Malcolm Turnbull has decided against backing Kevin Rudd for the top job in the United Nations.
A split in federal cabinet on Thursday meant the prime minister was left to make a captain's call on whether the government should support Mr Rudd's tilt for the postilion of secretary-general of the United Nations.
"The threshold point here is when the Australian Government nominates a person for a job, particularly an international job like this, the threshold question is: Do we believe the person, the nominee, the would-be nominee is well suited for that position?
"My judgement is that Mr Rudd is not, and I've explained to him the reasons why. I don't want to go into them here today," Mr Turnbull told reporters.
The prime minister said this is not about not wanting to endorse Labor party members to international posts.