Former trade minister Tim Fischer has declared the absence of a United States ambassador in Australia is not good enough.
The former deputy prime minister says based on information released by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop following AUSMIN talks in the US, Australia would be without a US ambassador for two years.
"Maybe the President of the Senate Scott Ryan and House Speaker Tony Smith should write to their US counterparts and highlight the vacancy," Mr Fischer told AAP.
"Indeed, for that matter, US speaker Paul Ryan, who is quitting congress later this year, would be worth waiting for as the next US ambassador to Australia."
Ms Bishop said having the post unfilled was not unprecedented, saying Australia had waited 12 to 18 months for a US ambassador before.
She said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told her the appointment process was advanced, but no person had been suggested for the post.
"We would certainly welcome an appointment sooner rather than later but this is not affecting our interactions with the Trump administration," Ms Bishop told ABC radio.
Mr Fischer stopped short of calling for Australia's ambassador to the US Joe Hockey to be recalled in protest.
"That would disrupt the good work Joe Hockey is doing in the USA," he said.
