Kevin Rudd: Peter Dutton questions PM’s judgement as latest Trump appointment clouds ambassador’s future

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese’s decision to send Kevin Rudd to Washington raises questions about his political judgement as the future of Australia’s ambassador to the US remains under a cloud after Donald Trump’s election win.

Mr Dutton said Labor was in a “difficult position” given the past criticisms of Mr Trump from senior figures including Mr Rudd, Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who in 2021 said Mr Trump was prepared to “trash alliances” for his own interests.

“I guess the difficulty that the Prime Minister is in at the moment is that if he sacks Kevin Rudd then what does he do with Penny Wong?” Mr Dutton said.

“And if he sacks Penny Wong what does he do given he’s made his own disparaging remarks about president-elect Trump?”

Mr Dutton and senior colleagues are publicly backing Mr Rudd to continue in the post after his success during Joe Biden’s presidency, where he was credited with shepherding crucial AUKUS legislation through US Congress.

But there are questions as to whether Mr Rudd – who once described Mr Trump as a “traitor to the West – can remain an influential player in Washington.

Shadow foreign minister Simon Birmingham said Mr Albanese and Mr Rudd would need to assess if the ambassador was still able to do his job.

“Only they know what calls are being answered, what access he is having and what influence he is making,” Senator Birmingham told ABC TV.

“If the calls are not being answered, if the access is not being had and the influence is not achieved, there is a problem, clearly, the Government needs to address.”

Speculation about Mr Rudd’s future intensified on Wednesday after senior Trump advisor Dan Scavino posted a GIF of sand running through an hourglass in response to a tweet from the ambassador congratulating Mr Trump on his election win.

The message was widely interpreted as a sign Trump’s inner circle believes the ambassador is on borrowed time in Washington.

Mr Scavino was overnight appointed White House deputy chief of staff.

Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese’s decision to appoint Mr Rudd in 2023 raised questions about his political judgement.

“The Prime Minister has made a number of captain’s calls, and they’ve been at odds with the advice that he’s received from his closest advisors and colleagues. And I suppose that’s a question about the Prime Minister’s judgment,” he said.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said he had no doubt Mr Rudd would “ably represent” Australia during the second Trump presidency as senior ministers Mark Butler and Tanya Plibersek rallied around their former Labor caucus colleague.

In a subtle message to the incoming Trump administration, Mr Butler said Australia chooses who its ambassador is.

“The point I think I’ve tried to make, and many others on both sides of politics here in Australia have made, is that Kevin Rudd is a very serious ambassador,” Mr Butler told RN Breakfast.

“We’re very convinced that Kevin is the right person for this job.”

Ms Plibersek said Mr Rudd has demonstrated his skill as an ambassador.

“He’s widely recognised as one of the world’s preeminent experts on China and particularly on the time of Xi Jinping as leader,” she told Sky News.

“We know that people like Malcolm Turnbull, a former Liberal prime minister, and other prominent Liberals, including former ambassadors, have said that it’s important for Kevin Rudd to remain as ambassador and it shows Australia’s strength.”