OPINION: Why Anthony Albanese chose Kevin Rudd as US ambassador
He’s baaaack. Not that Kevin Rudd would concede he ever vacated a permanent and prominent position in Australian public life despite living in the US for much of the past decade.
A Democratic administration means Rudd’s high-level political connections in Washington are particularly deep and extensive, further cemented by a shared interest in promoting more urgent action on climate change. Many Democrats will also share his pungent criticisms of toxic, far-right extremism in the US and the role of the Murdoch media empire and Fox News in encouraging that – although this remains a far more contentious issue for Republicans.
Not that this was enough to stop them from turning back to him in desperation to “save the furniture” as then opposition leader Tony Abbott rampaged around the country before the 2013 election and nine years of Coalition government. According to Albanese, AUKUS decisions require knowledge of political structures in place as well as significant diplomacy.Rumours about Albanese’s intention to appoint Rudd were circulating even before the election, and accelerated after the announcement in late September that Smith, an obvious alternative, would instead head to London next year.
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