He was turfed from the top job by his own party and labelled a "megalomaniac", but now Labor wants the Turnbull government to back Kevin Rudd's bid to lead the United Nations.
Mr Rudd has asked the government to endorse his nomination for UN secretary-general.
"This is a matter that we will consider in the cabinet," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Monday.
But Opposition Leader Bill Shorten - who was instrumental in replacing Mr Rudd with Julia Gillard in 2010 - has called on the government to back his former boss, insisting he is suitably qualified.
"If they're going to be a government for all Australians they'll support the Australian on the international stage," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"If they're just going to be a petty Liberal government then they won't back the Australian for petty political reasons."
Mr Rudd took to Facebook to declare his respect for the internal processes of the government.
"I respect the fact that the government has many other priorities at this time, having just been returned to office," he wrote.
"This is a matter for the prime minister, the foreign minister and their colleagues at a time of their choosing."
Under the UN charter, the secretary-general is chosen by the general assembly, which meets in September, on the recommendation of the 15-member security council.
In the past, the position has been rotated between global regions.
Asia's Ban Ki-moon took the position up in 2007 and there are high expectations Europe will get the job this time.
There is also a strong push for the position to go to a female candidate for the first time.
One of the frontrunners is the head of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, who hails from Bulgaria.
Mr Rudd, a former diplomat and foreign minister, has been engaged in low-key lobbying of the UN Security Council's permanent members - China, Britain, Russia, France and the US - whose endorsement is crucial.
An Essential poll in April found 45 per cent of voters favoured former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark for the role, with 21 per cent opting for Mr Rudd.
He said earlier this year it was more likely the next secretary-general would come from eastern Europe.
"Last I looked, my name is not Ruddovich," Mr Rudd said.
However, if agreement can't be reached on a European, there is potential for Mr Rudd to be a compromise candidate.
