“It would give us a status and cachet in Washington no other former politician or bureaucrat could bring.”
Gareth Evans,Labor’s longest serving foreign minister,agreed with Carr,saying Rudd would make a “fine ambassador” but questioned whether he would want the job.
Bob Carr,in his 2013 role as foreign minister,with Kevin Rudd.Credit:Andrew Meares
In recent times both sides of politics have chosen eminent former politicians,rather than career public servants,for the top diplomatic postings in London and Washington.
Smith had been seen as a top contender for the Washington posting given his experience in the defence portfolio and time on the board of the Perth USAsia Centre.
Senior Labor sources said Rudd was increasingly seen by many in the party as the logical choice for the role,but that he had not been offered it or put his name forward.
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Albanese and Rudd were close allies during the tumultuous Rudd-Gillard era,and have remained close since Rudd’s departure from parliament.
Carr said Rudd’s qualifications for the job were “off the charts”.
“Above all,he could engage the full range of US political opinion - including potential Republican presidential candidates - in diplomatic means to avoid a war over Taiwan,” Carr said.
Former Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos’s term as US ambassador will end in February and the government has said it will make announcement on his replacement before then.
Former Labor frontbencher Stephen Conroy,who was viewed as a possible contender for Washington,has said publicly he is not interested in the post because of family reasons.
A spokesman for Rudd said:“Mr Rudd is very happy in New York,where he runs what has become a premier US think tank focusing on Asia and China.
“He’s also an established scholar and author on Chinese politics and foreign policy and engages with governments and corporations around the world on China policy questions.
“For these reasons Mr Rudd has zero plans to leave his position as global president of the Asia Society.”
Evans,who served as foreign minister from 1988 to 1996,said Rudd was “very highly regarded,with good reason,by the American policy elite,and would make a fine ambassador”.
“But I’m not sure why he would want the job given the degree of access and influence he enjoys now as President of the Asia Society,which might not be as easy to replicate as ambassador given the protocols involved,” he said.
Announcing Smith’s appointment last month,Wong said she wanted to rebalance the nation’s diplomatic corps towards qualified senior officials and away from former politicians.
“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,” she said.
Stanley Bruce,Australia’s eighth prime minister,later served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom after his time in parliament ended.