KEVIN Rudd has praised Julia Gillard's commitment to winning a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, while again ruling out a challenge to her leadership.
Mr Rudd said he was committed to keeping Tony Abbott out of government, and accused the Opposition Leader of playing “domestic politics” with the UN Security Council bid.
The attempt to win a seat on the UN Security Council was launched by Mr Rudd as prime minister and was seen as one of his pet projects.
“I think the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister are in there supporting it fully,” he said of Ms Gillard and Bob Carr, who are both in New York.
Mr Rudd said he was no threat to Ms Gillard's leadership, and reiterated his vow not to challenge for the post again.
“I said before and I've said since that I stand by my remarks in February and I make no exception to that whatsoever,” he told ABC radio.
.“As I said, it's up to all of us to roll up our sleeves and get behind the effort to ensure Mr Abbott, who doesn't have the policies or the temperament to be prime minister, to prevent him from sliding into office through the back door.”
Speaking from Beijing Mr Rudd, who championed Australia's push for a seat on the UN Security Council, said Australia was seen as a middle-power and needed to be “at the table”.
“I said when I launched our bid that it would be difficult to win because all of these ballots in the UN for the Security Council are hotly contested,” Mr Rudd said.
“This therefore can never be taken for granted and having everyone united in Australia, as we have always been in the past, is important.
“For me it is disappointing that again Mr Abbott has chosen to play domestic politics on a fundamental national interest question.”
The Opposition Leader yesterday told Sydney radio 2GB that Ms Gillard should not be “swanning around New York” trying to drum up support for Australia's Security Council bid and instead should be in Jakarta talking to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about border protection issues.
But Mr Abbott was caught out when it was revealed that President Yudhoyono was also in New York for the UN General Assembly, and not in Indonesia.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who is also in New York to push Australia's case for a seat on the Security Council, said Mr Abbott was attempting to “retreat to the Anglosphere” by criticising Australia's discussions with Africa and other nations over the bid.
“What Tony Abbott is reflecting here is a view of Australia's place in the world. He would be very happy with Australia making a retreat to the Anglosphere,” Senator Carr said.
“He doesn't like the idea, he's got a bit of the John Howard in him, he isn't comfortable with Australia talking to Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America or to Asia.”
Mr Abbott rejected Senator Carr's comments, saying: “Well he obviously doesn't know me very well does he?”
Ms Gillard, who has fallen ill, is still expected to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
A vote on the two available temporary seats on the Security Council will occur next month.
