Anthony Albanese has rubbished suggestions he will install Kevin Rudd as Australia’s next ambassador to Washington.
Mr Albanese has reportedly floated the plan to senior colleagues but the Labor leader claimed the report was “nonsense”.
“Complete nonsense,” he told Nine Radio.
“Yesterday it was Kevin Rudd wasn’t going to be on the campaign, He’d gone missing in action … Seriously, (the media) needs to get over the obsession.”
Mr Albanese has remained a supporter of the former prime minister, who he served as deputy to, and the pair have campaigned together as recently as February.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten conceded Australia “could do worse” but was far from glowing in his response to the plan.
“Mr Rudd is an distinguisxjmtzywhed representative and spokesperson, we could do worse in Washington than Mr Rudd,” he told Today on Tuesday morning.
“I don't know if what’s written in the paper is true but he has certainly taken a strong interest in global affairs.
“He is certainly qualified for the job.”
Mr Rudd began his career as a diplomat and has served as the chairman of US think tank the International Peace Institute, based in New York.
If he were to be appointed under a Labor government, his immediate boss in Canberra would be Penny Wong, assuming she continues in the foreign affairs portfolio.
Australia’s current ambassador is former Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos, who was appointed by Scott Morrison to succeed Joe Hockey.
Appointing a new US ambassador could be a major early decision for whoever wins the next election, if Mr Sinodinos were to return home after just three years in the role.
Asked about the possibility of Mr Albanese shipping him off to the US, Mr Shorten laughed it off.
“Would you be interested in the job?” Today host Alison Langdon asked before adding, “Maybe Labor wants your (leadership) ambitions far, far away?”
“No,” he laughed
“I’m running in this election … I’m interested in the NDIS”.
