Labor’s attacks on their own former prime minister Kevin Rudd made it hard for the Coalition to endorse his bid to lead the United Nations, says deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.
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Rudd, the New York-based president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a polarizing figure in Australian politics, had hoped the conservative government would take the crucial step of formally nominating him to succeed U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when Ban’s second five-year term ends on December 31.
The opposition leader echoed comments by senior shadow minister Anthony Albanese labelling Mr Turnbull’s actions “pathetic”.
He says a distinguished Australian has been treated in a very shabby fashion for nothing more than petty politics.
The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, and attorney general, George Brandis, are understood to have supported Rudd’s nomination, but several conservative ministers including the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, and the treasurer, Scott Morrison, spoke against it.
Kevin Rudd will not get the top job at the UN.
Mr Turnbull said he told Mr Rudd of the reasons behind his decision but did not want to compound his disappointment by airing them publicly.
“He has squibbed the chance to be a leader for all Australians and all he’s trying to do is paper over the divisions in the Liberal Party”, Mr Shorten told reporters in Darwin on Saturday.
But it was to no avail – and Mr Turnbull even refused to meet Mr Rudd when he flew to Sydney yesterday morning, telling him instead by phone that he would not be nominating him.
Labor figures have delivered stinging character assassinations of Mr Rudd over the years, variously dubbing him a narcissist, psychopath and megalomaniac.
“We were lumbered with. a compendium of events, of absolutely clear character references, predominantly by the Labor Party when they removed him”, Mr Joyce said.
Earlier this week, Ms Bishop said: “I believe that as other candidates are former leaders, former prime ministers, former foreign ministers of their country, then he is qualified.”Former PM Kevin Rudd”.
Mr Rudd last night released a letter to the PM, revealing his shock at being told by Mr Turnbull before Thursday’s Cabinet meeting his nomination would not be supported, despite being assured the opposite during “multiple conversations” before Mr Turnbull became PM.
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But deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said a person should not be backed for a top role just because he was Australian.
