Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Consistent with practice which I understand was probably the case with Mr Downer and Mr Howard, the foreign minister and I regularly discuss senior diplomatic appointments. The foreign minister and I agree on appointments which go to the question of which skills are best applied to which of our most senior diplomatic appointments abroad. That applied in the case of the posting which is the subject of this question as well. On the question of Mr Hugh Borrowman, he is a first-class diplomatic. The kingdom of Sweden is an important country for Australia. It will soon, as I am advised, assume the presidency of the European Union. We therefore wish him well in that appointment. He will do an excellent job. Furthermore, could I say applying those national interest criteria to appointments was exactly the discussion the foreign minister and I had in relation to the appointment of Mr Tim Fischer as Australia’s first ambassador to the Holy See.

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