Ticking time bombs are best placed in steady hands

In the last Inside Word, I wrote about the resignation of Kevin Rudd as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, and who might be his replacement. I got it wrong; Prime Minister Albanese has gone for a career public servant not a political appointment.

Greg Moriarty has been named the next Ambassador currently Australia’s Secretary of Defence, and a former Ambassador to Indonesia and Iran. Prior to his role in Defence, Moriarty was closely associated with security matters around the formation of AUKUS and for a period was Chief of Staff to former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.  Moriarty is a safe set of hands, has deep knowledge of Washington’s defence and security circles, and unlike the current Ambassador is uncontroversial.  

A person who can exercise influence but stay under the radar of the mercurial Trump Administration.

As for our former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, word has it he has set his sights on becoming the next United Nations Secretary-General. It’s early speculation and the Australian Government would have to commit enormous financial and diplomatic resources to get behind this campaign. But maybe, just maybe, the stars are aligning for a middle power from the Asia-Pacific region to flex its muscle and win over the hearts and minds of the General Assembly, not to mention the Security Council.