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Australian PM ignores advice to nominate Kevin Rudd for UN top job

Xinhua, August 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ignored advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to endorse former PM Kevin Rudd to become the United Nations' (UN) next secretary-general, local media revealed on Monday.

On Friday, Turnbull said his government would not be endorsing Rudd for the position, but a submission from DFAT presented to the party at Thursday's cabinet meeting said the former Labor leader compared well with the other candidates for the coveted UN position.

According to News Corp, the submission was written by new department head Frances Adamson, and was backed by a number of leading Australian diplomats, however Turnbull denied the request, saying Rudd was "not well suited" for the prestigious role.

Rudd said he was blindsided by the Turnbull decision to bar his nomination. He released a statement along with details of three personal letters at the weekend which showed Turnbull had previously supported the Rudd nomination.

Despite Turnbull's decision, Rudd had a number of high-profile backers, including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, former coalition Treasurer and Australia's ambassador to the U.S. Joe Hockey, as well as Australia's high commissioner in London, Alexander Downer. Endit