Share this @internewscast.com
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has walked back on calls for Kevin Rudd to be sacked as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.
After the incident, Ley said Rudd’s position was “untenable” and he should be dismissed or step down from the role.
Ley’s backbench colleague Jane Hume acknowledged Rudd’s work in securing a critical minerals deal and told Sky News on Wednesday calls for him to resign were a “little bit churlish”.

The relationship between Hume and Ley remains strained following Hume’s removal from the frontbench after Ley assumed leadership.

Two men wearing suits and ties

In a recent visit to the White House, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued an apology to U.S. President Donald Trump for past comments made on social media. This gesture was aimed at smoothing over old tensions between the two leaders.

Despite any past controversies, a Coalition senator has expressed that Rudd deserves recognition for his commendable performance in his role as ambassador.

“I welcome all the comments from my talented backbench and I know, like me, that they are focused on all the bread and butter issues that matter to us,” she said at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday.

When questioned about Hume’s comments and whether she made an autonomous decision regarding Rudd, Ley refrained from reiterating her previous calls for Rudd’s dismissal.

“Kevin Rudd is the Prime Minister’s appointee for the ambassador role—it’s a significant responsibility,” Ley stated.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed he gifted Trump a model submarine to mark his official Washington visit, while he also expressed support for the continued role of Rudd.

Albanese told reporters on Wednesday that Rudd is an “outstanding representative” of Australia who “works his guts out” in Washington.

Rudd would serve out a four-year term, Albanese confirmed, which does not conclude for more than a year.
This came as Ley earlier said the relationship with the US was “vital”, urging Albanese to “back him or sack him”.

“This isn’t about the individual. This is about the relationship and it’s about Australia’s national interest,” she said.

Official gifts revealed

Albanese also revealed Australia’s official gifts for the Trumps.
“We had a gift for Melania, we had jewellery,” he said.
“We had a submarine model for the president, and we had some Ugg booties for the president’s newest granddaughter to come along.”

He said for protocol reasons, he was not able to reveal what Trump had gifted him.

Albanese said the matter had already been escalated with China in Beijing and Canberra.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
'Doom and gloom': Truth behind Australia's birth rate 'crisis'

Unveiling the Reality: Is Australia’s Birth Rate Crisis Fact or Fiction?

Australia’s declining birth rate recently captured attention when the Bureau of Statistics…
Kasha McIver, 39, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her housemate Matthew Warrington in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday alongside her co-offender Dylan Wyatt, 38.

Shocking Revelation: Convicted Killer’s Chilling Confession of Self-Defense

A woman has confessed to killing a man, whose dismembered remains were…
Golden Bachelor contestant Nicolette (pictured) has broken her silence after her elimination - claiming the show stripped away her real story and reduced her to a 'nothing character' despite filming for nearly two weeks

Golden Bachelor Drama: Nicolette Criticizes Her ‘Minute-Long’ Edit and Calls Out ‘Robot-Like’ Bear Myrden

Nicolette, a contestant on “Golden Bachelor,” has voiced her frustrations following her…

U.S. Strike Targets Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel in Pacific, Leaving Two Dead

The United States military carried out a lethal strike on a boat…
People queue outside the ABC Bullion store at Martin Place, Sydney October 22, 2025.

Australian Gold Rush Turns to Bust: Prices Plummet After Record-Breaking Queues

In recent weeks, and particularly this Monday and Tuesday, people have been…
Millions in the firing line of record-breaking heat

Unprecedented Heat Wave Puts Millions at Risk

Queensland is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, prompting authorities to urge residents…
The Burke Street Optus store.

Optus Executives Depart Following Triple-Zero Outage Crisis: A Leadership Shakeup

In the aftermath of the recent triple-zero service disruption, Optus announced the…

Uncovering the Truth: How a Single Bone is Rewriting Australia’s Megafauna Extinction Story

A decades-old theory that First Nations peoples hunted Australia’s megafauna to extinction…
The political future of South Australian MP Nick McBride is hanging in the balance after he was arrested and charged with assaulting his wife.

South Australian MP Faces New Assault Charges Amid Ongoing Domestic Violence Allegations

Police have laid three new charges against an independent MP who now…
COVID-19 vaccine cancer study mrna

Groundbreaking Study Reveals mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Potentially Extends Lifespan for Cancer Patients

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines could help cancer patients live longer by helping the…
Kristy Appleton fell sick with meningococcal B on the day she returned home from competing on the world stage in waterskiing.

Mother Urges Vaccination After Athletic Daughter’s Close Call with Meningococcal B

A mother from Queensland is advocating for the meningococcal B vaccine to…

Justice Delayed: Kumanjayi White’s Family Awaits Answers as Inquest Stalls

Warning: this article contains the name of an Aboriginal person who has…