Australia Slaps Down Ex-PM Rudd's Bid For Top UN Job

SYDNEY, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th july,2016) - Australia refused Friday to back former prime minister Kevin Rudd's bid to be the next Secretary General of the United Nations, saying he was not suited to the job. Rudd was spectacularly dumped as prime minister by his own Labor Party in 2010, with colleagues subsequently alleging that his office was chaotic and he was difficult to work with. "This is not a partisan issue, this is a considered judgement," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is from the rival Liberal Party, said when announcing the decision in Sydney. "This is a judgement about Mr.

Rudd's suitability for that particular role." Canberra revealed earlier this month that the Mandarin-speaking Rudd, who is based in New York as head of the Asia Society policy institute, was keen to lead the global body. Candidates must be nominated by their governments and Turnbull said he made the decision not to put Rudd forward after consulting with his cabinet. Turnbull said he explained his decision to Rudd -- who brought Labor out of the political wilderness in a 2007 election landslide -- but would not elaborate on his reasons.