Coalition urged to back Kevin Rudd for UN top job

Chris Bowen believes it should be a straight forward decision for the Turnbull government to back Kevin Rudd in his bid to be the UN Secretary-General.

Former PM Kevin Rudd to run for the top UN position Source: AAP

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen says the Turnbull government should support Kevin Rudd's bid to become the next UN Secretary-General.

The government says the decision has to go to cabinet, but Mr Bowen believes if the former Labor prime minister nominates for the job he should be backed.

"This should be an easy choice for the cabinet, support the Australian," he told Sky News on Sunday.

Senior cabinet minister George Brandis refused to say whether he personally would support Mr Rudd's nomination for the job.

"I know Kevin quite well and I will refrain from commentary until we have that discussion in cabinet," the attorney-general told ABC TV on Sunday.