination but there was strong opposition in the room, specifically from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison.
In the end, Turnbull was left to gauge the mood of the meeting and make the call as leader.
Turnbull said his decision had nothing to do with partisan politics but rather it was "a judgment about Mr. Rudd's suitability for that particular role".
Rudd’s office has confirmed the government rejected formal application for support.
Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong came out swinging in response to Turnbull’s decision.
They issued a joint statement saying:
“Mr. Turnbull had the chance to show some leadership, put Australia’s national interest first, and back an Australian for United Nations Secretary-General.
“Instead, the bizarre and chaotic process he ‘led’ delivered a win for partisanship over the national interest.
“Today Malcolm Turnbull repudiated his Deputy Leader and Foreign Minister, and demonstrated how he has shrunk in the office of Prime Minister,” the statement read.
Of the 12 declared candidates for the role, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Portugal’s former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is considered a frontrunner.
In stark contrast to the Australian scenario, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key -- from the conservative National Party -- has thrown his support behind Clark and has been lobbying hard for his former Labour party rival to become UN secretary-general.
