Speculation that Australian support for any Helen Clark bid for the top United Nations job could be overturned comes amidst jostling by potential candidates, Labour's foreign affairs spokesman David Shearer says.
Malcolm Turnbull's Australian cabinet may overturn a commitment given by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott to back Helen Clark for Secretary General of the United Nations if she becomes a candidate, according to The Australian newspaper.
The paper revealed that Mr Abbott and Prime Minister John Key committed in letters to conduct a joint strategy to promote Ms Clark as the successor to Ban Ki-Moon whose term ends at the end of this year.
But that commitment looks set to be compromised by two factors: Mr Abbott did not consult his Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, before giving the undertaking to Mr Key.
And former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made it known he is interested in the job.