As Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull agonises over whether to nominate Kevin Rudd for the United Nations, cabinet minister Christopher Pyne says it's a "second-order issue" and that he will ultimately support whatever decision his boss makes.
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Thursday's cabinet meeting was so strongly divided over the decision – with some arguing the former Labor prime minister is sufficiently qualified but others questioning his character – that it gave the Prime Minister authority to make a "captain's call".
"Whether Kevin Rudd is our nominee for secretary-general of the UN is a second order issue," Mr Pyne, now the Defence Industry Minister, told the Today show on Friday morning.
"Cabinet spent most of its discussion yesterday on the royal commission in the Northern Territory, on budget repair and on our agenda for the next three years and quite frankly, the Prime Minister will make an announcement about that today and that will be the end of the matter one way or another."
Regular sparring partner and Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said that "of course" his former leader should be nominated by Australia and referenced his leadership in the G20 response to the global financial crisis, his public service experience and his fluent Mandarin.
"And it is beyond belief that there's any question over whether Australia will nominate an Australian. I mean we're at the Olympics in a couple of weeks. Guess what, Karl, we back the Australian," he told the Today host.
The Prime Minister is set to announce his choice today following a phone call with Mr Rudd.
Whatever side he comes down on, there will be criticism. If he accepts the former prime minister's request for nomination, he will anger some conservatives inside the Liberal Party who are especially opposed to the idea. If he turns Mr Rudd down, he will be accused of petty partisanship.
Treasurer Scott Morrison, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Industry Minister Greg Hunt have publicly questioned his suitability for the high-powered international position. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been the main backer of Mr Rudd's candidacy.
Mr Pyne said that his past criticisms of Mr Rudd "pale into insignificance" alongside comments from Labor figures.
"They said he was a narcissistic psychopath actually, which is pretty rough, so for the Labor Party to be lecturing the government about these matters is a bit hypocritical."
Labor's deputy leader Tanya Plibersek also spoke out in defence of Mr Rudd and his qualifications for the UN role on Friday ahead of the decision.
"Kevin Rudd is a distinguished Australian, successful diplomat, successful PM and foreign minister and it would be extraordinary if the government didn't support such a distinguished Australian," she said. "Kevin Rudd is an acknowledged international expert on Asia, on China in particular. His advice is sought by governments around the world."
