Ex-Australian PM Rudd in talks over UN role

SYDNEY (AFP) - Ousted Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd Thursday confirmed talks over a possible United Nations role but said he did not plan to quit the national parliament.

Deposed Australian premier Kevin Rudd may join the UN as a top-level climate change adviser, a report has said (© AFP/File - Jewel Samad)

Rudd, who was replaced by Julia Gillard last month in a party coup, said he had discussed a "development" role with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, after reports linked him with a new climate-change position.

"Among other matters, (Ban) raised the possibility of Mr. Rudd being appointed to a United Nations panel which might look at a number of issues related to development," Rudd's spokesman said in a statement.

He added that the role would not require Rudd to move to New York or abandon his parliamentary seat. Rudd proved a distraction to Gillard's campaign for August 21 elections when he was mobbed by media on Wednesday.

"It would be similar to other United Nations panels like that on climate change finance ... (which) meets three times a year," the spokesman said.

"Given that such panel membership involves limited meetings and does not require any residency abroad, should Mr Rudd be appointed to such a panel it would not cause any impediment to him discharging his responsibilities as a local member of parliament or as a minister in a future Labor government, should the government be re-elected," he added.

Gillard has promised Rudd a cabinet position if centre-left Labor is re-elected, after his spectacular knifing by party colleagues on June 24.

Rudd was enormously popular after winning 2007 elections against 11-year prime minister conservative John Howard, but finally slipped in opinion polls after shelving emissions-trading laws and rowing with the mining industry over a new tax.

The Daily Telegraph, quoting a diplomatic source, said UN chief Ban was considering creating a top-level climate-change advisory position for Rudd, who took a lead role in last year's Copenhagen environmental talks.