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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.

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