Asides

LOOKING GOOD: VEXNEWS story on Kim Beazley confirmed by PM

Last month, we revealed a push within the highest levels of government for the appointment of Kim Beazley as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States.

The PM yesterday told Neil Mitchell that he was considering him and explained his close friendship with the current Ambassador.

MITCHELL: The Prime Minister is with you. One out of left field Prime Minister – is Kim Beazley going to be the next ambassador to the United States?

PM: Well, we haven’t decided who’s going to be the next ambassador to the United States.

MITCHELL: Is he in the running?

PM: Well, can I say that when it comes to Kim and to any other former politician of standing who’s got something to contribute, I believe they should all be considered for greater use in public life, and of course, you’d be considering Kim and a range of other people for diplomatic appointments. Specifically on Washington, Stephen and I, that’s Stephen Smith and I, haven’t actually sat down to work it through. Our current Ambassador, Dennis Richardson, is due to be there until about November – we’ve just appointed him to be the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs – so we’ve got some time.

MITCHELL: And a great help he was to us when we were in Washington, too.

PM: He’s a good Ambassador, he’s very effective. He was my first section head in the Department of Foreign Affairs, 25 years ago. I used to do his photocopying.

MITCHELL: So he can ring, he can offer you free and fearless advice, can he?

PM: He used to bore it up me all the time.

MITCHELL: I bet he still does.

PM: He’s actually good. The one thing with Dennis is you know where you stand.

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