Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has defended the relevance of the G20 leaders' summit, saying it has form in heading off new financial threats.
Mr Rudd, who was widely credited with co-founding the leaders' summit at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008, also downplayed suggestions he could become a future UN Secretary-General.
The G20 leaders' summit resulted in new levels of global economic co-operation but since then it's faced questions about its relevance when there's no specific crisis to deal with. It's even been described as a meeting in search of a purpose.
Mr Rudd said the forum did have an important role to play in building the global economy, and had proven its worth in warding off new threats.
"It was established, first of all, to ensure we brought about sufficient reforms in the global financial system to prevent a repeat of the extraordinary financial and economic crisis which engulfed the world," he told ABC radio.
"And frankly, despite challenges again to the financial system in the period of the last six years, it's by and large succeeded in preventing a further crisis. I think some credit where it's due."
Mr Rudd said the forum was also tasked with charting path to sustainable economic growth.
"That is still a work in progress, because as we all know growth is still challenged in Europe ... growth in Japan is in negative territory, in China it's slowing, the US is recovering.
"Part of the agenda for the Brisbane G20 will be to do further work on the future drivers of economic growth."
Mr Rudd said he hoped G20 leaders could plough on with their financial work, while also dealing with any political issues such as the tensions between Australia and Russia over the downing of flight MH17.
Mr Rudd also responded to reports he wants to take over from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"I don't see that as frankly possible. And the reason is that in the UN system, the next normal rotation of secretaries-general would go to a country from eastern Europe."
