Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister must come into the House at question time and answer the question: does he agree with Ambassador Rudd's disrespectful and disgraceful inflammatory comments? The position of the Australian Ambassador to the United States is one of immense responsibility and diplomacy. That role demands discretion, respect and, above all, sound judgement. Unfortunately, Ambassador Rudd has shown anything but.

In recent years we have seen Ambassador Rudd call the United States President 'the most destructive president in history', who dragged 'America and democracy through the mud'. That not being enough, he went on to label the US President as the 'village idiot' and a 'traitor to the West'. These inflammatory remarks are more than a personal failing; they reflect a complete lack of judgement by both Ambassador Rudd and the Prime Minister himself, who appointed him.

This lack of judgement is not isolated; it has become a hallmark of this Labor government. We've seen it in the diverse and ill-conceived Voice referendum, we've seen it in the mismanagement of the immigration detention issue and we've seen it in their failings on economic issues. This Prime Minister must answer the important question: does he agree with his ambassador's comments? Does he stand by Mr Rudd's claim that the former US President was in fact the 'village idiot'? If so, who's the village idiot now? Australian and American relations are ever better than this government—

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Swan has the call.